Light Weekend Reads - Pregnancy - My story

Walking:

• During my first and second trimester I used to walk two hours every day (an hour in the morning and evening) and reduced in the last trimester
• It is one of the easiest ways of exercising if you have not been active earlier. Also, it does not require much effort. Walking keeps your body fit and active
• I was working all throughout my pregnancy so I managed my walks during lunch hours and after coming from work
• However, do not go overboard and exhaust yourself. Listen to your body and take breaks if need be. In case you have been exercising before pregnancy then consult your doctor for some light yoga asanas as well

Breathing exercises:

Music:

• I listened to a lot of music, Mozart, meditation music, Bollywood, folklore etc. It kept me in a fresh and happy mood
• Once the baby started kicking the child too enjoyed to all the music that mommy listened too
• You can also listen to Gayathri Mantra if you feel restless at any time during your pregnancy

Reading:

• I read lot of blogs, articles, and experiences of other mothers to understand the symptoms better
• There is a lot of information available in the Internet, be sure that you are collecting information from reliable sources. It gives clarity to your apprehensions and explains the scientific rationale behind any change
• However, don’t restrict your reading to this only and pick up some light-hearted books as well to keep you in the happy frame of mind

Myths:

• There may be a few old wives’ tales/myths that would be shared with you, too
• The most common one is determining the sex of the baby. The shape of your belly, the glowing skin, your cravings, and morning sickness all seems to be indicators for the sex of the baby. In my case, everybody around me said I would be blessed with a baby boy. Even during my maternity photo shoot, the photographer picked a baby boy dress as a prop. However, we are blessed with a baby girl
• At times it could be a mere coincidence but these myths hold no truth. And it is absolutely normal to have a c section and not a normal delivery
• C section does not make a woman less mother. One should not stress oneself by listening to all the myths associated with c section. I had one and have delivered a healthy baby
• Follow your heart and take care of yourself. In short, listen to these myths, enjoy them but don’t let them dishearten you or take your fun away from your journey

Morning sickness:

• Few expecting mothers are fortunate not to come across this symptom. I had morning sickness and it lasted on and off the entire first trimester
• Morning sickness lasts for some up to second trimester. So it varies from woman to woman
• What worked for me that every morning even before brushing my teeth was that I had a plain biscuit and then after half an hour brushed and had breakfast
• It eased my tendency to vomit early morning. Plain biscuit worked for me, but there were some for whom smelling a bathing soap was enough to put nausea at bay

Pregnancy journal:

• So, I maintained a journal to capture all my mood swings, thoughts, and also the happy moments so that I can relive this journey again and again
• It is a good mood booster and is a collection of all your developments, pictures, stories etc. It is a happy read for your partner too

Pregnancy is a blissful journey for a woman. It is essential for you to understand your body and the changes that you are going through. Doctors, medical practitioner would let you know what suits best for your pregnancy. What may have worked for me might not be applicable for a lot of women. Kindly consult your respective medical practitioner and do not blindly follow anything that you must have read or heard from people.

Being healthy, eating good food, keeping yourself happy, connecting with your baby in the womb, staying away from stressful environments are some of the key things that all expecting mothers need to do. Make this journey your favorite one!

You may share your journey with us in the comments section below; we'd love to hear from you!