Being pregnant is truly one of the most beautiful, wonderful (and hard) experiences you’ll have in your life — and if you’re there right now, we are so incredibly excited for you.
However, being pregnant also means that you pretty instantly become a vessel for advice to just be thrown at you.
(Who can relate?)
Some people will tell you that you HAVE to use a certain OB/GYN, some people swear by midwives. Some mamas love to co-sleep, some will tell you all about sleep training. Some people drank wine throughout their pregnancy, some tell you that you shouldn’t touch anything but water.
Some doctors will tell you that you can’t do one thing, some doctors will tell you that you can. One doctor might tell you you need a glucose test, some might let you opt out. Some doctors will let you keep using your night serum, some tell you to drop it.
It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming. It’s messy. It’s incredibly hard to cut through the noise and choose what’s right for you and for your little one.
I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be as hard as you think, okay? All that matters is you, your health, your little one, and their health. Everything else? You can figure that out as you go, okay?
I promise.
And my best advice? To do your best to have a holistic pregnancy that makes you feel good and comfortable.
What’s a holistic pregnancy?
Holistic is actually one of my very favorite words, and I like it so much because it really helps to encompass a whole-body-and-mind-AND-baby approach to life, wellness, and pregnancy. When you have a holistic approach to your pregnancy, you can prepare your body for the birthing process, connect with your baby while they’re in the womb (and even before), and reduce stress on your body and in your mind.
Having a holistic pregnancy is great for so many reasons, from managing stress and helping you take a more natural approach to the experience all the way to feeling rested and well and individualizing your own care outside of a traditional, hospital setting.
6 Things You Can Do to Have a More Holistic Pregnancy
If you’re looking to have a more natural and holistic pregnancy, there are a number of things you can do to approach it that way. First, make sure you connect with your provider and explain your desire to lean into your pregnancy from a more natural, holistic approach — and, if you feel like your provider isn’t going to be supportive of that, stand up for yourself and look for one that will be.
Remember, this is you and your baby. Not your OB/GYN’s, not your mom’s, not your best friend’s. Trust in yourself, trust in your intuition, and lean into it. It’s a beautiful, beautiful journey. Here are 6 things you can do to have a more holistic experience during pregnancy:
- Eat whole, natural, nourishing foods: While I’ll never tell you that you can’t dive into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s when you want, there is no discounting how important eating well is while you’re pregnant. By putting a focus on whole foods into your diet while you’re pregnant, you can manage symptoms and support your baby’s development at the same time. Drink as much water as you can, and include foods like leafy greens, antioxidant-rich berries and fruits, healthy fats, lean proteins, and whole grains. (Psst… if eating is hard for you while pregnant, smoothies are your best friend.)
- Relax. Seriously: Being pregnant can make you anxious (helllooo, Google — stay away from it!), but this isn’t good for either of you and isn’t going to lead you towards a more holistic pregnancy. While I know relaxing can sound easier said than done, taking the time to intentionally do it — it changes everything. By working to activate the parasympathetic nervous system through things that bring you peace and stimulate your creativity and relaxation, you can help yourself and your babe.
- Do what feels good: If you’re focusing on living a healthy lifestyle, it can sometimes get really frustrating to be pregnant — especially if you’re not feeling well or having a hard pregnancy. The key? To move your body in ways that make you feel good. To talk to people in ways that make you feel good. To live life in ways that make you feel good, even if it doesn’t meet your expectations. It’s okay. You have to give yourself grace during pregnancy, but also remind yourself that intention and extra care is more helpful than you can even imagine.
- Focus on the mind —> body —> baby connection. The connection between your mind and your body is always important, but so is taking time to intentionally connect with your baby, too. Take the time to truly connect with yourself and your baby throughout pregnancy (I love journaling, meditation, and even just taking long drives), and make it a non-negotiable. When you can truly connect with your spirit and tune into your body, you’ll be able to approach your pregnancy from a more holistic point of view — and connect with your baby from the inside out.
- Consider (safe) alternative therapies. During pregnancy, it’s a good idea to avoid any non-essential medication and treatments wherever you can (though you shouldn’t beat yourself up over anything you do need to take). Luckily, there are many holistic therapies and supplements available to you while pregnant, and from red raspberry leaf tea to tone the uterus all the way to acupuncture, prenatal massage, and aromatherapy, you have so many options.
- Get regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is one of the most important tools you have at your disposal while you’re carrying a child (and after) for two main reasons: for aligning your body and baby to prepare the pelvis and body for birth, and for calming and balancing your nervous system and your baby’s nervous system.
Chiropractic care is meant to help you relieve stress on you and your baby’s nervous systems, and is also so helpful for adding alignment and comfort into an often uncomfortable period. In addition, it can help to set up babies for calm and balance, too. Chiropractic care isn’t just for moms, though — it’s also essential for the little ones post-birth. At Thrive Family Chiropractic, we offer a complimentary exam and adjustment for newborns because we feel so strongly about this.
At Thrive Family Chiropractic, it’s our mission to help you have an empowered, safe, healthy, and holistic pregnancy. Whether pre-conception, during pregnancy, or after, we’re always here to help — and would love to hear from you soon. Ready to come in? You can request your first appointment here.