On staying slow during pregnancy

As someone who is still learning the art of slowing down, pregnancy definitely forces you to find new ways of adjusting your lifestyle.

And rather than push the limits, I chose to try and embrace it. It was not always easy though to slow down or rest, especially given living in a construction zone for the last 12 months! I also ramped up a new small business working on branding and communication strategy. It has been so great for me to rediscover my creativity and drive - even during pregnancy. And I’m keeping it “slow” by only have one client right now. I don’t have a lot of my back-end fully set up, but I’m running flexible and lean and have a client who is super accommodating which is perfect (and I am so grateful for)!

I wanted to share some things that have helped me keep my cool throughout this time.

For starters, staying active has been a huge help. I of course had to modify certain exercises and generally take things at a lower intensity, but walking the dog everyday and doing some sort of light activity always makes me feel better and appreciate my body. I’ve continued doing barre/light strength work, gotten back into yoga (Peloton app is great!), and explored pelvic floor exercises as well (more focused on breathing).

Now that I’m in the final stages, I think I’ll be leaning even more into restorative yoga, breathing and meditation practices to help keep my mind at ease.

Reading and journaling have also kept me feeling balanced. I got the Bump journal at the beginning of my pregnancy because I knew I wanted to document the journey (without it all being online). I try to do this weekly (though some weeks got away from me), and we’ve been taking Instax instant images of my belly as it grows. At times pregnancy can feel like a long and isolating journey and other times, it feels like it is flying by. Documenting my mindset, the physical changes, and anticipation of baby’s arrival is something I’ll want to look back on. I’ve always been a proponent of reflection and this is such a special time to do so.

In terms of books, I remember grabbing a few early on (including the well-known What to Expect When You’re Expecting), but it quickly became overwhelming. I’m usually a very thorough “studier” and want to be prepared, but as I moved throughout my pregnancy, I realized that the best laid plans often don’t go as planned at all. And that was something I needed to embrace early on. There has been one book in particular that I’ve loved and found helpful - Transformed by Birth. Britta Bushnell does a great job of introducing parenthood and birth as a rite of passage and balancing both medical and more natural perspectives. I’ve enjoyed it so much I plan on bringing it with me to the hospital! And rather than push myself to read it quickly, I’ve taken it chapter at a time… to really let things sink in and not overwhelm myself with all the new information.

Finding time to nap has made a regular cadence in many of my days (that is if I can find some quiet around the house!). With pregnancy, I’ve found there are days you feel good (and normal) and days where you just feel completely wiped. So I’ve really tuned into what my body is asking for as it’s working hard right now! Naps are life giving if you can find the time (and sometimes it was late in the day while my husband handled dinner).

Lastly, connecting with other mammas has been a relief. There are so many changes happening and thoughts about what’s to come, that it is grounding to have those that have gone through it provide some perspective. Though I will say, be careful here. Many friends and family will be willing to offer all the opinions and advice - which can be helpful, but also overwhelming! Everyone’s experience with pregnancy, delivery and postpartum are so different and that was one thing I learned and actually found some comfort in (again, learning to let go that there is no normal or perfect here).

Before I know it, we will have a new home that was designed with love and our hearts and arms will be full as we welcome this little one! Continuing to stay slow and intentional is my hope in this new chapter.