As everyone eagerly awaits and prepares for the arrival of your new little one, you may be tempted to throw all of your time and energy into making sure everything is perfect for the arrival of your little bundle of joy. However, it is incredibly important that you don’t ignore your own needs during your preparations. Self-care is a very important thing, and it becomes even more so during the months leading up to the birth of your baby.
If you are looking for ways to pamper yourself during the prenatal period, consider some of the ideas below.
Massage
Pregnancy can cause all sorts of uncomfortable aches and pains. One way to treat these aches and give yourself some much-deserved pampering is to schedule a prenatal massage. A qualified massage therapist can give you relief from many of your pregnancy symptoms and leave you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the day.
Of course, it is important to make sure your massage therapist is qualified to give pregnancy massages. If you are unsure of your therapist’s qualifications, be sure to ask if they are certified to offer prenatal massage. Looking for a therapist? Be sure to check out the Thrive Mama Collective’s very own prenatal massage therapist, Sara Brakenbury.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an excellent way to treat a variety of pregnancy symptoms, including nausea, back pain, depression, and much more. Although going in to be voluntarily poked may not sound like your idea of pampering, the truth of the matter is that acupuncture is not a painful experience and can definitely leave you feeling much better than when you went in, making it the ideal way for a pregnant woman to get some much needed pampering.
When booking an acupuncture it is important to make sure your therapist has extensive experience working with pregnant women. Additionally, if you feel any contractions or unusual sensations during or after an acupuncture session, be sure to contact your care provider immediately. Harmony Healing and Healing Roots are respected local Oklahoma acupuncturists.
Belly Henna
If you are looking for an ideal way to relax and celebrate the last few weeks of your pregnancy, belly henna may be just the thing. Belly henna is the art of adoring a pregnant woman’s belly with a gorgeous design in order to emphasize the beauty of her pregnant shape. Our henna paste is used, and the designs last for days or sometimes even weeks. Most women find their belly henna session to be soothing and a great way to connect with her baby while awaiting the little one’s arrival.
If this sounds like something you’d like to experience, you can find two fabulous belly henna artists on the Thrive Mama Collective website.
Warm Baths
For a relaxing aromatherapy bath, combine 2 drops each of oil of neroli, lavender, and lemon, along with 6 teaspoons of apricot kernel or sweet almond oil. Add to a warm tub and soak away your worries! Caution: Ideally, bath water during pregnancy should be no hotter than 100 degrees (Fahrenheit). If you like it warmer—up to 102 degrees—don’t soak for longer than ten minutes.
Moisturize
As your skin stretches to make room for baby, you may experience some itching. To top it off, many women also end their pregnancies with some stretch mark “souvenirs”. While it isn’t possible to completely prevent stretch marks, it may be possible to reduce the number and/or severity of your stretch marks by keeping your skin well-moisturized. Moisturizing your skin on a regular basis is also a great way to keep the aforementioned itching at bay.
If you are looking for an affordable and natural way to moisturize your skin, try making the belly balm below.
You’ll need:
2 tablespoons shea butter
2 tablespoons coconut oil (preferably organic)
2 tablespoons cocoa butter
10 drops vitamin E oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 small bowl
1 pot
1 whisk
1 small mason jar
Instructions:
In the small bowl, mix the shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter.
Add the vitamin E oil and mix well.
Place the mixture in the pot and stir over low heat until melted.
Once melted, whisk the mixture and remove from heat.
Add the essential oil, mix well, and spoon the finished product into the mason jar for storage.
Lavender Foot Soak
Revel in a lavender foot soak! Fill a small plastic basin with warm water to which you add up to 5 drops of essential oil of lavender. Immerse both feet and soak for ten minutes. Studies conducted at the Nagano College of Nursing showed that just one ten-minute soak not only increases circulation to legs and feet, but also brings about measurable changes in the autonomic nervous system—the area of the brain that controls stress and anxiety.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many ways an expecting mama can care for herself. By considering your own special needs and interests, we are sure you can come up with many more. Be sure you practice self-care on a daily basis—even if that just means curling up with a good book on the extra-busy days—and we are sure you will see an improvement in your mood and energy levels.
