The Magic of Pregnancy and How to Enjoy It

First thing first, how to enjoy your pregnancy.

Female bodies undergo A LOT of changes in a relatively short time. Some of these changes will be very uncomfortable and, let’s be honest, kind of miserable. When we start thinking about morning sickness, restless legs, weight gain, stretch marks, heartburn, and everything getting larger, it’s sometimes hard to imagine trying to enjoy these moments.

Think of these things as the necessary means to the end. Many things in life require us to go through tough moments to reap amazing rewards. Similar to climbing a mountain to experience the view from the top or training for a marathon for months just to get that feeling of accomplishment when crossing the finish line.

Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal throughout your pregnancy can be a great way to enjoy the little moments during this magical time. Writing down how you felt and how you overcame and found a little piece of joy in that day, even if it was hard. Allow your curiosity to flow at the end of a long day, and write out what you think life will look like once your baby arrives. What you think they may look like, whose personality traits they might take after, and how thankful you are that you get to be their momma!

Keep Pregnancy Affirmations on Repeat

Using pregnancy affirmations is a great way to remind yourself that you are made for this and that what you are experiencing is hard and difficult but is also beautiful and amazing.

A few affirmations you should keep on repeat are

May I show love and kindness to my body, my baby’s first home
My body knows how to grow and nourish my baby
I love my baby, and my body
My pregnant body is beautiful and amazing
These changes in my body are bringing new life to my family

You can also try downloading a guided meditation app on your phone to help calm your tired body and overwhelmed nerves. There is so much going on during pregnancy, and it’s imperative to slow down and truly be in the moment.

Set Boundaries

You will have many women around you that have experienced pregnancy, and while they might mean well, often their traumatic or scary stories can end up causing you more anxiety about all of the different possible scenarios. Let them know you appreciate their support but that you are trying to keep an open mind and would prefer not to hear anything that might cause you more stress during your own pregnancy.

It’s also important when setting boundaries to give yourself grace, hydration, and rest when needed. This will be a great practice to have perfected once your baby arrives.

Things You Can Learn From Your Pregnancy

There are so many valuable lessons you can learn during this special time of pregnancy, and many of them are your body's natural way of preparing you for motherhood.

Accepting the fact that your pregnant body is designed for this and knows what to do without you having to think about it

To believe in your inner voice and know how to advocate for yourself and your baby

Realize that life can be challenging, confusing, and uncomfortable, and we often have to figure it out as we go

 That you are stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically than you ever dreamed of

All feelings and emotions that you have are valid and are a part of your own experience

Flaws and imperfections, whether with our bodies or with life in general, are all a part of this amazing journey, and no two stories are going to be exactly the same

Celebrate the Magic of Pregnancy

In pregnancy, there are so many small moments that you can celebrate the magic of creating, carrying, and delivering a baby. Some of these moments will be just for you and your baby to soak in, while others can be a good way to share with friends and family members a small part of this wild ride that is being a pregnant woman.

Hearing Your Baby’s Heartbeat

Hearing your baby’s heartbeat, whether for the first time or anytime throughout your pregnancy, is one of the most magical moments you will ever experience. It begins to put into perspective that another life is growing inside of you and all of the new possibilities that will bring. It will make your heart race and your eyes begin to swell and become something you will look forward to at every prenatal appointment, as it's sometimes the only chance you have to validate this glorious life force that is growing inside of you.

Feeling the First Flutters

You can never predict when the first flutter kicks will hit your growing belly, but you can rest assured that you will never be the same after, especially for first-time moms. It will become a magical moment each and every time. You will see that the variety of foods in your daily diet can make your baby more active, and if you are beginning to feel stressed, they can often react to that as well.

Baby’s Hiccups

Imagine sitting at your desk, and the next thing you know, your belly almost jumps, and you have absolutely no control over your own body. (That’s also a good synopsis of parenting in general for the rest of your life!) This is another magical moment that is just for you and your baby and will bring a smile to your face as you begin to picture your baby and what it might look like in this exact moment.

Watching Your Baby Move in Your Belly

As your baby grows and develops, its movements will become more visible from the outside. This will be one of the moments you can share with your partner and your baby's siblings so that they can experience a bit of a true relationship with this new family member that will soon be joining your home.

Soaking in the Amazement of What the Human Body Can Do

While it’s easy to get caught up in the negative parts regarding your body changing during pregnancy, it’s also very important to soak up the amazing fact that your body is growing another human! Whether you download an app or find a great book, it is fun to follow along with a week-by-week guide of the approximate size of your baby and what parts and features they are beginning to develop. This can help many expectant mothers feel more connected to their babies while also beginning to understand just how neat the human body is to be able to go through a pregnancy.

While you are growing your baby and soaking in the different magical moments along the way, you can also begin to look forward to how to take care of your baby and your body in the upcoming fourth trimester. You should also consider what to pack into your hospital bag and other steps to take to spend less time worrying about final details and more time enjoying those first few moments with your newborn baby.

Whether you are going through your first pregnancy or your tenth, each time will be a beginning of all things new as each new life will bring changes into your life and your routine. The most important thing to remember is that through all of the sleepless nights, mood swings, and what sometimes feels like endless weeks of pregnancy, you will still experience the most rewarding experience of your life.

We hope that you can stop and take a moment to truly see that the entire pregnancy process is truly the most extraordinary thing your body will ever do. So instead of focusing on those pregnant elephant ankles, the increasing bra size, and all of the other distractions, take a moment to remember what being pregnant means. It means that you are on a magical experience that many women can only dream of. All you need to do is let your body do its thing and be ready with lots of love for yourself and for your new baby.