By Christy Callahan
One
of the best gifts you can give your baby and yourself is a calm,
clear mind and a relaxed body and nervous system. Why? Your unborn
baby receives chemical messages through the bloodstream through
that amazing organ we call the placenta. It's really a neglected
little miracle, that placenta; it provides nourishment for your
developing baby for months on end. Make sure that the hormones you
send to your little one are mainly loving and peaceful ones. This
is not meant to give anyone a guilt trip! Au contraire, this brief
article will clue you in on a few small steps you can take to help
manage stress while expecting.
1.
Physical Exercise.
Getting regular exercise is
a major stress buster. I know, many of us hate to work at gyms or
jog on the sidewalks. Perhaps there's even a dusty exercise
contraption lurking in your garage or closet. One way to get around
this is to enlist a friend to join you, to keep each other accountable.
Find something you like to do — maybe it's swimming or
rollerskating (check with your health care provider before beginning
any new exercise regime, just to be sure). You don't have
to join a prenatal yoga class to be fit; just be creative and have
fun.
2.
Dietary Supplements.
Here in Southern California,
we are blessed to have access to a wide variety of health food products.
And thanks to the Internet, you can find quality dietary supplements
wherever you happen to live. Make sure you're getting enough
B-complex and C vitamins. (Both are water soluble which means that
you need a fresh supply every day; that also means that it's
much harder to overdose on them since the excess gets secreted when
you urinate.) You've probably read about the importance of
taking enough folic acid during acid (it's one of the B vitamins).
You may not have heard that we use up more B-complex vitamins when
under stress (as well as while taking oral contraceptives).
3.
Herbs.
 When correctly used, herbs can be of great
benefit for pregnancy, birth and lactation — and in any phase
of life. First, a word of caution: it is important to check with
a knowledgeable professional if you are unsure about which herbs
to use and how much. Herbs like valerian, for instance, can be quite
potent. Generally speaking, however, store-bought teas are carefully
labeled and packaged in safe doses. Look for a nice, soothing tea
with chamomile, lemon verbena and orange peel. If you find one with
peppermint, that's a plus since the mint can calm an upset
tummy. Be sure to avoid herbs that have a steroidal effect (like
licorice and ginseng) and anything that causes uterine contractions,
especially if you have had repeat miscarriages or cervical problems.
4.
Roomy Scheduling.
Does it ever seem like your day is jam-packed
with activities and deadlines? Instead of rushing from one appointment
to the next, try to allow for extra time in between. That way, if
there's a traffic jam or some other unexpected foul-up, you
still have moments to spare. Sure, we all want to feel productive,
and yet, if you are carrying a baby, you're indeed re-productive.
Your body is already working hard to bring new life into the world,
so be easy on yourself. Give yourself big gaps in the day to just
BE. Trust me when I say that you are doing a huge service to yourself
and your baby.
Again, YOU are your baby's greatest asset.
Who else will be there when your child falls and scrapes her knee?
Who else will understand him and feel as close to him as you? Pregnancy
is a time to celebrate new life, to connect with the awesomeness
of Creation. This is also an opportunity to learn new ways to nurture
your self. Reducing stress, using any of the tips above, is one
way that you take care of your own needs, to the benefit of your
family's future.
Article written by Christy Callahan.
All opinions expressed are that of the writer.
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