Staying Uplifted in the Final Stretch of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a magical and miraculous journey.
However, it can also really take it’s toll on our body, mind, and emotions.
Now.. I’m an optimistic gal, but I have to say..
This second pregnancy has been much more challenging than my first, and I hope at least one of these little tips is helpful to some Mama out there.
As of posting this blog, I am only 6 days away from our estimated due date.
I’ve found myself more exhausted, out of breath, having pelvic pain, sciatica, feeling super tight tummied and heavy (especially at night), finding it much harder to sleep, and a bit more emotional.
At the same time, I’m extremely excited to see who our baby is because we don’t know the gender, so it’ll be a surprise on their birthday! 😄
And I’ve been anticipating how our 2-year-old son reacts to having a sibling, what having 2 kids is going to be like, and especially how the birth is going to go since we’re doing a natural home birth again.
Since I know pregnancy is different for everyone, but can really start getting uncomfortable for most.. particularly in the final few months, I wanted to chat about a few things I’m doing right now that are helping me stay uplifted in this last stretch.
No surprise, it’s going to be a lot about self-care.
Self-care is truly where it’s at, y’all.
You are the most important person in your life!
Even in motherhood.
In order to show up in the best way for your kids, it’s imperative to show up for yourself.
This does not mean we have to strive for perfection or to be the best mommy, partner, and woman..
But it does mean that we can handle life better when we feel better in our body, mind, and spirit.
We can't pour from an empty cup, so let’s fill it up in some way, every day.
Are you with me?!
It's also an amazing thing for your children to witness you taking care of yourself because it teaches them how to take care of themselves.
You're the example!
Let’s go.
Here’s what I’ve found on my journey to be the most helpful in staying uplifted and taking care of myself 😊
Nourish Your Body Gently
Staying hydrated
I’m sure you’re aware of our body’s need for hydration by now..
But to recap, some of those important reasons are:
Better brain function
More energy
Good digestion and waste removal
Joint and skin health
Weight management
And our baby needs as much hydration as we do.
It helps baby receive nutrients and oxygen from the placenta and to form the protective amniotic fluid.
I’ve been shooting for 1 gallon a day and find that if I don’t reach it.. I notice.
I hardly ever get cramps, but the few times I didn’t get close to my gallon during this last trimester, I got leg cramps in the morning, and it’s just not fun.
To reach my gallon, I fill my 40 ounce stainless steel cup 3 times during the day.
I try to drink one before lunch, one in early afternoon, and one in early evening before bed.
I also drink a red raspberry and/or nettle tea, and sometimes have a coffee or citrus coconut water that we make at home.
Eating lots of whole foods
We’re rolling into summer, and all the most delicious fruit is coming in season, so we're eating TONS of it.
I've been loving starting our day with fruit like.. pineapple, mangoes, watermelon, cherries, strawberries, and peaches 🤤
For second breakfast.. I make something a little more sturdy, like eggs and/or avo toast, or oatmeal spruced up with ground flaxseed and walnuts for healthy protein and fat.
For a snack, my son and I have been loving making smoothies together, or sometimes have nuts and dates.
Lunch is usually leftovers or a sandwich.
Very simple.. and I love not wasting our food!
Dinner is carb-y and mostly veggie.
I eat a little meat, both real and alternative, but very minimal now.
I love eating gnocchi, pasta, potatoes, rice (we’ve been mixing with quinoa), and sourdough flatbread (great for quick little DIY pizzas, btw).
And I always try to add greens in our dinner too, if not with a side salad, then by throwing in something like spinach or peas in whatever we’re making.
Movement That Feels Good
Honestly, I have not been walking all that well and all that much in this pregnancy.
I’ve been letting go of some guilt with that and using housework for most of my exercise instead.
It allows me to easily take a break when I need to, feel productive, and keep my sanity (because having a clean-ish home makes me feel so much better).
Stretching seriously helps me feel so much better as well.
I get in some stretching daily, and try for about 50 squats afterwards, but that’s pretty much the extent of my “working out.”
I’d just say, whatever movement makes you feel good and keeps you consistent is worth the effort for you and baby.
Rest is Medicine
It’s so important to listen to our body, especially when pregnant, so some days, rest is the practice, and don’t feel guilty about it!
This has been a huge life lesson for me.
I still try to be productive, but I learned just how much rest can be productive!
I’ve been letting go of the pressure to “get everything done” and embrace this new season of life, calibrating to what I can do now because I’m going to need just as much “grace” after baby is here as I need right now, being uber preggo!
That being said, I do try my best to rest productively too, by:
Sitting and playing with my son, being 100% present and patient with him
Napping with my son.. yes, napping!
Taking a break on the couch to review my daily dashboard on my phone or laptop (to review my day intention, todos, etc.) or clear out some email (even if it’s just the obvious junk mail)
I also love indulging in Pinterest, but usually in the evening after dinner :)
As for getting just about anything else done..
I’m prioritizing and getting at least one thing done each day.
Which by the way.. one thing I just changed on this and love is to only show 1 priority todo for each of my top 3 categories so I don’t have a long and haunting todo list.
I just show the number one todo with the highest priority for each of my 3 categories (life admin, cleaning, and work) and then have a toggle for all the rest of the stuff I want to do if I have the time and energy to get to it.
But no pressure 😌
Let me know in the comments if you might be interested in a Notion template like this!
Also, I have to say.. my little restroom ritual that includes a quick reflection of what you just accomplished, really does help me realize how productive I really am and makes me feel so much better!!
Ok.. sleep..
It can be troublesome with a big-ol-belly, but here’s what I’ve found has been helping me..
Using a fan and a lighter cover
Pillow between the legs and to hug, of course!
Getting on all fours to let my belly hang down for a few minutes and stretch my hips
Reading some non-fiction to get sleepy
Uplift Your Mind and Mood
Spruce up your Environment
I'm a full-time mom, so our home is Sanctuary 🙏🏼
To bring in new energy and make our home more comfortable, I am loving to update even the littlest of things like:
Cabinet liners in our pantry
Containers to reduce visual clutter from unsightly labels
A light throw for our bed
Plants, plants, plants!
To create my little nursing area, we just got a little side table to put near my nursing chair where I can set my water, phone, book, and a tiny flower pot 🙂
It also has a little basket on the bottom where I can put some of my son’s books and toys when he wants to hang out with me and baby.
Since we’ll likely be hanging out here a lot, I want it to feel like my inner temple - a space just for me that I love and reflects my highest self.
Also.. decluttering and rearranging brings new energy and is obviously free!
To me, letting go of things is just as exciting as getting new things, so decluttering absolutely anything, big or small, is extremely satisfying.
Keep your peace
I think it’s absolutely great to stay consistent and keep yourself accountable through a daily routine/rhythm and habits, but I’ve been learning to create a much more relaxed and simple routine during this season of my life and also let some habits go, or simplify them waaay down.
I highly encourage other mamas to do the same, in whatever way they can.
And obviously, saying no, or not right now to plans or anything you don’t feel like giving your energy to right now, ]is okay.
I’ve definitely been more firm on this during this pregnancy.
If something doesn’t feel like a heck yes.. give it time, let it pass, or wait til later.
There’s still plenty of time to do all the things after baby gets here and then catch up on all the excuses to get out of the house (whether with your littles, or solo) when you’re feeling your energy return.
Avoiding overstimulation, anxiety-inducing news/social media, and unnecessary notifications feels so freeing!
One of the best decisions I've made recently is to LET INSTAGRAM GO!!
Omg.. the freedom I felt after making that decision is very real.
Instagram always left me with an icky feeling after getting on it.
I’m not sure if it’s because it felt like a waste of time to me, the comparison trap, or what.. but it never felt good.
I had been trying to force myself to like it and post there regularly for a long time now, but not anymore!
I’m letting it go and focusing on the platforms I actually enjoy like Pinterest and YouTube 😊
(So follow me there if you like! @fitlivinginspired).
Another thing I did a while back that has been awesome for me is setting up “do not disturb” on my phone.
You can block notifications and even calls and texts (while allowing certain contacts of your choosing, like your partner and midwife) for a block of time of your choosing.
I just updated mine to only allow notifications from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm since I want less friction with winding down and keeping my mornings as phone-free as possible.
Lastly, having honest conversations with my partner about needs, expectations, and fears.
For me, this is mainly about needing help with our toddler and the house while I recover and have my hands full most of the time.
Oh.. and not to mention, needing my own rest and me time!
Me time is another thing I take seriously and try to prioritize, especially in the morning (hence the DND).
Take time to visualize a peaceful birth
I highly recommend setting up some quiet time in the early morning to visualize and meditate to connect to your inner being and spirit.
I’m a big believer in waking up before your kid(s) to do this.
That means winding down and going to bed at a decent time so you can wake up with a head start instead of feeling like you’re chasing the day.
This early morning me-time is also amazing for visualizing a peaceful birth.
I’ve been practicing breath work during this time, specifically breathing baby down and out and relaxing my pelvic muscles through each wave (contraction).
Also, imagining what you want once labor begins..
For example, when my labor begins, we’re going to turn the lights low, get the birth pool ready, have the birth ball nearby, have my headphones for calming music, my little flameless candles, the fan positioned on me, my coconut water, maybe some crystals..
You get it.
Think about what you’re going to want, go through the motions in your mind, and prepare.
Tend to Your Spirit and Emotions
Journal Daily (Even for 5 Minutes)
Again, this is taking just a little time in the morning for yourself, but the more time you can find, I’d say.. indulge!
When I wake up earlier than my son, I do a whole sequence of breathing, meditation, stretching, and then journaling and going over my day plan.
But if I sleep in these days, I don’t fret..
I just roll into my day and find a moment while Mav is eating or playing independently to journal, go over my daily dashboard, and do my stretches.
For journaling, I usually do some free flow or stream of consciousness where you just write whatever comes to you, but lately, I’ve been liking to do a few favorite prompts:
Review / Highlights / Wins (from yesterday)
Rampage of Appreciation (now & future)
How am I feeling right now?
What did I learn from yesterday? What could I have done better?
How can I show up as my Higher Self today? How can I level up?
Honor Your Emotions — All of Them
I found that giving myself permission to let emotion flow from me is going to help me the most in getting through them and not let them fester and get stuck in my body.
Let the tears out, scream the anger out (try screaming in a pillow, for real), dance the jitters out, talk the fears out with a trusted person or in your journal.. whatever you need to do.
And I’m sorry if you’re not much of a journaling type, but I just have to say that writing things out feels really freaking good.
It gets things out of your mind, and gives you the opportunity to physically reflect and shift your perspective and energy.
Use the contrast for clarity.
This means.. whatever emotions you’re wanting to release and negative energy you’re needing to let go of, put them down, see them, and then notice what the opposite of those are.
That’s what you’re really wanting and calling in.
That’s your clarity.
Honor your Motherhood
Something I heard from an amazing woman I met at a retreat mentioned something I’ll never forget..
We think about how we want our children’s childhood to be, but how do you want to experience your MOTHERHOOD?
This is also a huge chapter in your life!
Make it special for you, too!
All in all
Again.. pregnancy is a beautiful, miraculous, and magical time, even though we may feel more physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
So how you treat yourself right now.. both on the outside and from the inside.. is uber important and doesn’t just impact you, but ripples out to your partner, your family, those you encounter, and especially your little one that’s connected to you inside the womb.
Realize, right freaking now, how important and special you are, and how your nurturing and love creates ripples on the planet.. starting with how you love and nurture yourself.
I hope any little part of this might have resonated or inspired you in some way.
If it did, let me know what stood out to you the most and how you stay uplifted during pregnancy!
Stay fli 🪽
