Pregnancy is a powerful time in a woman’s life.
For some it comes as a complete surprise, others it’s a long awaited result of a difficult and at times heartbreaking process. It can be filled with excitement, fear, and joy all at the same time. No matter what emotions are playing a role, pregnancy is often a time of reflecting & learning much about what you really want from life, and what your body is capable of.
I experienced all of these emotions (and then some!) I tried my best to lean into the positive ones, but one of the most prevalent I experienced was uncertainty. Not exactly what you’d expect eh?
Our daughter wasn’t exactly planned, so initially my mind was filled with thoughts such as
Are we ready for this? Can we afford a kid? Is this what we really want?
I only had a few weeks to ponder those questions before they shifted..
Why am I so tired? Why do I just feel like crap? When will I actually feel pregnant? Can I really push a tiny human out?
The first trimester was the hardest for me; mentally & emotionally I was uncomfortable because I wasn’t as excited as I thought I would be, as I thought I SHOULD be. I leaned heavily on my husband (bless him & all the great partners out there that are supportive during first trimesters!) and my close family & friends who made up in excitement on my behalf.
Acupuncture, getting used to gentler movements/exercise, and easily digestible foods to help nourish the body were all key in getting me through these first few months. Hormones are surging, body is starting the biggest change it’ll ever undergo, mind & spirit are conceptualizing the transition from woman to mother.
Second trimester brought more energy, more excitement for baby, and more questions.
How long has it been since the baby kicked? Am I getting sick.. What happens to the baby if I get sick?? Will this tiny human really be tiny when I have to push them out??
Add to the normal pregnancy stressors, that of living through a global pandemic with the quandary of avoiding the virus but unsure of the vaccine, makes for a pretty worrisome time.
Holding my baby in my arms for the first time, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. But as this was my first pregnancy, I didn’t feel this during the 10 months she was growing inside me! This is where the power of intention (and practice) comes in…
As much as it’s hard to connect with your future baby when they’re the size of a sesame seed, this is when I started attempting to “talk” to her. Not knowing the gender the whole time made it harder still, but made me lean into the faith of love even more so. I would talk to her telling her all the things I was doing for her; when I ate a healthy meal, when I received acupuncture or body work, when I laid down to take a nap. As we approached full term and she was much bigger (as was I) my talks turned into pep talks for both of us, a “we’re in this together” kind of deal, so let’s make it quick & please don’t hurt me too much on your way out.
This repeated intentional connection, as well as much time spent in meditation and hypnobirthing classes prepared me mentally for the marathon that is labor & delivery. To be able to go deep within yourself, to a place that is calm, safe and settled is helpful to allow your body to take over.
I realized by the third trimester, that pregnancy is a sacred time that should be celebrated. Your body is accomplishing an amazing feat, you are following the footsteps of generations of our species, you are bringing a new human into the world to influence generations to come. There is so much joy in the journey, you deserve to feel and give yourself love.
There are many amazing practitioners in Northern Colorado that specialize in different aspects of prenatal care, and I was blessed to work with many of them. As they say, it takes a village.
Upon finding out I was pregnant, I started a prenatal care schedule with Reconnect Chiropractic. Studies show that women who get adjusted regularly during pregnancy have 25% shorter labors; upon learning this I was sure to make it to every appointment with Dr. Deanna! Her adjustments were helpful in relieving headaches & heartburn in the first trimester, and kept my hips aligned and back feeling strong as the front half of my body grew in the later months.
I received acupuncture from a couple of fabulous practitioners, Heidi Golding with Living Well Chinese Medicine & Lindsay Herrera Kaplan at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. Their care not only helped relieve some of the unpleasant pregnancy symptoms (nausea, hemorrhoids, insomnia) but improved my emotional and spiritual wellbeing incredibly. The smooth flow of qi is essential for optimal health, and pregnancy is no exception.
Heather Stanley with Healing Hands Massage is a prenatal superhero; not only providing incredible body work that loosens tight and sore pregnant backs/shoulders/hips/bellies! But she provides homework/exercises (and is a strict teacher I will add!) that helps keep the baby in the proper position for a healthy vaginal birth. She has an impressive success rate for helping flip breeched babies, using a combination of her massage techniques and exercises to do at home.
The Peaceful Birth Company offers hypnobirthing classes and doula services that are educational on all aspects of the birthing process. We learned not only what happens to mine & baby’s bodies, but how to connect mind & body to make the birthing process, dare I say enjoyable? In the later hours, tolerable.
Finally, the team at Tender Gifts Midwifery & Birth Center is an amazing group of compassionate women that provide complete care for both mom, baby and family. They made us feel secure and confident as we moved through the months of pregnancy, and provided essential tender care for the 6 first vulnerable weeks postpartum.
Recent Comments