For the thousands of pregnant women who are preparing to give birth this can be an uncomfortable and restless time. A recent survey of nearly 500 pregnant women in their third trimester from BlueSuitMom.com and Nestlé® Good Start® Supreme revealed that three out of four women are in discomfort because they cannot get a good night’s rest. The survey, as well as other research confirms moms-to-be are physically and emotionally uncomfortable with labor, delivery, and the idea of motherhood, among other things, weighing on their mind.
Research shows a physical and emotional interplay, so it is important that moms-to-be remain comfortable and relaxed during their pregnancy, and that everyone - family members, friends, partners or parents - contribute to help pregnant women remain comfortable. Even a July 26, 2004 TIME magazine article speculated that “a child’s disposition has long been linked - fairly or not - to his or her mother’s emotional state during pregnancy.”
Besides eating for two (and sometimes more!), moms-to-be are hungry for information. In fact, 92% of pregnant women surveyed are actively searching for tips on getting a good start with their baby. To help comfort moms-to-be, below are some helpful hints and tips for pregnant women as well as partners, friends, and family from mom expert, mother of four and founder of BlueSuitMom.com, Maria Bailey.
Relax
Reassure yourself (or your pregnant loved one) that everything is going to be fine. Give yourself a pep talk each morning/night or as necessary.
Give mom-to-be a back or foot massage
Studies conducted at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found that just 20 minutes of massage twice a week for five weeks improved moods and sleep patterns of pregnant recipients and it reduced their anxiety and back pain.
Be Comfortable with Your Feeding Choices
Making your feeding choice can be stressful. Breastfeeding is best and we encourage moms to work hard at it for all the immense health benefits for her and baby. However, if you cannot or choose not to breastfeed, or wish to supplement, take comfort in knowing there are wholesome and nutritious formula options like Nestlé® Good Start® Supreme available - a gentle formula made with Comfort Proteins® that are specially designed to be easy-to-digest for baby’s comfort.
Visit the Hospital
Do a physical and mental “walk-through” of your delivery so that you don’t think about it every five seconds.
Move Around
If you’re having a restless night, get up and read a magazine or book until you feel drowsy and then go back to bed.
This is an excellent time to practice navigating in the dark with a system of subtle-but-safe nightlights. When your baby arrives you won’t have to turn on the television or overhead lights so you can move around the house carefully from your bedroom to the nursery to the kitchen and back to bed.
Surf the Web
Web sites such as www.verybestbaby.com provide additional tips for moms-to-be, information on topics ranging from prenatal health and pregnancy to infant nutrition and feeding options, along with insights from pediatricians and experts. Some Web sites provide chat rooms/message boards in which women can seek the advice of other moms-to-be.
To keep up-to-date on changing news in baby development and health issues for you and your baby, register for electronic newsletters. You will not only feel comfort in knowing that you are staying on top of the latest and greatest, you can read them late at night when you do find yourself awake.
Provide Messages of Comfort
Hide comforting messages of support for your mom-to-be in the most unlikely places. Perhaps a note taped to her hair brush or a word of support tucked into her purse.
If there is another child in the family, have them pen a small picture or note for mom.
Activate the Senses
Find comfort by utilizing senses you may not normally focus on such as smell and sounds. Discover a new scent of candle and enjoy the smell while putting up your feet or a new genre of music that you play only when you are relaxing. Soon you will be able to call up the relaxed feelings of those sounds or smells during non-relaxing periods as well.
Find Comfort in Food
Now is a great time to prepare for the busy times ahead. While cooking dinner, always double the recipe in the last month before your delivery. Freeze the extra portions so that once the baby arrives, you just have to defrost and heat the already prepared homecooked meals. You’ll be happy you did.
Take Off the Cape
No one expects a pregnant mother to be super woman. Now is a good time to start asking for help. If you create your support system before the baby comes, you’ll feel more comfortable later when the tasks associated with a new baby become overwhelming.
Find comfort in knowing that every birthing experience is just as unique as the baby being born. Keep your expectation open to that uniqueness. Veteran/experienced moms will tell you that flexibility is part of the job. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by setting expectations based on events that you may not control. Your birthing plan, as well as your feeding choices and other aspects of parenthood, may need to be re-evaluated and ultimately changed. Find comfort in knowing that there are plenty of options that will ensure the health of both you and your baby.
