Balanceophile

As mentioned in my previous blog, I recently became a mother, and while I travel the new path carved ahead of me, here are the lessons from my journey of pregnancy and becoming a new mother.

A pregnancy is a unique journey, and each woman goes through a lot of changes physically, mentally, and emotionally. I feel even women do not understand what pregnancy actually feels like until they go through it themselves.

A disclaimer for my readers: women are not born with a natural capability to carry a new life in their wombs. We try to process through as the journey progresses. The intention behind sharing this story is to share a perspective of the realities of this journey.

On that note, there are a lot of factors that affect pregnancy. I have shared my experiences covering some of these factors. Again, these experiences vary across different women.

Mood Swings

In the first trimester, I used to have few episodes of anxiety attacks. I slowly tried diverting myself to avoid them as much as I could. There were days I simply couldn’t handle myself, and my husband was with me during those episodes.

Journaling was my best friend during this phase.

At the beginning of the second trimester, after the crucial NT scan, I slowly observed a reduction in my extreme mood swings. There were occasional episodes, but I could manage it better compared to the first trimester.

By the third trimester, the mood swings increased similarly to the first trimester. Adding to it was the discomfort associated with a rapidly growing belly. Personally, practicing breathing techniques like pranayama and meditation helped me manage this phase. What worked for me was that I started taking one day at a time. I used to process any anxious thoughts about the future by telling myself, that’s not a today’s problem.

Exercise

As I was leading an active lifestyle, I included a bit of everything in my workout routine – strength training, cardio (walking and cycling), yoga and mobility as per my gynaecologist’s advice. The intensity of each of these workouts depended on my energy for the day, and I did not force myself or push beyond my boundaries in the first trimester.

Usually, the second trimester is the best time for being active. It is common to have better energy and controlled mood swings compared to the first trimester. I continued with the same exercise routine and, based on my energy level, I adjusted the intensity. I included a few exercises, like walking and pregnancy-specific stretches, during the day.

In my third trimester, I increased yoga and mobility as it helped relax my body along with the breathing routine. I also started using the exercise ball in my routine.

Exercise ball is a godsend during pregnancy as it helps relax pelvic and lower back muscles.

Food and Nutrition

During the first trimester, doctors suggest avoiding outside food. Thanks to my routine, I usually made all my meals and avoided food from outside unless unavoidable. What really helped me was that I was craving simple and mild-flavored home-cooked meals. I used to enjoy eating fruits, so I was trying to eat 2-3 varieties every day.

In the second trimester, I occasionally craved specific junk foods like vada pav, chikki, etc., along with mangoes. Being aware of the calorie intake, I used to indulge in these foods only when I absolutely wanted to. Other than that, I used to enjoy refreshing foods like avocado toast, cold protein shakes, etc.

In the third trimester, I was in the phase of “I want to eat but I’m not hungry.” I was eating more compared to the first and second trimesters. However, as days passed, I observed that having large meals increased my bloating and breathlessness. So, I went back to having smaller meals when my body asked for it.

Mental Health

I believe in the power of divinity, so I used to listen to devotional songs and mantras in the morning to encourage positive vibrations. Exercising regularly, eating healthy, meditation, and spending time with my loved ones used to keep me happy. As mentioned earlier, I used to journal regularly, go outside for fresh air, watch movies, and basically did things that kept me happy.

By the second trimester, I could see the signs clearly if it’s going to be a cranky day for me or not. On days when I could identify the cranky mood, my husband used to plan a day out.

My pet, Joey, played a huge role in keeping my mental health in check.

I used to spend a lot of time with him. I would sit in silence in the balcony, talk to plants, talk to Joey, and sometimes, my husband used to join us.

Another aspect that kept my mental health in check was understanding how labor works and being prepared for whatever was about to come. The awareness helped eliminate all the anxious noise around me.

Conclusion

People say pregnancy is a beautiful phase. Sure, but it also carries a lot of invisible weight, visible only to the one going through it. Every one of us have different experiences and perspectives on pregnancy. So, if you are someone who is thinking about starting a family, I would suggest, do it only if you feel like having a child. Not for the society, not for your parents, but for yourselves.