Month: November 2019

Pregnancy is magical, in my opinion. You only need a single sperm to fertilize an egg cell that’s approximately 0.2 millimeters in size. From that, the fetus grows until you have a baby with distinct features, full organs, and the ability to become the next president of a company or a country.

Pregnancy comes with a lot of concerns for a mom-to-be. “One psychologist I spoke with recently said that when she became a clinical psychologist, she thought she’d see mainly postpartum depression. Instead, she sees mostly prenatal anxiety,” shared Dawn Kingston, PhD.
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 Do you know the benefits of having Braxton Hicks contractions? Many of the pregnant women I came across for years only thought of it as an unpleasant part of carrying a baby. Even I had the same idea about it the first few times I got it. When you assume it’s time to pop out your child, the tightening sensation goes away, leaving you with disappointment. But what I understand now about false labor is that it’s your body’s way of giving you a taste of what’s to come during the actual birthing day.

 

Though it kicks in at the most unexpected times, you should honestly be thankful that you experienced the Braxton Hicks pre-delivery. This way, you won’t go into shock once you feel the real contractions. With that in mind, however, you can still try your hardest to deal with the false labor efficiently.

 

Remain Well-Rested

The ultimate thing you need to do stat is to put away all your tasks so that you will be able to concentrate on resting. Your body works too much already by supporting the child in your tummy; it will surely be a pain to obsess about the business, dirty laundry, and meal preparation too. It can take a lot out of your plate if you go on maternity leave at least two months before the due date. You can also ask someone to do the household chores temporarily on your behalf, and have your husband take care of and bring your bigger kids to school.  

 

Hydrate Yourself

You tend to lose more water within your system in comparison with a non-pregnant individual since you pee a lot. Most of the fluids go towards your child’s growth as well; that’s why lacking hydration can cause Braxton Hicks contractions, or worse, congenital disabilities. A sad example of hydrating your cells is drinking soda and coffee. Though they’re delicious, the said beverages drain water out of your body too. Instead, you can benefit from fruits, fresh juices, decaffeinated herbal teas, and regular H₂O.  

 

Have A Luxurious Bath

Assuming you’re too far along to move so much, a warm – not hot – bath for less than half an hour may help alleviate the sensations of false labor. Stress can bring out Braxton Hicks, you know. However, you are most likely to forget what tenses you up mentally and physically when you soak your tired self in the relaxing water. Other than the bubbling solution, feel free to add Epsom salts in the tub. You may also add essential oils, as well as light some scented candles to make the bath extra luxurious.  

 

According to Michael J. Breus, PhD, “The warm water helps relax muscles and reduces pressure on the knees and joints, which allows the body to be fully supported. It increases circulation and reduces swelling and inflammation.”

 

 

Meditate

Meditation does not only calm your spirit; it allows you to learn some breathing exercises too. According to Kristen Scarlett, LMHC, “While meditation and mindfulness may not combat severe symptoms, learning to tune into your thoughts and feelings may help you cope.”

 

“The type of controlled, relaxed breathing skills developed with regular meditation practice produces both immediate and long-term benefits,” wrote Thomas Rutledge, PhD. “Blood pressure and muscle tension also rapidly decline; thinking processes slow, enabling increased focus and concentration.” It matters to get the technique down so that you won’t freak out when you experience the fake contractions. While you sometimes want to hold your breath whenever the muscles tighten, enable yourself to go to zen mode to deal with Braxton Hicks well.  

 

Empty Your Bladder

Urinating when your brain tells you to do so is very important. The heaviness of the uterus means it may always be in contact with the bladder. If the latter is full, it can add pressure on the former and maybe slightly push against it. That action can trigger false labor; that’s why you have to pee as often as possible.  

Mothers have different things to say about pregnancy. Some women went through so much pain that they only want to experience childbirth once in this lifetime and discourage their colleagues from having kids. Other mamas, on the one hand, are more goal-oriented than that and don’t mind going through the process over and over if that means their brood will expand. Read more

Delivering a human being into the world is a unique experience for every mother. Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, PsyD explains that “Research shows that there are several personal factors, unique to each birthing person, that can affect how she experiences labor.” Some had it easy, to the extent that the baby’s head was out as soon as the water broke, indicating that he or she is ready to leave the womb stat. Others, however, can be in labor for over 24 hours and require medical intervention to birth the child successfully. Research shows that there are several personal factors, unique to each birthing person, that can affect how she experiences labor.Read more

 

  In almost every article I wrote here about healthy pregnancy, I can’t tell how many times I recommended pulling all the stops and just relaxing until childbirth. Frankly speaking, it matters so much since your body is already working 24/7, ensuring that your unborn baby stays protected and nurtured in your womb. If you do other physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing activities outside of that, it may push your system to release more cortisol, which may be unfavorable in your current condition. Regardless of that, I know that it can’t be easy for everyone to lie-low and delegate most of their tasks to others from the beginning of the pregnancy. That’s often the case as well when you’re a team leader or the boss of a growing company. Thus, what I can advise is to take some precautionary measures to stay productive at work and taking care of the fetus in your tummy. Here’s how you can accomplish that.  

Inform Colleagues About Your State The primary thing you’ll want to do is let your staff know that you’re in the family way. Some tend not to do that because they don’t wish others to see it as their handicap. However, it’s important to tell them the baby news immediately to avoid being in tight situations, e.g., having to work overtime, being around smoking people, etc.

“Dealing with the complete exhaustion of the first trimester was really the beginning of my realizing that my work–life balance was already starting to shift,” says Houston clinical psychologist Kay Hurlock Brumbaugh, PsyD.

  Manage Stress Well Pregnancy is the best time to learn meditation and various breathing methods. You see, being able to quiet down your mind will allow you to handle stress efficiently. According to Christina G. Hibbert, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and expert in postpartum mental health.  “Many women ignore or deny feelings of stress, but it simply piles up until you feel like you’re going to explode or implode.”

You’ll need that trick to stay zen – and sane – especially when you’re still not on maternity leave. Not to mention, it may come in handy once you go into labor.  

  Eat On Time Having to “eat for two” if you are pregnant is merely a myth. Despite that, however, make sure that you grab a bite often to stay healthy and active at work. The reason is that pregnancy itself causes your energy levels to deplete faster than usual. Once you have to move here and there and finish other tasks too during the day, you may feel exhausted before it’s even lunchtime. Again, it’s better to inform your colleagues about your condition early so that they won’t think you’re incompetent in keeping food on your desk at all times.  

Get Rid Of Nauseous Stuff The first trimester can be challenging for working expectant mothers due to the hormonal changes you’re going through at the moment. It’s great if you have an office just for yourself. But in case you don’t, then you’ll have to deal with different smells and noises coming from the workers around you. What you may do at this point is to avoid the things that can make you nauseous. If you’re about to cross paths with someone eating a burrito or drinking coffee, for instance, and you know that even the sight of that can turn your stomach upside down, retreat until the coast is clear. The triggering factors are not the same for all, unfortunately, so you need to find what causes your morning sickness on your own.   Walk Regularly Considering you have a desk job, it’s also necessary for you to have regular walks around the office. Walking is the most accessible type of exercise, to be honest. Not doing so may leave your ankles swollen or too unfit to even climb a single flight of stairs.

“Even if mothers were not active before becoming pregnant, they should strive to go on walks for at least 20 minutes, four times a week,” suggests Dr. Jennifer Wu, an OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.