Self-care for the mommy – to – be
Self-care is an essential precursor to a happier and healthier pregnancy. It helps with ensuring you an enjoyable 9 months rather than dreading what is to be the most memorable journey of your motherhood.
Below are a few tips to self-care:
- Keep your blood sugar level up: eat whole, healthy foods and plenty of protein. Do this in small, frequent meals throughout the day. Vary your diet as much as possible.
- Keep yourself hydrated: Plain water is great. If you are nauseated and can’t keep water down, add a spoonful of sugar and a pinch of salt to it. This will rehydrate you quickly and ease much of your nausea. Coconut water is another very good source of the essential nutrients to avoid dehydration.
- Get plenty of rest: Take a 10-minute break as often as you can. Take a nap before dinner. Take a nap around lunch time. Go to sleep early and rise as late as you can get away with. Get in the habit of grabbing bits of rest whenever you can this will make parenting a newborn much easier!
- Stay confident in your body: Look for positive information about birth and pregnancy. Avoid the birth horror stories people want to tell. Your body knows how to birth. Don’t let anyone try to tell you it will fail. There is no one best way to give birth for every woman. You can find your best way, and you will have an easier time doing so if you hear about positive experiences.
- Ask questions about your care: Speak up and ask questions to your health care provider and the paramedical team involved in you care. They are the best people to answer all the questions and doubts you may have about your pregnancy / the tests and reason they are done or in general what is good or bad for you while you are pregnant.
- Get educated and take classes: While you are pregnant and when you have a newborn in your hand, you will be subjected to various choices. Attend sessions where you can get the education about these choices and make informed decisions that will help you and the baby have a safer and healthier journey.
- Go out and pamper yourself: who says if you are pregnant you cannot pamper yourself. Look out for medical professionals who do pre and post-natal massage and treat yourself once in a while. Just be careful to choose wisely and look for someone who is licensed in their particular field of work
Dr. Caroline Alphine
Specialist Obstetrics & Gynecology
Aster Hospital
