06/22/2024
Self-Nurturing During Pregnancy & Postpartum is Important 🌿
Motherhood can be a beautiful journey, but it can also be a time of heightened emotions and stress for many parents. Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or sad can make caring for yourself, finding calm, and regulating your nervous system *seem* impossible at times.
A little self-nurturing and the right support system go a long way toward feeling better day by day.
I know sometimes it's hard to find the time or motivation, so here are three small + simple ways to nurture yourself during pregnancy and postpartum:
🪷 Deep Breathing: Try 1-3 minutes of deep breathing exercises like the 3/3/3 breaths throughout your day. Throw in a few loud sighs at the end of your exhale to soothe and release tension. You can do this while showering, changing a diaper, at your desk, or while taking a few glorious moments alone.
🪷Gentle Movement: Literally just swaying your body back and forth with your eyes closed for 3 minutes while breathing deeply can quickly boost your mood. Add a few minutes of cat/cow or child's pose to get some endorphins flowing. If you have more time, 20 minutes of yoga or a walk outside are great, too!
🪷 Micro-Journaling: Sometimes, it helps to get your thoughts out of your head and on paper. Set your timer for 2-5 minutes to write out how your body feels now and all the thoughts or worries racing through your mind. This format may be helpful to get started ↓
"I am feeling XYZ (ex. heaviness in my chest and my heart is racing fast) in my body because I keep having thoughts that XYZ (ex. I'm not a good mother or how I can't handle this)." Then, take a few deep breaths.
✨Self-nurturing is about taking intentional, gentle actions to care for your own mind, body, and spirit. It doesn't need to take up much time or be fancy; even small efforts can provide relief in the moment.
If you need additional support and strategies along the way, counseling with a perinatal mental health-trained therapist, a perinatal mental health coach, and social support groups (or all 3!) can be helpful along your journey.
🪷I'd love to be a part of your support team as your coach; book your free consultation today