5 Tips for Self Care During Pregnancy
Often we know that it is important to keep ourselves well and healthy during pregnancy, but it can be difficult to work out how to take that time out for self care, so we have pulled together some top tips to help:
1. Eat well. No doubt you will be discovering how hard it can be to eat a balanced and nutritious diet during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, but whenever you can physically stomach it, make sure you eat well. It is important to get nutritious food into your diet as it will help you feel better and it will help your baby grow and develop as it should be.
2. Exercise or be active as much as you can. Our bodies are designed to be active during pregnancy, exercise will help you become stronger and more flexible, which may make labour and birth easier. Being active will also help lift your mood. Try to get outside as much as you can, especially in the winter as it will really help to boost your feel-good hormones. Yoga classes and swimming are great exercises for pregnancy, so we always recommend getting in your local pool and finding your local antenatal yoga practitioner.
3. Listen to your body. If your body says its time to have a break then listen, rest and even take time out of your day for a little nap, you will often find yourself completely revitalized after a 15-minute lie down! We also recommend regular massage by a professional masseuse if you can, or even encourage your birth partner to massage your neck, shoulders and back, and/or feet to help loosen those muscles and calm your mind at the same time. You will also find that taking a few days away from home for a Babymoon with your partner or attending a pregnancy retreat will help you make time for you and your baby.
4. A healthy mind will help you to have a healthy pregnant body. Practising relaxation, mindfulness or hypnobirthing techniques always has a knock-on effect on your body and your baby. Simply taking time out to focus on relaxing all your muscles or listening to a calming guided relaxation will make a big difference to your overall wellbeing.
5. Don’t forget to do some fun stuff too! Make time in your diary for activities or projects that boost your feel-good hormones, whether it’s crafting, dog-walking, coffee with your friends or going to the movies, spending time having fun will always be a good move for you and your baby’s health.
Debbie and Helen
Antenatal Academy
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