I’m currently cozied into our Airbnb where we have been for about three weeks as we wait to meet our baby boy. We’ve figured out how to get groceries, where the nearest mall and park is, taken many rickshaws and taxis, and gone to several prenatal appointments. Eli has figured out where everything belongs in the flat and is especially obsessed with the spinning office chair. His new favorite activity is climbing up on our bed and spinning in circles until he face plants on the soft surface beneath him.
Even though there have been ups and downs the past several weeks, I have felt peace and contentment through this transition to our new environment. I am doing certain things to help me feel prepared physically, mentally, and spiritually for labor and postpartum but most of all, I want to trust God’s perfect timing and my body. God is not surprised by anything. I am tempted to think that by doing all the things to prep, I am more in control. In reality, I’m not the one in charge. Intentionally preparing my body, mind, and spirit for this sweet baby and the postpartum period may help but resting in God’s presence and plan is where true peace and joy are found.
You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm 16:11
Although this is how I’ve been preparing for labor and baby #2, please don’t take any of this as medical advice or even feel like you should be doing these same things. Everyone’s story and preferences are different.
I’m one of those people who feels prepared and empowered through education, practice and being proactive but I have many friends who prepare in entirely different ways. Do whatever works for you! Blessings to you if you are on a birth journey too!
M I N D
1. Embracing the perfect timing of labor and trusting the fact that my baby and body know.
I recently read The Art of Giving Birth by Sallyann Beresford. I really enjoyed the book and loved her mantra of “not chasing labor.” My baby and body know when labor will start and it isn’t my job to chase it, speed it up (unless medically necessary), or try to figure out when the process will begin. It also reminds me of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” I want to trust the process unless there are reasons to believe the process needs to be managed.
2. Practicing Hypnobirthing
(Mind + Spirit)
Hypnobirthing can sound “out there” but honestly it’s simply training your mind and body to relax, focusing on breathing and or visualization in preparation for giving birth. It’s also a great tool for life in general because we all go through stressful or painful moments where staying calm is vital.
I took a one-on-one hypnobirthing course with a coach when I was pregnant with Eli. It was really helpful and I’ve saved the recordings. I usually listen to at least one a day, practicing relaxation and deep breathing. I have also loved the Christian Hypnobirthing App that is filled with encouraging scriptures, positive affirmations, and prayers for strength. The $20 yearly subscription is worth it, especially if you are preparing for an unmedicated birth. The more you teach your body how to relax every muscle and not tense up, the more likely you are to default to this when the contractions and sensations of birth come.
3. Reviewing the Mama Natural Birth Course
We have the material from the Mama Natural Birth Course saved from when we were preparing for birth the first time around. It has been helpful to refresh our minds on the process of birth, which helps me mentally trust my body and God’s amazing design. It’s also refreshed us on interventions and decisions we might have to make along the way. We absolutely love this course since it not only prepared me for birth but my husband also felt empowered and educated as we learned together. There are so many great birth courses out there and investing in one usually sets you up to feel educated, empowered, and ready for a birth.
B O D Y
4. Resting and enjoying the last days and weeks as a family of 3
We could stay busy exploring while we are here in a new city but we also don’t want to wear ourselves out right before labor or entering the newborn season. We have been trying to embrace slow days of naps, sensory play for Eli, and family walks. Many of our evenings have consisted of ordering ice cream and brushing up on the birth process via Mama Natural videos. Mainly I’ve been trying to listen to my body, support rest, and oxytocin flow.
We’ve also tried to continue as many rhythms as possible including:
- following our breakfast schedule rhythm. (I’m not a same-thing-for-breakfast-every-day kind of person). Monday: chia seed parfait & hard-boiled eggs. Tuesday: oatmeal with toppings. Wednesday: muffins. Thursday: eggs, bacon, and toast. Friday: yogurt & granola or cereal
- doing workouts (Nourish Move Love for me and Apple Fitness for my husband)
- getting outside as much as we can (different and more difficult in the city)
- continuing family worship each evening. Since we couldn’t bring The Big Picture Story Bible due to the weight and size, we brought along This Mother Hen’s “Hello, I’m Jesus” family devotional. It was easy to get printed at a local shop before we left and although Eli isn’t attentive the WHOLE time, he is still engaged and listening to what we are reading as he plays.
5. Yoga and Spinning Babies
I’ve done less intense workouts with this pregnancy but I am also very active as I take care and carry Eli throughout the day too. Nourish Move Love’s free prenatal workouts have fueled my movement as well as the Spinning Babies 28-minute Blooma Yoga Flow video ($16.99), which I purchased during my last pregnancy but have used a lot more this time around. The Spinning Babies class helps with body alignment, which in turn aids in baby getting into the optimal position. This Spinning Babies blog post also includes many of the movements in the yoga flow video. I’ve done a forward-leaning inversion almost every night since 13 weeks of pregnancy. The side lying release is another one I’ve been doing and noticed one side of my body is much tighter than the other.
6. Prepping for Postpartum
This time around looks much different than last since our Airbnb includes a small fridge and virtually no freezer. Since I don’t have access to many of the herbs I used for my postpartum sitz bath, I have essential oils (tea tree and lavender) and Epsom salt ready to go.
We won’t have much help or any family in town for a while so I have created and printed a recipe book for my husband to refer to as needed. It includes our go-to breakfast foods, a few simple lunch and dinner recipes, homemade granola bars, and a simple dessert. It’s also been really nice for me to refer to instead of needing to look everything up on my phone.
I have also been gathering supplies for some fun simple sensory play activities to help keep our 19-month-old occupied here. We weren’t able to bring many toys with us so toy rotations are currently out of the picture. The more prepared I can be with activities, the more smoothly our days run. He has recently loved DIY sand and sandbox play, play dough, and water beads.
7. Fueling my body
Fueling my body has been more difficult these last few weeks in temporary housing but I am doing what I can. I usually try to incorporate foods from the book Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols. It’s a fantastic resource for what to eat and what supplements to focus on during pregnancy and postpartum. Lately, my go-to’s have been chia pudding, plain greek yogurt with homemade granola, veggies, dates, and alfalfa leaf capsules.
ALFALFA (3rd trimester only)
Alfalfa is thought to decrease the risk of postpartum bleeding or chance of hemorrhage and I take this primarily because I have gestational thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count during pregnancy). Alfalfa also increases breastmilk production.
FOLATE instead of Folic Acid
I also learned from health coaching last year how important it is to take folate (not folic acid), before, during, and after pregnancy. Many women can’t process folic acid which is why methylated folate should be taken in the form of L-methyfolate or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate 400-800 mcg/day.
8. Hydrating
Hydration is so important throughout pregnancy but especially at the end. Since we are in a city overrun by coconuts, I’m adding fresh coconut water to drinks when possible.
VITAMIN C
I’ve currently been drinking Ultima powder and ascorbic acid vitamin C (2-5 grams) at least once during the day. There is some evidence that vitamin C can be used to strengthen the amniotic sac, help prevent Group B strep, and help in other ways. Read more here.
RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA
I also like drinking red raspberry leaf tea and since it’s hot here, have been refreshed drinking it cold mixed with fresh lemon and soda water. Read more about red raspberry leaf tea here.
9. Walking
Family walks have been fueling my preparation by helping me stay active, get some fresh air and sunshine, and help with baby’s position.
10. Brushing up on breastfeeding and all the newborn things
I’m also trying to reflect on the sweet and the hard of the newborn phase. I’m not very far removed from it since Eli is still little but I’ve read through some notes I took from my lactation consultant and some other newborn tips I saved.
11. Prepping Eli to be a big brother
This has happened organically as we talk about baby and even when he started kissing my belly months ago. The book I made has been a great way to help talk about the transition to be a big brother. I noticed he was also interested in potty training a month or two ago so I am following his lead with it as well. I’m encouraging him to use the little IKEA potty chair we got and we bought some training underwear but we are also going slow with it since we are in a new place and don’t want to force things if he isn’t ready yet.
S P I R I T
12. Praying and Abiding
Prayer and Abiding have fueled my preparation by meditating on a short passage of Scripture and daily giving my thoughts, worries, and expectations to the Lord. When I fix my eyes on the one who knit this baby together in my womb, I am more in awe of who he is and able to surrender this child to him.