It can be very common during pregnancy to have many questions. You may have thoughts and wonder about who you will be as a mom, what labor will be like, how this will change you and your relationship with your partner. Even if this isn’t your first pregnancy, you may have many questions; How do I prepare my child for the new baby? Is it possible to love this baby as much as my other child? Will I be able to juggle more than one child? These days, with all of the added uncertainty from COVID-19 and other looming world events. The tension in the world can amplify the uncertainty of pregnancy. Given everything you may be feeling, I would like to encourage you to take some time for self-care and stress reduction, starting with the simple practice I like to call “cozy corner.”
Find or create a space in your home to dedicate to self-care time for at least 10-15 minutes a day. We will call this your “cozy corner.” Strive to make this a lasting habit. If you can build this time and make it part of your daily ritual, it will be easier to continue practicing your self-care routine after your baby arrives. Allowing yourself this time is something you deserve. It is an investment in yourself and will benefit your family as well.
Find a place in your home that is comfortable. Do you have a favorite chair? Is there a time of day when the light is just perfect, and you can sit in the sun? This space can be anywhere in your home, but I encourage you to try for an area where you can close a door and be quiet by yourself. This will be even more important once the baby arrives.
You can use your cozy corner time in a variety of ways. Experiment with different ideas and see what works best for you.
You can use this time to focus on the baby. Drink a cup of tea, read, knit, or make something for the baby—set intentions. Write about something you hope to teach your child or wishes for your baby’s life one day. Think or write about goals for you and your growing family. Sing a song to the baby. Talk to your baby.
You can use this time to focus on yourself and connect with your body. Sit quietly and think about your amazing body and the incredible thing it is doing. You are growing a tiny human! Thank your body. Imagine all the women who came before you and sit in that collective strength.
Acknowledge how you are feeling. Know that whatever you are feeling is okay. There is no one way to feel during pregnancy. Maybe you are excited; perhaps you were excited yesterday and are apprehensive today. However you feel right now, whatever your body is doing at this moment, is valid. Take a moment to acknowledge it.
As you practice this each day, you will discover what works for you. Think of this as an investment in your wellbeing that will help support you and your baby all along your journey together.
Photo credit:
Photo by Alicia Petresc on Unsplash
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash