Looking after yourself in Pregnancy
I have to explain why it is so important for you to look after yourself.
Everything your baby gets, your baby gets from you – you are your baby’s food supply helping his/her organs develop normally. Your baby gets Oxygen from you, which is carried by your Red Blood Cells, that’s why – you need to be sure that you are not anaemic. The environment around you – is affecting the way your baby’s brain is developing, and particularly – how you feel, affects your baby. All expecting Mothers will be stressed at times – that is one thing for sure – and generally their babies will grow up perfectly normally.
Stress is not all bad!! These stress hormones can even benefit your growing baby at certain times, and cortisone (a synthetic form of cortisol – one of the stress hormones) is given to the expecting Mother if she goes into preterm labour – to help the baby’s lungs mature so that the baby will be able to cope with breathing if they are born early.
The discoveries that have been made through research in the last ten years – into the development of the fetal and newborn baby’s brain is so incredible, that I want to share it with you as we go along.
Western Governments all over the world are so convinced about this evidence – that they invest huge sums of money to support first time Mums and their Partner (if there is a Partner), with their new family. There is sooooo much support around and it is important that you accept all the help you can get.
There is a saying “It takes a village to raise a child” – doing the best for your baby can be a huge and demanding task at times, often with very little sleep, so loving and supportive help from others, who also want the best for you and your baby – is to be gladly accepted – no matter how independent a person you are!
So take time out – even if you can only have an hour, or a few minutes a day – to do something that nurtures you. Something that is good for you (which means it is also good for your baby). It may be relaxing in a bath, possibly with some special aromatherapy oils, or you may be able to go somewhere in nature – and just calm your mind for 15 minutes, and send loving thoughts to your baby – just talk to your baby and tell your baby how much you love your baby.
There are certain periods that are considered “critical periods” in your baby’s brain development – and I will share these with you over the next few weeks. Why would that interest you? - because a baby who’s brain develops normally – is able to learn new tasks, remember information, is able to learn to control their impulses, and develop positive relationships. And this is what you want for your baby … a happy healthy baby.
Check out our pregnancy and nutrition tips, and sign up for Cyndi’s “Changing Habits – Changing lives” to learn all you need about giving your family the best nutrition.
