Disclaimer: These are all personal choices. I highly recommend consulting your physician/midwife regarding any medical questions/concerns and doing your own research to figure out what’s best for YOU and your family.
Other blogs that might be helpful as you’re on your pregnancy journey:
Night / Sleep Routine?
Honestly, exhaustion & a solid bed time routine has worked best for me to get the rest I need overnight (8-10 hours of sleep). I also drink a majority of my water in the morning / afternoon so that it leads to less frequent bathroom trips at night. Unfortunately, I tried a few pregnancy pillows but none of them worked for me.
My night routine:
- Warm shower/bath with no fragrant epsom salt (I add 1-2 drops of lavendar essential oil) to help with body aches/swelling
- 1-minute skincare (Code: DRISH15)
- Peace & calming roll on (chest and feet)
- Belly rubs with belly butter
- Legs, hip & back massage
- Calming music/prayers to calm me and the baby
Hormonal Mood Swings?
- I give myself lots of grace & feel my feelings (hello pregnancy hormones and tears that come out of nowhere!)
- I rationalize/talk things out with my husband
- I use essential oils to support emotions (my favorites: valor and CBD calm roll-on)
- I have calls with my personal development mentor (who was also recently pregnant and empathizes with my journey)
Body Aches and Pains?
- I’ve been getting biweekly pre-natal massages after starting my second trimester (favorite form of self care!)
- I also started online pre-natal yoga classes at 33 weeks pregnant and do it 5-6 times a week to help with sciatic/pelvic/back pain and help me prepare for labor. I wish I’d started earlier in my second trimester but it’s truly better late than never! (@healinsutras 3X a week & @fit_for_life_motive 3X a week)
- I also soak myself in epsom salt baths at night 4-5 times a week.
Birth Plan?
- I’ll be delivering in a hospital close to home with my midwifery team. I am super excited to receive holistic care during my labor and delivery. My medical team at the hospital will also include an OB in case of any emergency.
- Birth plan preferences:
- SURPRISE GENDER — husband will catch the baby (anesthesia resident) and say the name / sex at birth!
- No medical interventions (induction) until 41 weeks / if medically necessary, ideal: vaginal birth with epidural
- Ambiance: dimmed lights, music, diffuser
- Preferences: jaccuzie / laboring in water / different positions / peanut & birth ball
- Post birth: immediate skin to skin, husband cuts cord / delayed cord clamping, hand expressing colostrum within first hour after delivery, keep vernix as long as possible / water bath (no soaps)
- I’m keeping an open mind, am not fixated on anything and am praying for a positive birth experience and healthy baby (and me)!
- I am taking an online course (an epidural birth) to educate myself of the birthing process & my options which has really helped me stay intentional throughout the process. (Code: DRISH10)
Feeding Plan?
- Since I’ll be a stay-at-home mom and can work from home/at my convenience, my goal is to exclusively breastfeed but again, I can’t plan for the unknown so I’m just keep myself educated and manifesting a positive breastfeeding journey.
Hospital Gender Reveal?
- My husband will be the first to see and announce the gender to me after delivery. I’m excited for him to have his moment since I’ve had so many moments connecting with baby R during pregnancy.
- Both our immediate families will come to the hospital (split up into different times for 1-2 people at a time) after delivery and then we’ll do a Zoom call with the extended family to do the reveal while we’re at the hospital.
- We had our medical team email @hersunandstars.co (Use JOURNEYWITHDRISH to get 10% off on your first order!) the gender so we can have a customized blanket and name tag with the baby’s name at the hospital. She shipped it, wrapped it nicely & we’ll open the box after delivery!
Postpartum
JOURNEY WITH DRISH 