How to stay positive when you are stuck at home and a mom-to-be? Well-being, wellness whatever you call it is multifactorial. Peace of mind and happiness go hand in hand, with good health. Health is an inside and out business.
When I discussed travel during pregnancy and COVID19, my friend who was at the beginning of her third trimester, asked me about what to do when you are far too ahead o your pregnancy or have some condition that prevents travel?
What you will find
Being a mother is a wonderful blessing. But it’s also a non-exact synonym for sacrifice.
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You need a Creative Project
You expect your own self to give it all up. Society expects that from you too. But you need to keep a balance between what’s good for your body as well as mind. If travel is not a good option don’t just feel sad. Plan.
Start a project. You can have many arts, crafts, DIY, lettering project ideas from Tangi. When India was in lockdown in 2020,the medical practice had its stress.But my daily lettering projects, writing projects helped me stay focused and calm .
You can start tangles mandala or you can use free coloring pages like the one below, to calm your mind for mindful meditation. Getting into the flow helps lower, stress hormones and boosts the happiness hormones.
Walk:The Secret of good health
Walk every day in front of the TV, while talking on the phone or listening to music. A forty minutes walk is rejuvenation in a nutshell. The best part it’s free, you can do it anytime anywhere. You don’t have to do it at a stretch, but even in short bursts work to boost your endorphins and your overall health.
Walking has numerous, physical, mental health benefits and is a wonderful way to take care of own health without spending a dime. But if you feel inspired like I did, getting a treadmill is the best investment for the long term good health.
Listen to music and groove a little by yourself. That’s a definite pick me up if ever there was one. It’s also super fun.
If your movement is restricted or you need bed rest, then listen to meditation tracks and try meditation. It’s best if you start small and then build up the duration. Even one minute is good as long as you are consistent. Listen to audiobooks, you can choose from a wide variety on Kukufm.
One tip: Listen to genres you enjoy and motivational ones. Avoid negativity, horror shows, and breaking news . Pregnancy hormones make women’s mood labile. So be careful what you put inside your mind.
Eat Right
Have plenty of fruits and veggies in your diet. Skip high fat, sugar, or salt in your food. They will make you feel bloated and not good for your moods. Having a protein-rich balanced diet is crucial for good health.
The Thing about your Bowel!
This is a topic few people will write about.Its not cool enough or polite to talk about what people do in their “loo” time.But as a doctor, enquiring about your bowel and bladder habits ,comes as a part and parcel of clinical history. Your morning loo visit time is sacred. Have a routine. Constipation is a mood killer and serious problem.Your alimentary or digestive system has its own nervous system .
Its called the Alimentary nervous system where an important mood lifting neuro chemical called serotonin(5 hydroxy tryptamine) is released .Infact upto 95% of serotonin is secreted in the gastrointestinal tract.So if your tummy doesn’t work well or is not “just right”,your mood will suffer.Sertotonin influences your mood,digestion, sleep and several other important functions.So gut health is crucial.
Embrace Green
The start of my gardening life was in 2014 .It helped me fight a lot of stress I was facing back then.I never looked back and my green friends help me everyday.
If you are bed ridden ,you can’t garden.But if you are otherwise healthy ,just staying indoors,plants can change your life.
Having a few green plants around indoors,on the windowsill and the garden will help boost your mood. This is a super tip. But don’t go overboard buying too many, if you have never been a plant person.
Buy a few easy-to-grow plants, keep, them healthy, then get some more. You can even grow a microgreen container garden on your windowsill.
The last two tips I will give you is not for everyone. But it helped me. Indulge in your hobby. Read motivational or happy books. If you are stuck in bed, then reading is a lifesaver.But again avoid horrors and tragic tales your brain doesn’t need them now
Write a little
Last but not the least write. You can write a thankfulness journal or gratitude journal every day. It says it takes 21 days to create a habit. I started doing this way back in 2017 and now I find things in my day to be thankful for even when it seems all gloom and doom.
It’s not about ignoring reality but about embracing the parts which make is stronger and learning from them.
You can also write your own book, fiction or nonfiction. Start with 100 words every day. By the time you deliver, you would have written two novels or multiple short stories even if you miss a few days in between. That’s something to gift your child when they grow up. Imagine the stories you can tell them.
If you are feeling especially vocal then start a blog. You never know the adventure you will have!
Happy healthy mommies have happy healthy babies Wishing you all the health and happiness.
Remember Self care.Get a pedicure ,foot massage at home.Many salons and service providers have these options.
Ignore social media during these times .You don’t need it.Instead spend time doing the things you love and enjoy.
But if your mood doesn’t get better, then this is what you should know
Depression or anxiety around the time of pregnancy and childbirth are medical condition and you will need to talk to your doctor.
A little bit of sadness,moonshine,anxiety is normal .With different hormones flooding your body a woman’s mood can changes a lot .But this is what you should know about clinical depression.
This needs immediate care.
The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry last year, launched a 24/7 toll-free mental health helpline. This aims to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health concerns.
The mental health rehabilitation helpline, KIRAN, is accessible from a landline as well as mobile phones. The number is 1800-599-0019.
Writing this as a part of CauseAchatter by Blogchatter championing Gender talk and mental health.Women are even more afraid to talk about their mental health when they become moms.That’s why awareness is crucial.