When you’re pregnant, it’s easy to focus on the physical changes your body is going through but your emotional health is important too. By taking a proactive and holistic approach to your well-being during this time, you can ease any worries you may have and enjoy your pregnancy. With this in mind, take a look at these top tips for improving wellness during pregnancy:
Make Time to Relax
If you’re already raising a family, studying or working full-time, it can be hard to find time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. During pregnancy, however, it’s particularly important to get as much rest as possible. Giving yourself time to re-energise can help to combat fatigue and brain fog, so you’ll notice clear physical benefits too. Once your baby arrives, you won’t get much opportunity to relax, so be sure to make it a priority during your pregnancy!
Build a Support Network
Having people to talk to is always important but it’s particularly critical when you’re going through major life changes. By building a support network now, you can ensure you’ve got people to confide in and rely on. What’s more – talking to other mums means you’ll have the opportunity to get first-hand advice and tips about managing your pregnancy. From family and friends to online forums, there’s plenty of support available, so be sure to make the most of it.
Address Symptoms That Are Getting You Down
It’s not unusual to experience physical symptoms during pregnancy but there are steps you can take to alleviate them or eliminate them. If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, for example, there are medications you take safely. Additionally, you might find that sitting up straight and using a pillow to prop yourself up during the night helps to reduce your symptoms. If morning sickness is problematic, try using sea bands, drinking ginger tea or eating something plain. There are many home remedies which can ease nausea and settle your stomach during pregnancy, so keep trying various options until you find the ones that work for you.
Eat a Nutritious Diet
When you’re pregnant, you may notice that your tastes change or that you crave particular foods. Although it can be frustrating if you no longer enjoy your favorite snack, it does give you the motivation to try new things and embrace a healthier diet. Eating a nutritious diet is important at any time in life but it’s especially beneficial when you’re pregnant. By ensuring you get the right range of macro and micronutrients, you can optimise your well-being and boost your mood.
Try Yoga
Whether you’ve attended class for years or you’re a complete beginner, doing yoga during pregnancy offers a whole host of benefits. As well as stretching your muscles and easing discomfort, it’s an effective way to relax and unwind. In fact, many people maintain that a daily session of yoga helps to improve their sleep quality.
If you feel you would benefit from live instruction, look out for antenatal yoga classes or try a virtual session from home. Alternatively, online videos and guides are a great way to practice at your own pace.
Deal with Practical Concerns
A new arrival means there’s going to be a lot of upheaval in your life, which can feel overwhelming at first. If you’re worried about the practicalities of having a child, such as having enough space or accessing childcare, you can alleviate a lot of stress by resolving these issues now. Making changes to your living environment is easier before your baby arrives, so create a plan of action and start making gradual modifications to ensure you’ve got a calm, relaxing space to enjoy when your baby arrives.
Similarly, explore various childcare options so you have an idea of what’s best for you and your family. If you’re going to be using private childcare facilities, it might give you peace of mind to register your child in advance to guarantee a place. Once you’ve dealt with practical concerns, you’ll feel more confident that you’ve got everything under control, which, in turn, will help you to feel less anxious.
Be Active
Being active during pregnancy can be a great way to take care of your physical and mental health. Most women are able to do around 2.5 hours of mild to moderate exercise when they’re pregnant but be sure to seek advice if you’re not sure what’s right for you. Low impact exercises, such as walking, swimming or pilates, can give you an effective workout and ease discomfort. Many gyms and personal trainers offer antenatal fitness classes, so look out for in-person sessions or live virtual classes.
Use Stress Reduction Techniques
Feeling stressed can have a negative impact on your mood and your body, so try your best to reduce your stress levels when you’re pregnant. Using tried and tested stress relaxation techniques can be a good way to promote feelings of calmness and tranquillity. Whether you have a long soak in a warm bath, treat yourself to an antenatal massage, practice meditation, or settle down with a box set and your favorite show, factoring self-care into your routine is essential.
Create a Birth Plan
Having a birth plan in place can reduce anxiety around your labor and give you the chance to address things you might not have thought about just yet. Although it’s good to be flexible when it comes to birthing plans, having an idea of the type of labor you’d like or whether you want to use pain relief will give you confidence and help you to look forward to the big day.
Accessing Help During Pregnancy
Both physical and emotional changes can have an impact on your well-being when you’re pregnant, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. As well as talking to your partner, family member and friends, remember there are plenty of places to access support. Your doctor, health visitor and/or midwife will be happy to provide advice, help and guidance whenever you need it.
