Tips for Practicing Self-Care and Self-Love During Pregnancy
Self-love tips during pregnancy
It’s not always easy to jump aboard the self-love train when you haven’t been able to button your favorite jeans in months and you’re running about a month behind on your pre-delivery to-do list. But that’s when you need it the most! Caring for your baby—both before and after birth—takes a lot out of you. These self-love tips can help you recharge between all the doctor’s appointments and nursery prep, and they’re easy enough to squeeze into the most jam-packed schedules.
1. Honor your body
Your body goes through a lot during pregnancy, and it can bring up some conflicting emotions. Try to be mindful of any symptoms you experience, from your beautiful pregnancy glow to those less-fun aches and pains. Acknowledge what you’re feeling, and take a moment to connect it to the work your body’s doing to nourish and protect your unborn baby.
Then, spend some time honoring your body and thanking it for all it does—your nose for smelling delicious freshly baked cookies, your hands for being able to feel your baby kick, your legs for supporting both you and your growing baby as you move throughout the day. Make a mental list of things you love and appreciate about your body, and add to it freely!
2. Create a simple self-love ritual
Pregnancy can bring a whole new level of busyness to your life. A simple ritual can help ground your thoughts and power up your self-love mindset when you don't have time for spa visits or elaborate self-care routines. Not to mention, self-care can help lower stress, decrease your chances of getting sick, and increase energy levels!
Some of our favorite five-minute self-love rituals include:
- Washing and moisturizing your face
- Walking around your neighborhood (bonus points if you don’t check your phone!)
- Throwing a one-person dance party in your living room
- Doing a quick pregnancy-safe yoga flow
- Meditating
- Watching the sunrise or sunset
- Spending time with your pets
- Repeating your favorite affirmations or mantras
3. Do a mini digital detox
Americans spend about four hours watching TV each day and seven-and-a-half hours on cell phones and tablets. Those little moments you spend checking social media throughout the day add up! A digital detox can help reset your priorities. Whether you unplug for a few hours, a whole day or more, your mental health, relationships, sleep, and mood will benefit.
During your digital detox, you’ll want to take a break from all screen time—email, texts, video games, social media, news, and TV. If you can’t unplug from everything all at once, try paying attention to which types of screen time give you the most anxiety and FOMO. Then, make a plan to cut down on those activities.
4. Embrace gratitude
Gratitude is a major part of living a happy life. When you stop to write in a gratitude journal, send a thank-you note (or even a thank-you text), or pay forward a kindness you received, you’re actively rewiring your brain to take more enjoyment out of life. A daily gratitude practice can help you learn how to see the good in any situation, making it easier to handle stress with flexibility and awareness. Gratitude has also been linked to improved relationships and overall health.
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience—while your baby grows inside you, you’ll probably end up doing some growing of your own. Nurture your body, honor your feelings, and incorporate mindful self-love into your daily routine. This is your chance to get in tune with your physical and emotional needs before you welcome your little one into the world; embrace it!
For even more tips on caring for yourself during pregnancy, check out our blog post: Pregnancy Self-Care: Important & Beneficial to Mom & Baby.
Another act of self-love? Giving yourself permission to learn your baby’s sex on your terms, in the comfort of your own home. Click here to learn more about our Juno Birch™ Fetal Gender Test. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on the latest pregnancy tips, new product releases from JunoDx.
Please note: JunoDx.com and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
