Healthy Pregnancy - Tuning Into Your Body

Tuning into your body . . .

Pregnancy causes so many changes! So many visceral sensations! So many additional physical needs!

It's easy to keep ourselves so busy with other areas of life that we scarcely notice until something overtakes our entire system! This might show up in fears, sleepless nights, anxiety, exhaustion, or even panic attacks. At this point, we have no choice but to honor the needs of our body!

But how do we stop it before we get there?

Each day our bodies speak to us - they tell us when we are sleepy, hungry, or have a need for the bathroom. They tell us with pain and discomfort that something needs adjusted or that there might be a problem worth looking into. They let us know when we are mentally fatigued and they carry the tension of our mental and emotional stressors in forms of muscle tightness (and maybe even stomach pains or headaches). OUR BODIES ARE ALWAYS TALKING!

But how often do we ignore them - until we are ravenous, until we are falling asleep at the wheel, until we are snapping at our partners and kids because we cannot handle one more request!

Labor and birth takes this scenario and escalates it as our body experiences sensations it never has before.

You've got to start tuning in now!

Here's a simply practice: Daily set aside 5-10 minutes to sit in a quiet place and engage with each part of your body. Imagine a scanner beam working up from your toes, your legs, your pelvis, stomach, back, chest, fingers and arms, neck, face, and head. Ask yourself what you are feeling and make mental notes (or write it down if that's better). Visceral sensations, physical feelings, emotional heaviness - don't judge, just notice. And after you complete this body scan, ask yourself if you can do anything to honor those sensations in your body.

Hungry? Eat.

Bladder full? Potty.

Headache? Grab a heat pack.

Tired? Sleep.

Emotions? Acknowledge them.

Then meet the needs of your body. As you value what your body carries you though each day, you are preparing yourself for a stronger connection to self throughout your pregnancy and birth experience. And ultimately setting yourself up for better mental and emotional health in the long run!