Category: Inspirational Story

While every pregnancy is unique, the changes to the body as a baby grows often cause discomfort. A pregnancy massage can help relieve some of these symptoms along with other benefits for the parent-to-be. Prenatal massages are generally considered safe after the first trimester, as long as you get the green light from your practitioner and you let your massage therapist know you’re pregnant. Just make sure your massage therapist actually knows what parts of a pregnant body can be massaged and which can’t. 

Research shows that massage can reduce stress hormones in your body and relax and loosen your muscles. It can also increase blood flow, which is very important when you’re pregnant, and keep your lymphatic system working at peak efficiency. It reconnects your mind with your body, a connection that’s comforting if you sometimes feel disconnected from your body and your baby. Being disconnected from one’s body generally brings about the feeling of disconnection and anxiety. Reconnecting helps to feel rooted, safe and calm again. 

Would you like to give yourself a little massage? Check out my short online class on DIY acupressure for pregnancy here.

Eating well is always important, but during pregnancy, it can not only support your health – also the health of your baby. Despite the common myth, you don’t need to “eat for two” (eating twice as much), since you’re pregnant. It is more important to eat satisfying portions of nutrient-dense foods instead of a lot of “empty” foods. Avoid eating packaged ultra-processed foods that have a lot of sugar and salt added instead, choosing foods that are packed with minerals and vitamins, ideally ripened under the sun, will make you feel satisfied, even if you haven’t eaten a huge portion. Fast food is empty of nutrients, that’s why we can’t stop eating them once we start until we faint into our “noodle coma”. 

Our body keeps craving the nutrients until we give our body what it is asking for. The best place to get all those nutrient-packed foods is usually the farmers’ market. The ripest ones are the best. But what if there is no farmers’ market around you? Growing some greens yourself may be an option if you can bring up the time and space. Otherwise, store-bought veg and fruit are still better than no veg and fruit. Treating yourself like the queen during pregnancy just makes you feel like life is delicious – and why not make it delicious while you’re pregnant anyways? Imagine how your baby must feel, growing in the womb of a queen… Like on cloud 9. Here are some inspirations that you may want to add to your diet: 

• Apples are high in fiber and are a good source of vitamin C. Lemons are also high in vitamin C. They help stimulate the digestive system to relieve constipation.
• Oranges help you stay hydrated. They’re also a great source of folate or folic acid. Folate is a B vitamin that’s very important in helping prevent brain and spinal cord defects, also known as neural tube defects.
• Mangoes are high in vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency at birth is associated with lower immunity and a higher risk of complications, like diarrhea and respiratory infections.
• Avocados help relieve nausea, possibly because of the potassium and magnesium in the fruit.
• Bananas are another good source of potassium. They also contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber.

For more information on pregnancy and nutrition, check out:

• Your Nutritional Needs
• A Healthy Diet For A Healthy Pregnancy
• What Is Folic Acid?