Being pregnant has taught me so much and has definitely opened my eyes to unconditional love – it truly exists. 

To love someone with every part of your being that you haven’t even met yet is mind blowing and out of this world. And just the mere thought of growing a little me and hubby – is an absolute miracle and definitely God sent. I never thought I’d ever experience anything like this. And it’s not surprising that I ball my eyes out at the very thought of it, every. single. time.

But reality has it that pregnancy is not all fun and games or cute Bumpies (Bump Selfies)  when you’re expecting, besides all the aches and pains -you worry about a lot of stuff  – Will my baby be healthy? What if I’m not a good mom? Can I eat this? Am I able to exercise? Will I be able to handle labour? Where can I find the best gynae? Are my pants to long? Will I trip over? Am I taking the right vitamins? Can I have a hot bath? What do I need to buy? Am I prepared?

During my pregnancy I had an emotional break down. I experienced anxiety about not being ready and prepared for motherhood – I mean this was my first pregnancy – a lot of self doubt struck, nervousness and I was just generally overwhelmed all the time and the stress and worry caused me to be physically sick almost every night; it was pretty much a wake up call for me. I knew it wasn’t right and I am so grateful that I had my husband right next to me to remind me that I was in fact capable and already a great mummy.

And while this is all normal during such an important time in our life, the best thing I’ve found for me and baby is to try to accentuate the positive. It’s only when I started thinking more positively and changed my mental state did I start embracing the changes my body was going through. Every week brings something new in pregnancy. And it is something to enjoy, not fret about. While worrying is normal there comes a time when it’s not healthy. I’ve always thought of pregnancy as this pretty picture, because most pregnant woman in my experience never complained about anything! But it’s only since my own experience of cause that I’ve come to know the reality of it all. It’s not a great joy of time for every mother. And depression during pregnancy is common because hormonal changes in our bodies make us feel more anxious than usual and this is commonly overlooked. But you need to remember that your emotional health is equally as important as your physical – and should be cared for too.

 

***written while I was pregnant

 

Affirmations

So, since then I’ve been practicing to be more positive in terms of pregnancy and beyond. It’s been working really well for me. Every week I choose a pregnancy affirmation and when I am feeling down, or sore, or uncomfortable – I just read my affirmation out loud a few times. It usually helps to calm my mind and body down and enjoy the experience – both pain and pleasure.

Conversations

A very good friend of time told me to talk as much as I can to my unborn child, tell her stories, remind her she’s wanted and loved and especially how excited I am to be her mother. It’s what I’ve been doing too, building a relationship with my daughter. And I would encourage all mums expecting to do the same. It’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten and I wish I started from day one. I also love talking to my husband about his thoughts and feelings and fears and worries. It’s an important time for him too, he isn’t as vocal as I am, but I can see how excited he is for our little baby to arrive.

Exercise

Staying active is important too. I’ve been on and off with exercising but the days I dedicate to exercises are my good days. I’ve started doing baby positioning exercises, with a bit of squats on a birthing ball, I go for regular walks (mostly in the mall) and sometimes on a treadmill. I also enjoy doing yoga stretches and breathing – this lightens my body and brightens my mood. Like anything else in your life you have to find what works for you and your baby. I make sure that I am able to hold a conversation throughout my sets and that way I know I’m not working my body too hard.

Mediate

My husband has introduced me to bathing. Running a bath, adding my bubbles and essential oils – it’s amazing and so relaxing. I’ve never been one for baths but I’ve been having at least 2 baths a week now. The sound of the water is really calming and relaxing and just the thought of relaxation really puts my mind at rest. I just lay back with my hands on my tummy and connect with my baby – just being mindful – breathing in deeply from my belly and out – just thinking about me and my daughter together in the future.

Breathing

Pregnancy generally leaves you short of breathe. Very early into my pregnancy I had shortness of breathe and this is because your baby is causing your organs to shift, so it is common to experience shortness of breathe but of cause I did not know that and it made me panic -ALOT. But soon you learn how to overcome it by concentrating and breathing slowly. It’s so simple, focus your attention and slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth, allowing all your air to flow out with a sigh. These technique are also taught during labour so it’s a great time to start sooner on.

 

I believe that everything you do during pregnancy determines your birthing experience.  My labour and delivery was a very POSITIVE experience that I credit to my journey through hypnobirthing and positive pregnancy affirmations and will forever be grateful and proud of.

 

Keep well and keep smiling,

Fazeelah

 

Are you following me on Facebook yet? Please do so I can keep you updated with my latest shenanigans. I aim to inspire in all that I do and you can also find me on my Instagram and YouTube channel too.