Keep Calm You’re Pregnant!
I am thrilled to have written this post for the brilliant Twin Mummy blog, and hope it helps mummies-to-be! Guest post by Ickle Pickle. Click here to read her blog.
Mummy teaches relaxation and meditation, so when she was pregnant with me it was natural for her to practise what she preaches!
When I was in mummy’s tummy, I picked up on everything that mummy experienced, her feelings, her thoughts, her moods. Mummy wanted to relax as much as possible, keep her stress levels low, and really connect with me. We had the most amazing pregnancy and birth. We were both so relaxed, the midwives couldn’t believe it!
It was ten years before carrying me that mummy was last pregnant with my brother, and before that she had been pregnant with my sisters too. Mummy found that although all her pregnancies were really good, the births were totally different, and mine was the best.
With my eldest sister, she was born via emergency caesarian. My youngest sister, mummy’s next baby, was born naturally, but mummy tore terribly and needed a catheter overnight.
Ouch!
With my big brother – mummy’s third birth – mummy had him standing up! The midwife had the birthing pool too hot so mummy had to get out. Mummy tore again, not as bad though.
With me – and I was mummy’s biggest baby at 8lb 7.5oz – mummy was totally in control, and I was so calm, my heartbeat was regular and steady. Mummy only had three stitches!
From first finding out she was pregnant, mummy practised breathing techniques. Such as deep breathing in through her nose, out through her mouth, counting 7 in and 11 out.
It doesn’t matter how many counts you breath in and out as long as you breath out a little longer than you breath in. It must be comfortable for you.
You can listen to some relaxing music too. Mummy practised this breathing through the whole of her pregnancy, labour and birth.
She would also put her hands on her tummy and imagine me in there. She would imagine her breath filling her tummy and surrounding me and breath out any worries.
Mummy also imagined breathing in golden light and seeing me surrounded by this golden light.
Mummy did this every day, sometimes the only time she had was when she went to bed, just before she went to sleep.
Mummy practised mindfulness – when she was connecting with me, thinking only of me and that very moment. Not worrying about the past or the future.
Mindfulness helps when you start to feel over whelmed and panicky, which a lot of mummies-to-be do feel, it’s important to just focus on what you are doing at that moment. Mummy found this helped loads, at times when she felt there was too much for her to do, or she started thinking about my birth!
Mummy also used visualisation and positive thinking from when she first knew that I was growing in her tummy. Being a bit older (she was 41 when was born) she was aware of increased risks, but refused to give them any attention or energy. She was going to have me, and love me no matter what. Mummy firmly believes that what is meant to be will be. She pictured me as growing perfectly and healthily. She wrote out positive statements (or mantras) which she said to herself daily.
All these things kept mummy and me, calm and relaxed through our pregnancy. I was born so relaxed and chilled, and am a very placid, happy, chilled baby boy.
Ickle Pickle x
