Even though we consider this Covid-19 pandemic to be a destroyer to the well-being of the world, there is somethings pregnant women can learn through all of this.
Coming from the prospective that "within every bad thing there is good" or "every cloud has a silver lining", by finding something positive in a gloomy situation helps us cope & learn from the present. Here are 8 things that I've witness as a Doula. Pregnant women are receiving positive outcomes due to the stay-at-home orders across cities, states, and countries.
1. Decrease in activity improves the mothers chances of not going into pre-term labor.
Midwives & OB/GYN's are noticing as well that since the Corona-virus aka Covid-19 Pandemic lock-down, women are keeping the bun in the oven longer. Longer? Yes, longer. Preterm labor is having a baby before 37 weeks. Technically, a normal healthy pregnancy, mom, & baby left alone meaning, having little to no interventions can last up to 42 weeks & have a healthy labor & delivery.
As women & mothers we do too much sometimes because we are built to nurture and to care for others. I get it, but get this, if you do not take time out for your self, whether that's saying no more often, or getting help from others, you are putting yourself & baby at risk.
Just by doing too much can cause pre-eclampsia, dehydration, exhaustion, emotional imbalance, preterm labor & more. Use this time to check out what you've appreciated when everything came to a stop. Did you appreciate the extra sleep, did you appreciate not working around stressful people, did you appreciate not going to the store everyday...What ever it is, keep appreciating it by actually continuing to do that. Don't be some much in a rush to "Get back to Normal", especially if normal is stressful.. Reconfigure things in your life to keep some of that appreciated time to just be.
2. Staying home when sick, is the best thing to do.
We live in a go, go, go, go, go world. Admit it, raise you hands if you went to work, church, a social gathering while you where sick? We all have. But is it REALLY necessary? Put it like this, what's more important you just being there to prove yourself or to be supportive to someone else, or you and your baby's health? Staying home when you feel something coming on is crucial to not getting sicker later on that week. So, take time and care for you and your baby first. They will surely understand. For goodness sake, you're responsible for 2 lives!
3. Staying away from people who are sick is a good thing to do.
This one piggy backs off the the previous. Yup, germs are contagious. So you don't have to be polite by shaking someones hand or giving them a hug. Don't feel guilty or rude if you have to move your seat far away from someone who's coughing up a storm. Covid-19 has made it easier to be rude but at the same time not being rude because now, it's socially acceptable to distance your self.
4. Eating from the inside out.
Once it was announced that their was no cure for Covid-19, all the news channels & social media sites started to promote types of foods, drinks, supplements, elixirs... to ingest to build your immune. The key is that you are what you eat and what you ingest plays a big part of how you help or destroy your internal body. "Boosting your Immune System" should be changed to "Check your Deficiencies". You can't boost your immune system, you're just over working your white blood cells for nothing. It's best to get to know what your body needs specifically for you. Every pregnant women & person is different so, your daily intake may not be what another pregnant women may need. The best way to find out what your specific daily deficiencies are is by getting a blood test. When you get your blood tested at your next appointment ask for a print out of your results. This is also a good time to discuss those deficiency with your medical provider.
5. Increase outdoor activities
Do I need to say more? For those who need more explanation, just being able to breathe in fresh air enriches your blood in which all that good prana (life-force) is carried to your fetus. Fresh air helps improve blood pressure and heart rate, it stimulates the digestive system, increases happy serotonin juice, and helps white blood cells do their job efficiently. Also sun rays, cloudy or not, is a mood lifter by giving you free vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 helps you absorb calcium and phosphate which helps with strong teeth and bones.
6. Be prepared, be several steps ahead
Some of you are already on it, and some need a little push. Prepare for anything and every thing. Make a list of everything you need to get you through the rest of your pregnancy. Also, add what you and the newborn will need to keep both of you happy and healthy. What ever is on the list, don't procrastinate, get it done. If you haven't got the crib or haven't put it up, do it. If you haven't made a baby shower gift list, do it and send it out. I say yes to getting extra wipes and formula. Even if you are planning on breastfeeding, it's a good ideal to have extra cans of formula around just in case of an emergency. Did you pick out your pediatrician yet? Did you schedule a tour of your place of birth? Did you research prenatal classes? Basically, don't put off what you can do today. Taking little steps helps you achieve comfort and a peace of mind, no matter what happens in the world around you. At the end of the day if we have to quarantine again, you have everything you and your baby need to be safe & comfortable in your home.
7. Move on
Watching all of the world having to change their daily lives abruptly and adjust accordingly due to the warnings of state & government, it shows how resilient we are as a people . Use this strength and courage in your life's journey. When things get ruff and hard, like your between a rock and a hard place, shift , adjust to wiggle your way out. Keep moving, do not give up. Even when you think all else has failed, stay positive and know that if you keep moving everything will work out. Then email me and let me know your testimony!
8. Breathing is more important than what we consciously give credit too
Even if you cant get out side and get some fresh air, just deep breathing for a minute can have a lasting effect. If you're in your house, at work, or standing in the long line at the store, try taking a few deep breaths. I must warn the pregnant ladies out there that you may get a little dizzy. Test how deep breathing effects your body while at home so you can discover what your magic number of breaths are before the light headedness kicks in. Concentrating on counting your breaths while deep breathing clears your mind of stress, gets rid of unhealthy thoughts while filling your blood with oxygen which benefits your baby.
Simple daily behavior changes can affect how healthy your pregnancy goes. Even tho this pandemic is driving every one cray-cray, look at the past 4 months to see what was pleasurable to you. Keep them, don't rush back into the go, go, go mode especially if you're high risk or in your last trimester. All in all, learn from the past but jeep looking into the future.
1 .Decrease in activity improves the mothers chances of not going into pre-term labor.
2. Staying home when sick, is the best thing to do.
3. Staying away from people who are sick is a good thing to do.
4. Eating from the inside out.
5. Increase outdoor activities
6. Be prepared, be several steps ahead
7. Move on
8. Breathing is more important than what we consciously give credit too.
~Happy Birthing
Belly O'So Pregnant
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