Congrats on your pregnancy! One of the most important things you can do for your growing baby is to create what we call a “positive pregnancy.”
Our bodies and everything in this world is made up of energy. When we feel bad and are negative, our babies receive this energy through us as expecting moms.
It’s true that when mom is healthy and happy, baby is healthy and happy. So how do you have a positive pregnancy? Here are five tips to get you started:
Tip #1 - Mindset
Our thoughts are the single most powerful tool to have a positive pregnancy and a positive life overall.
What we think, we attract based on the law of attraction. So if you worry about things like delivering the baby or the baby’s health, we are putting out signals to the universe about these negative things and guess what? We can manifest the very things we worry about!
So instead of worrying, swap these thoughts with positive thoughts and believe with all your being that you will have an amazing pregnancy, delivery, and your baby will be healthy.
I know for first time moms, fear of the unknown is real, but when you tell yourself you can do this, it works! And you know what? YOU CAN DO THIS! Our bodies are made to give birth so trust your body and enjoy the journey.
Same goes for negative thinking. Negative thoughts, create negative feelings and remember your unborn baby feels everything you do.
Try not to stress out because this has physical affects for mom and again what mom feels, the baby feels. Practicing acceptance helps a lot. Just know that whatever comes your way, everything will work out and be okay. If you don’t like a certain situation and usually you stress out, instead go meditate for five minutes and know and believe everything will work out. Take action steps towards the outcome you desire instead of wasting energy on stressing about things. I know easier said than done, but with practice, it’s possible to live a stress-free life.
Something I do every morning when I wake up to put me in the right frame of mind for the day is to go through my gratitude list. You can do this inside your head while you brush your teeth. It works best when your mind is quiet (meaning before all the hustle and bustle of the day starts – or after you meditate even).
It goes like this:
I am so grateful for ____________.
I am so grateful for ____________.
I am so grateful for ____________.
I am so grateful for ____________.
Etc. etc. until you have gone through your entire list.
Sometimes it’s as simple as I am so grateful for another day in this life. I am so grateful for the car that have. I am so grateful to be alive.
Add in some grateful intentions – this means you are grateful for things that have not happened yet, but you feel as if they have already happened. This is the fastest way to make something a reality. So when I was pregnant I said: “I am so grateful my baby is thriving and healthy. I am so grateful that I had an easy, amazing pregnancy. I am so grateful I delivered my baby easily and gave birth to a healthy baby.”
After you say your gratitude list, say thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you…for each item you mentioned. As you say your thank yous, smile and feel complete gratitude and try to think back to all the things you mentioned.
Tip #2 - Create Your Positive Force Field
Life is not perfect and not everything and everyone around you will be positive. It’s easy to let someone else’s bad mood or negativity affect your own, but please know this is a complete choice! NO ONE has the power to impact your positive pregnancy unless you allow it. So here’s what I did during my pregnancy and even still today I use this:
I envision a strong, beautiful, positive, glowing energy force field around myself. Sort of like protection for my baby and me. If something negative happens or if someone around me was being negative, I say in my head: “Nothing can break my positive pregnancy force field!”
And instead of getting frustrated or upset with the negative person around me, I try to think that there must be an underlying issue they are dealing with so just be supportive and role model positivity back to the person.
Another tactic I learned from this cool Money Bootcamp course I took was if someone is being negative, put your arms up in front of you crossed like Wonder Women and strongly say aloud: “Dooshz. Dooshz. Dooshz.” This is you mindfully stopping any negative energy coming your way. It’s cool because my husband says when I do this, it helps him realize that what he is saying is negative and he stops.
This all may sound a little kooky – but it works!
Tip #3 - Eat Healthy
The foods we put into our bodies have a huge impact on our overall wellness – mind, body and soul. When we feel good, we look good is a motto we have here at Body After Baby and it’s true. Feeling good on the inside with nutritious foods will radiate outwards.
I got the best tip from my nutritionist and it was to drink 100 ounces of water a day while pregnant. I felt AMAZING the entire time. I worked the day I went into labor and even cooked dinner during contractions! I survived moving into a new house 3 days before the baby was born, I was able to look at over 40 houses on the market, I never had swelling, and I did not have any pregnancy issues – nor did the baby. I truly believe it was because of all the water I drank!
I also took one scoop of Amazing Grass Alkalize & Detox Super Greens every morning (make sure to ask your doctor before taking it. I asked mine and it was approved, but we are not medical professionals and this blog is not intended to give medical advice.).
Lastly, I ate clean foods: minimally processed and organic. My two pregnancy cravings were peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cut up veggies with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and sea salt. When your body is used to clean foods, it craves good stuff.
It was easy to eat healthy because the bottom line is: what you eat, your baby eats. So if the food I put into my body will help my baby grow, thrive and develop, it was a no-brainer to eat as healthy as possible.
Tip #4 - Stay Active
Did you know that exercise boosts our happiness for 24 hours?! My friend Diane Lang, author and positive living expert, taught me this. Mind Body Green points out reasons why exercise makes us happy:
- releases happy chemicals in our brain,
- makes us less stressed
- gives us energy,
- relieves anxiety,
- helps insomnia, and
- boosts our confidence.
American Pregnancy shares benefits of exercising while pregnant:
- Helps reduce backaches, constipation, bloating, and swelling
- May help prevent, or treat, gestational diabetes
- Increases your energy
- Improves your mood
- Improves your posture
- Promotes muscle tone, strength, and endurance
- Helps you sleep better
- Regular activity also helps keep you fit during pregnancy and may improve your ability to cope with labor. This will make it easier for you to get back in shape after your baby is born.
Your pre-pregnancy activity levels plays an important role in determining what exercise you should do while pregnant. Discuss this with your doctor.
If you are used to yoga – this is amazing during pregnancy! It’s low impact and very calming. For me, I walked at the gym – again, I asked my doctor beforehand.
Make sure you have the right support while exercising and throughout the day. The Motherload Maternity Support Band by Body After Baby is for active pregnant women that need to relieve back, hip and abdominal pain and to reduce sciatica. Unlike other pregnancy support bands, the Motherload is especially designed for active pregnant moms. Soft, breathable moisture wicking material move synergistically with a mom’s growing belly, whether running around town, or getting into a pregnancy safe yoga move. Best part, it’s undetectable under clothes -- even fitted gym clothing!
Tip #5 - Me Moments
When mom is happy, baby is happy. Make sure to schedule “me moments” EVERY DAY.
These can be little moments of joy such as sitting on the deck listening to the birds in the morning with a cup of ginger tea and stevia, reading a magazine in the hammock, making yourself a yummy shake or mocktail, or giving yourself an eco-friendly facial…to bigger me moments like a pre-natal massage, pedicure, or even a weekend getaway.
While pregnant we have a lot going on to prepare for the baby, but don’t lose yourself in all this!
Our pregnancy experience should be beautiful and we have the power to create a positive pregnancy which helps our baby tremendously. How else do you create a positive pregnancy? Comment below or join the conversation on our Facebook page!
Body After Baby provides active moms with the next generation of “smart” maternity belly bands and post-pregnancy supportive healing shapewear. Recover more quickly and comfortably with our “set it and forget it” invisible garments. No adjusting or constant re-positioning. Just pure belly bliss. You focus on your baby, while we focus on your body!