Taking Time for Yourself During Pregnancy

Whether you're trying to survive first trimester nausea or wait out the last few weeks of your pregnancy, there is always a good excuse to pamper yourself during pregnancy. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. No matter how busy your life is, it's important to take time for yourself and relax and recharge your body and your spirit. Taking time to care for yourself can do wonders for your stress level and the health of you and your unborn baby. It's also a skill you'll need for when the baby is born. The better you care for yourself, the better you'll be able to care for your baby.

Baths
Warm baths are greatly effective at stress relief when combined with herbs and essential oils that promote relaxation and healing. You can easily customize your bathing experience with your favorite scents. Lavender and Chamomile are known for their calming and relaxing effects, making them ideal additions to any evening bath. Scents such as lemon, orange, and eucalyptus can be very refreshing in the middle of the day. Herbs and teas should be steeped and prepared before adding to your bath water, while drops of essential oils can be added without prior preparation.

Oatmeal and salts also make excellent additions to any bath. Bath salt or Epsom salt can be added directly to your bath water to soothe aches and pains, reduce swelling, and promote better circulation. Oatmeal can be wrapped up in cheesecloth and added to your bath water to calm and sooth your dry, itchy skin. As the oatmeal becomes moist, squeeze out the milky substance from the cloth into your bath water.

Teas & Homeopathic Remedies
With your limits in the use of medication during pregnancy, it's a great time to take advantage of the healing and restorative properties of nature through herbal teas and formulas. As these natural products become popular again, it's more common to find at least a small herbal tea or homeopathic remedy selection in your local grocery store or pharmacy. You will find an even wider selection of these products online.

Look for chamomile tea or special nighttime tea formulas to help promote relaxation and a good night's rest. Peppermint, lemon, orange, and other similar teas can help to open the sinuses and provide refreshment. Red raspberry and nettles can promote pregnancy health and prepare your body for labor. When choosing homeopathic products, stick with well-known brands and suppliers. You can find a homeopathic alternative to just about any over the counter medication.

Movement
Even on your worst day, it's important that you do some light movement and keep your body moderately active. There is no need to tire or overexert yourself, especially in late pregnancy. You can use this time to learn a few easy yoga positions or practice labor positions. Many women enjoy sitting on a birth ball and moving their hips in late pregnancy, and you can do it while watching TV, reading a book, or doing other activities. If you can, get your partner involved in practicing labor positions. You will both benefit from the time and intimacy together, which will help you feel more in-tune and connected with each other when the big day arrives.

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Vanessa Pruitt, PLMHP, MS

Vanessa is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska and holds an MS in Clinical Psychology. She is a certified trauma professional with a special interest in helping people heal from trauma and complex trauma.

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