Have You Made Your New Year’s Pregnancy Resolutions Yet?
Whether you’re planning to get pregnant this next year, or you’re currently pregnant and looking forward to the birth of your baby, New Year’s is the perfect time to make pregnancy-centric resolutions.
The following 5 resolutions are in honor of you and your baby’s well-being - including mind, body, and spirit. I’ve learned loud and clear that a healthy, happy mama = a healthy, happy baby!
1. Vow to honor your body and nourish it well
Fertility researchers know that the healthier a mother’s body is, the more likely she is to conceive and experience a healthy, full-term pregnancy. That’s why so many OB/GYNs and midwives faithfully write and speak about preparing your body for pregnancy, and then honoring all of the best-care pregnancy practices once you’ve conceived.
Things to consider along these lines are:
Eating well, focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet (whole foods, lots of veggies and fruits, and lean proteins) to minimize internal inflammation that aggravates the immune system and inhibits reproductive health.
Exercising moderately and regularly
Getting good sleep and resting when you need it
Drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated
2. Make self-care a priority
If you’re pregnant with your first, self-care isn’t as much of a challenge. However, focusing on self-care once the baby (or babies) arrives is another hurdle altogether. Find ways to incorporate going to the gym or taking a walk, getting a massage, finding time to be alone in a quiet space, taking a yoga class, etc. Building these routines in early is the way to go, so they become a part of your weekly rhythm. If you put it off, it’s easy to find yourself feeling depleted and ragged three years down the road.
3. Refuse to let the romance fade into the background
This also falls into the self-care category but is worth a separate mention. All too often the birth of a baby pushes the “pause button” on romance. Of course, this is to be expected in the beginning. However, like self-care, if you wait too long to build date nights and romantic moments into your daily or weekly routine, you’ll find yourself and your partner feeling more like business partners than loving, intimate, and connected partners.
I want to be clear that this is not just about sexual connection, this is about connection on every level.
Tips to that effect:
Find a good sitter or join a babysitting co-op with other mothers/parents in your area to enjoy date nights at least once per month
Let your partner know that doing the laundry, unloading the dishwasher, taking a turn each night with the baby’s feeding/changing, or making dinner for you are about the sexiest things s/he can offer right now
Rub each other’s feet on the couch after you put the baby down (it’s okay if you fall asleep, it’s the thought that counts)
Take turns giving each other a “day off” at least once a month. Even if you feel like you do most of the work, letting your partner have a day with his/her friends will pay off in appreciation for your accommodation and a rejuvenated spirit
And, that brings us to the final point; try to avoid comparisons. Any time you and your partner get into the “who does the most” conversation, it’s lose-lose. Expressing heartfelt feelings and requests for help are fine, as is thanking your beloved for anything s/he does handle or take care of. Spoken gratitude feels better and almost always pays off
4. You will observe all of your wellness, prenatal and postpartum checkups
It’s not uncommon for the focus to switch entirely to the newborn, and those itsy-bitty humans are enormously energy-consuming. It’s not uncommon for mothers to skip wellness visits or early prenatal visits because things seem just fine. Once the baby is born, it’s even easier to postpone all of your own doctor’s appointments in lieu of keeping your child(ren)’s a priority.
Unfortunately, this “putting everyone else first” tenet often results in moms catching latent health issues or medical diagnoses further down the road than they should have. Consider booking medical appointments on the same day as your baby’s. If it’s time for your child’s immunizations, schedule your appointment first so you can get your fussy baby/toddler home right after his/her appointment.
If you have annual or bi-annual visits from in-laws, grandparents, or other loved ones, consider booking some of your annual wellness checks then. Your loved ones benefit from some quality, solo time with the baby and you get to keep up on your physical well-being.
5. You will be kind and gentle with yourself (over and over again)
Do not fall into the trap of being unkind, unforgiving, overly critical, or harsh with yourself. In fact, one of the greatest gifts you can give to your child is for him/her to learn that humans make mistakes, it’s okay, and that being kind to ourselves leads to being kinder to others. You are moving through one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences possible in this life - so give yourself a break and be gentle and kind when you find yourself in the opposite frame of mind/spirit.
As long as you’re making New Year's pregnancy resolutions, why not make one to invest in stunning maternity and newborn photos? While you’re the only one who can take the reins on the five resolutions suggested above, I am more than happy to help you with the photo sessions. As the owner of Lemonshoots, I’ve had the great honor of capturing hundreds of Bay Area mothers, babies, and families in one-of-a-kind photos. Contact me to schedule your session to get on the books in the new year.
