These final weeks are slowly kicking my ass- the exhaustion, the peeing every hour of the day and night, the pressure on my hoo-ha, and the damn inability to breathe. I love being pregnant- I’ve been blessed with low-stress pregnancies, but man do those final weeks take a toll on your body. Prioritizing self-care is the greatest thing you could do for yourself in these final moments- extra time with your feet up, cuddles and naps on the couch, and just slowing down.
My List of Relaxation Must Do’s
Getting my nails done. Hello pedicure and foot massage!
Extra naps. The husband is amazing at jumping in and encouraging this. Especially in these final weeks, he is always keeping track of my sleep patterns and is usually more concerned than I am about sleep. I’ll take it!
Couch days. Gracefully accepting that we need more time on the couch, watching movies to slow down.
Sitting outside. Minus these damn cicadas- the warm sun and outdoors helps me relax insanely well.
Warm showers. To help ease tension in my back and help relax my body. (These are also amazing during active labor!)
Stretching. I search Pinterest for stretch ideas that are good for pregnancy. I tend to search “Stretches to Prepare for Labor” or specific parts of my body that are needing a good stretch.
Connecting With Your Partner
This is a great time to squeeze in some last-minute time together. A date night. A weekend away. A movie night on the couch. Whatever it may be. Because the new little being that is about to rock your world is going to make that alone time a little bit challenging for a while.
I am so grateful Phil and I spent the weekend away in San Diego a month back. It was the perfect way for us to spend quality, slowed time together. We appreciated every minute of it. It gave us a stronger outlook on how much we value being a team and how much that is needed when a new person enters the dynamics of a household. That weekend away really gave us a moment to breathe, reset, and be ready to support one another through the chaos we are about to embark on.
Emotional and Mental Well-Being
At this point in pregnancy, I really start mentally preparing for the laboring and birth of the baby. It’s no secret that pushing a human out of you hurts like a mother. And my personal choice has always been to labor naturally. So, beginning to mentally prepare is so important for me.
To combat the nerves, I remember how quickly these moments go by. You are in and out of the hospital and your baby is two weeks old before you know it.
To combat the fear, I remind myself that I am getting the greatest gift ever at the end of it all.
To combat the pain, I remind myself how temporary the pain is. The pain, the pressure, the everything immediately goes away the second you are holding your baby.
To combat the anxiety, I remind myself to breathe and that I have done this three times before. My body is made to do this.
These are all things I continue to remind myself of on a daily basis. That way, once I do find myself in labor, my mind is prepped and ready to go. Those reminders are engraved in me so deeply that those nerves, the fear, the anxiousness cannot take over.
As crazy as it sounds, the competitive athlete in me, loves giving birth. I love the adrenaline rush you get from it all. And in my own head, I am competing against myself. How much can I endure? I’m competing against my body’s pain. I tap into the mental aspect of competition and know it’s all mind over matter. I’ve truly, in all that I’ve done in life thus far, have never felt more bad-ass than I do when I give birth. And that feeling alone drives me HARD.
What are some of your top self-care routines or practices? What do you enjoy doing most when you need to slow down ever so slightly?
