EAT, SLEEP, LOVE
I loved the book Eat, Pray, Love and found the movie transported me back to my carefree, heady days of travelling through Bali on my way home from Australia to London.
Recently talking to a client preparing for the birth of her baby I found myself saying the best preparation is Eat, Sleep, Love.
Most mums-to-be find it difficult to slow down and step of the busy treadmill that has been their life to date. Same goes for new mothers.
Your new little bundle does have needs but try some of my simple suggestions for moving into motherhood with a little more grace and ease and see how you feel.
Better I hope.
EAT
Six small meals a day rather than 3 large and lots of healthy snacks will stabilise your blood sugar and help your digestion. As your baby grows inside you, your organs have less room to move and are repositioned to accommodate your not so little one internal. Your stomach becomes fuller far quicker – if you eat more slowly and chew your food you will realise this sooner rather than later when you feel nauseous and uncomfortable. Choose slightly less spicy foods and more leafy greens than red meat and dairy. There is more protein in an average portion of quinoa than a filet steak and a handful of sesame seeds or spoonful of tahini are better sources of calcium than a glass of cows milk and kinder to your longer (now rather squashed) intestines. Eat raw, living food to benefit from a higher vitamin and mineral quality and intact enzymes or grow your own sprouts – watercress, alfalfa, chickeas, lentils and sunflower seeds (not Christmas brussels).
SLEEP
Going to bed early, sleeping late and taking afternoon naps are all par for the course of a pregnant woman or new mother. Rest is restorative. Sleep keeps you sane. If bed is too far away, try napping on a sofa or using one of my recommended restorative yoga poses. One hour of conscious relaxation = 4 hours sleep. 20 minutes of legs up the wall, left side lying Savasana or chest opening over a bolster can make a world of difference. Invest in some extra supportive, but not too firm pillows and make sure you correctly prop and position to support your joints and bump.
LOVE
Yourself, your Partner, your Friends, Family and Life itself. Take time to smell the roses, enjoy not being able to race along and cherish the simple and often free things in life that give you pleasure. Practice daily gratitude. 3 things to be thankful for is ideal and even if it becomes repetitive it will keep you focused and feeling more uplifted than not. Nourish your skin, nourish your bump. Choose quality oils and lotions to ensure your skin is loved and feels smooth and soft.
You have an abundance of feel good hormones and giving feels good.