Self-care is not selfish. The roller coaster ride of pregnancy can make moms-to-be forget about their own needs while they’re getting ready for their babies. But remember! Pregnancy isn’t just about the baby. It’s also about the mom, and it’s a time when self-care is vital for emotional well-being.
How does one define self-care, anyway?
Of course, pregnancy may have completely different effects on different types of bodies. We can’t promise for sure that the same symptoms happen to every pregnant mom-to-be out there. However, if you have plans for Technically speaking-according to WHO, it is defined as “the ability of individuals, families, and communities, with or without the assistance of a healthcare provider, to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability.”
Simply put, self-care is about doing good things for your body and mind.
Gestation, the time between conception and childbirth, is a complicated and unique phenomenon because the mom undergoes many physical, psychological, and social changes. Research has shown that these changes affect how motherhood is formed and the child’s cognitive and emotional development. Now, here are 7 tips to guide you towards your pregnancy’s self-care!
1. Assess Your Exercise Routine
Regular exercise can help moms stay healthy and happy during their pregnancy. It can help improve posture and reduce pregnancy-related aches and pains. Physical activity may help prevent gestational diabetes, reduce stress, and increase labour and delivery stamina.
If you were active before becoming pregnant, you should continue in moderation. Don’t try to exercise at your previous level; do what feels right now. High impact aerobics are usually discouraged. Preferably, discuss your exercise routine with your doctor.
2. Get Enough Rest
Sleep should never be thought of as a treat. It’s crucial, especially if you’re pregnant, to have it. As it turns out, pregnant women need a little more sleep each night or should take naps during the day to make up for the lack of sleep at night.
To reduce the symptoms, use only soft-bristled toothbrushes and brush your teeth as gently as There are a lot of pregnant women who can’t stay asleep at night without having full bladders or other pregnancy discomforts wake them up. To make up for the sleep they aren’t getting at night, it’s a good idea for them to take a few short naps during the day.
3. Have Your “Me Time”
Confinement is a period during which your body recovers from childbirth. Asians are very familiar with the concept of confinement. The confinement periods for different cultures differ in length: 30 days for the Chinese, 44 days for the Malays and 40 days for the Indians.
There are multiple things moms can do during this time. One of them is by taking herbal baths. Herbal baths are used by people of all cultures, whether postnatal mothers or not. Many spas and hotels offer relaxing packages that include a herbal bath to help people relax and unwind. It is very typical for new mothers to face overwhelming tension, so soaking in a relaxing herbal bath is a terrific method to deal with it without exerting too much energy.
Check out TYT Confinement Herbal Bath & TYT Confinement Herbal Bath with Ginger
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4. Eat Healthily
During pregnancy, your body secretes a lot of progesterone, another pregnancy hormone. It is About 300 extra calories are needed each day to keep a healthy pregnancy. These calories should come from a well-balanced diet of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, but they should also come from other foods. There should be very few sweets and fats. People who eat a healthy, well-balanced diet can also lessen pregnancy symptoms, like nausea and constipation.
Folic acid should be taken by all women of childbearing age or pregnant because it helps prevent neural tube defects or abnormalities, such as spina bifida. Ginger has also been good for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Check out TYT 28-Day Confinement Healing Soup & TYT +14-Day Confinement Nourishing Soup.
5. Shop For Yourself
While most moms won’t start showing until the second trimester, some may notice that their jeans are becoming more difficult to fasten, and their bras are tighter. To tide you over until you need to buy maternity clothes, invest in larger bras and reach for flowing, loose-fitting skirts and shirts. In a pinch, a hair tie looped around the button and hole of your jeans will suffice.
There are multiple other things moms can buy for themselves to ease out their pregnancy journey. This includes pregnancy pillows (to help with their sleep) or even scented candles to ease anxiety and stress! You can also drink ginger drinks, as it has been shown to lower the stress hormone cortisol levels.
Try out our Ginger Teas, which comes in three different flavours, Original, Lemongrass and Red Dates.
6. Unplug Once In A Week
Social media should be a way to shake off the day, just like a refreshing drink. However, we live on and through our screens, always plugged in, distracted and stimulated. But it’s time to make a change and start backpedalling to live a good and meaningful life.
Use the extra time to reconnect with family and friends in person, prepare for baby, or enjoy some alone (though let’s face it, you’re never actually alone — that wonderful kicking baby is always there!). Pregnancy can be a time of deep introspection because it is so brief by turning inside and is present while tuning out the outside world.
7. Listen To Your Body
It’s time to start paying attention to your body’s cues. Listen to it if your body tells you it’s time to rest. Pull up a chair and put your feet up if you want to take a little snooze. When you’re exhausted, don’t force yourself to keep going. That isn’t going to help you or your baby.
There will be days when you feel inspired and motivated, and it’s perfectly fine to take advantage of those feelings. However, this is not the time to take on extensive household work. Concentrate on the essentials and reserve the big stuff after the baby is born. If there’s something that needs to be done, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
While there is no right or wrong method to self-care during pregnancy, what matters is that the acts you choose to focus on should empower and elevate you up to be a happier, healthier version of yourself. Pregnancy can send you on a roller coaster of feelings, ranging from terrible anxiety to ecstatic delight… all in the course of a few minutes. Allow yourself to relax and take in the sights.
Check out our wide selection of items that can help you enjoy a meaningful pregnancy me-time.
