by Sarah on 10. January 2012 in
During the last couple of weeks as my family and friends have been making their resolutions for the New Year, I found myself opting out… I am pregnant after all. In many avenues I feel like I’m on a hormonal planet of my own where opting out of normal activities seems normal. Truth be told, being pregnant serves as a pretty good excuse for sitting a lot of things out. However, I have recently decided that there is probably no better time to jump on the resolution bandwagon than when I am pregnant!
As all expecting mothers know, health and wellness during these vital 40 weeks is of utmost importance. So, for my resolutions, I am looking to recommit myself to bettering my overall health and wellness for both myself and my baby. I've decided on 3 main goals, and have provided some tools below to help any of you expectant moms out there as well!
1. Maintain Good Nutrition
At my current stage of pregnancy, I am always hungry and always able to eat plenty! With this said, it can become pretty easy to let good nutrition slide. While the old “eating for two” theory holds some merit, it’s important not to use it as an excuse to allow yourself to eat whatever, whenever! Making sure that you are getting the right nutrients each day will not only be a gift to yourself, but to your baby as well.
The American Pregnancy Association provides a valuable guide for pregnancy nutrition…what you should be eating, and how much of it you need to ensure that you’re getting all the essentials needed for you and baby. You can find their guidelines here.
I also love the article, Organized Eats from Pregnancy and Newborn…offering a week’s worth of realistic meals, broken down to help you cover all of your food group and caloric bases.
2. Participate in Daily Exercise/Stretching
I wish I could say that I have been as diligent with exercise this pregnancy as I was with my first. Feeling sick combined with cold weather have served as decent excuses, at best. Now I’m feeling the urge to improve in this avenue. Better late than never, right?
I’m going to commit to making a physical effort during my final trimester, and the following workout plan from the Bump seems like one I can actually follow and maintain. I can do just about anything for 20-30 minutes a day! Check out their plan here.
3. Enjoy the Ride
It’s incredibly easy to find displeasure in pregnancy, with unbelievable body transformation, unattractive side effects, and less than becoming moods. However, my goal to enjoy the ride of pregnancy is one to benefit my overall wellness and level of happiness at this stage of my life.
If I have learned anything from being a mother to my oldest, it is that time goes fast. I know that the second this baby is born, the myriad of milestones in his life will come and pass with increasing speed no matter how hard I try to slow it down. I am committed to remind myself that every time I get to hear my baby’s heartbeat, or feel his movements inside me, that this too will be a phase that shall pass, and will truly be missed. I am going to love being pregnant, even when I feel like I don’t. Being uncomfortable cannot mask the fact that carrying a baby is a truly wonderful and unique experience… one that can never be replaced or fully described.
As I work to embrace my growing belly, I want to stop to appreciate the strength and capacity of my body. Not only will I relish this unique time with my baby, I am consciously trying to recognize the value of this precious time with my first born, with my spouse, and with my pregnant self.
Check out what a group of What to Expect mamas love most about pregnancy here.
