The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact virtually all aspects of our lives. If you have recently fallen pregnant, congratulations! This will still be one of the most magical times in your life. Nonetheless, you must accept the fact that some aspects of the pregnancy will differ from a traditional pregnancy.
It’s crucial that you take the right precautions to control the controllable and create the happiest pregnancy possible. Focus on the following factors and you won’t go far wrong.
Keep a clear mind
Your mental wellbeing will dictate whether you have a comfortable pregnancy or not. As such, you must prioritize your mindset at all times. Many pregnant women suffer from “baby brain”, which is why regular meditation and mindset decluttering are key. You can further enhance this process by keeping an organized record of your schedule, task lists, and finances.
Sadly, if other responsibilities cloud your mind, it will be very difficult to focus your energies on pregnancy. Frankly, that attention is the least that your baby deserves.
Maintain good physical wellbeing
Staying fit and healthy during pregnancy is as important for your baby as it is for you. The pandemic doesn’t alter this in the slightest. Some of the ideas that you’d usually implement, like swimming, maybe off-limits right now. Still, walking and other light exercises can work wonders for maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. The benefits extend to your mental health too.
Nutrition is equally vital. You must not ignore your cravings but will also need to monitor any foods that make you feel ill or queasy. Otherwise, the next nine months will drag.
Prepare for discomfort
Millions of pregnant women experience symptoms that make them feel uncomfortable. While you can still visit your doctor for medical issues, you’ll want to limit the interactions where possible. Speak to an expert right away to familiarise yourself with pregnancy heartburn relief and medicine for common issues. You cannot afford to put either of your health at risk. Still, suffering in silence isn’t an option.
The ability to respond to these situations quickly and efficiently will influence your pregnancy. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.
Find digital support
As an expectant parent, you can still attend antenatal classes and other key appointments. Still, some of the elements experienced in normal circumstances will be lost. The best way to overcome this is to supplement in-person meetings with online classes. The support network of other soon-to-be parents can make a world of difference. They are the only people that know what you’re feeling.
Other parents can still support you. Nonetheless, speaking to people that understand the impacts of the pandemic will deliver the comfort you crave.
Ready yourself for the worst
While the pandemic continues to take a toll, the limitations aren’t as bad as they once were. So, it’s likely that your pregnancy will be far closer to a pre-pandemic pregnancy than someone that gave birth in 2020. Nonetheless, new strains found around the world could change everything. It could force you to face labor alone, or miss out on the type of birth you’d originally planned.
With a little luck, those fears won’t come true. Still, it’s far smarter to be ready for the problems than leave yourself exposed to unforeseen situations.
Pack your bag in advance
It has already been stated, but you might not have much of a say as to when your baby will appear. Consequently, then, it’s usually a good idea to pack your maternity bag well in advance. You can start to assemble pieces even in the first trimester. You will probably want to have the bag virtually ready to go by the time you reach 35 weeks. Of course, this excludes the items that are fresh.
When your waters break, you do not want to be rushing around looking for items. Keep the bag in an accessible place, it’ll deliver peace of mind in the weeks before too.
Build daily routines
Some of the above points have already touched on the need for a healthy lifestyle. Nonetheless, you cannot place enough emphasis on the value of a structured routine. Even if it looks a little different from how it would normally, this is crucial for your baby and for you. A good sleep pattern should be one of the top items on the agenda. Earring at around the same times each day is useful too.
The routine needn’t be regimented to the point where you feel trapped. But it should serve as the backbone of your pregnancy, especially in these unprecedented times.
Create a plan for maternity
Your maternity leave is essential as it is a time to build the strongest bond with your child. Nevertheless, most mums will return to work at some stage. It’s important to analyze your financial situation and understand the details of the company policies. This will help you plot a return to work. Depending on the industry, you may be in a position to resume work remotely or on different shifts.
As with most aspects of pregnancy and the child’s early years, your plans may evolve over time. Still, getting things under control at an early stage puts you in a stronger position
Family support
While most of the changes caused by the pandemic create new obstacles, family support is one area where it may aid the cause too. The harsh reality is that allowing manipulative family members into the process will put you under a lot of stress. You have the excuse to keep them away, and should embrace it. Keep your support bubble small and to the people that will have a positive influence.
Ultimately, you have to do what is best for you, your partner, and your baby. There should be no feelings of guilt if that doesn’t suit everyone else’s plans. It’s not your problem.
Reduce your infection risks
Perhaps the most significant challenge at this time is to reduce the risk of contracting COVID. After all, it could pose health risks to your unborn child. Likewise, you may be at a higher threat than usual due to pregnancy. Wearing a mask in public is naturally advised. Moreover, you should limit interactions with other people. This may also mean working remotely or taking early maternity leave.
Nothing comes close to the importance of your baby’s health. If that upsets others, then so be it. The main thing is that you’ll be confident, happy, and relaxed.
