5 pregnancy tips for mums-to-be who need to relax
Take heed of the following pregnancy tips to minimize stress during your pregnancy.
Regardless of whether you’ve just found out you’re pregnant, or whether you’re in your final trimester, expectant mothers should always seek to mitigate their stress levels. Whilst low levels of stress are fine, pregnant women who experience moderate to high levels of stress on a continuous basis run the risk of potentially affecting their foetus’s development.
Want to reduce your stress levels and ensure that you deliver a happy, healthy baby? Get started with the following pregnancy tips!
Tip #1: Take time off work
Top on our list of pregnancy tips is to have some r&r. If you’re working in a high-pressure environment, consider reducing your hours at work so that you won’t be exposing your foetus to inordinate amounts of stress every day. If that’s not possible, request for a remote-working arrangement so that you can at least cut back on travel time, and work from the comforts of your own home.
Tip #2: Have a confidante
Your pregnancy journey will be fraught with emotions - and instead of bottling it all up, you need someone to share the highs and lows with. The vast majority of women rely on their partners, their families, and their friends for support throughout these 9 months - so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Tip #3: Practice deep breathing
Deep breathing brings about a host of benefits, including lowering your heart rate, helping you to fall asleep faster, and reducing muscle tension. You can do this at any time of day, and as many times as you feel necessary - simply close your eyes, rid your mind of thoughts, and breathe in and out deeply through your nose.
Tip #4: Devote time to the things you enjoy
You won’t have much me-time once your child is born, so enjoy it while you can! Regardless of how busy you are, block off time to engage in activities that you enjoy - be it reading a book, going to the beach, or getting your nails done.
Tip #5: Get a massage
Find your back aching from all the extra belly weight? Go for a prenatal massage! If your budget doesn’t quite allow shelling out upwards of a hundred bucks for a professional massage, simply purchase a bottle of inexpensive massage oil and get your partner to do a DIY version for you instead.