Embracing Motherhood: My Journey Towards Self-Care During Pregnancy

Discover my transformative journey through pregnancy as I prioritize self-care for a healthier, happier motherhood. Embrace the joys and challenges of this beautiful journey.

Thank you to those who stuck around and waited for my return. I know it was abrupt and without warning. But I promise I had a good reason and am ready to share that with you. My mental health and inner self-love are the two most important things in the world, as they should be. However, I’ve recently been dealing with something life-changing that may put these things into another perspective. 

August 2023 marked a significant turning point in my life – and in September, I decided to take a break from everything related to blogging. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was born out of necessity. My journey from that point until now has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, self-discovery, and self-care, all because I am pregnant with my first child. In this blog post, I’ll share the reasons behind my break, my fears about becoming a parent, the self-care strategies I adopted these last few months, and the challenges I faced mentally, physically, and spiritually as I prepare for motherhood. 

My Journey To Motherhood So Far

My journey towards motherhood has not been the easiest. I find that I actually hate pregnancy with all my heart, and I am so looking forward to meeting the girl who is physically wrecking me. Not only was I dealing with many financial stressors, but the idea of becoming a mother scares me. Mentally, I’ve never considered myself the ideal candidate for being a parent, but I am here now and will show this little girl all the love and care she deserves in the world to the best of my ability. 

Pregnancy is not easy. It comes with many changes outside of the physical one that you need help to prepare for. I could manage the first trimester quickly, but I was wrong, which led to my eventual decision to step away from Riyah Speaks. 

The Need for a Break

Life as a blogger can be incredibly demanding. Juggling content creation, promotion, and engagement with my audience was challenging, but the stakes increased when I learned I was expecting a baby. The pressure to maintain my blog and keep up with my regular posting schedule while dealing with the physical and emotional challenges of pregnancy was taking a toll on my well-being. As I was dealing with many external pressures, I realized that blogging needed to be put on the back burner for me to truly focus on my and the baby’s well-being. It was clear from the number of times I cried after forgetting to send a newsletter or write a post that this took a mental toll, making the decision much easier to bear. 

The Mental Toll

I honestly cannot tell you how many times I’ve broken down, cried, screamed, or been miserable since starting this pregnancy journey. Pregnancy in itself brings with it a surge of mixed emotions. While the excitement of becoming a parent was undeniable, I also experienced a flood of fears and doubts. The fear of the unknown, the anxiety about my ability to be a good parent, and the concern about how my life would change weighed heavily on my mind. When you first become pregnant, there’s much to consider, and sometimes it becomes too overwhelming. It became clear that my mental health needed attention, and I needed time to prepare myself mentally for this life-altering event.

A Shift in Mindset

The news of my pregnancy was a game-changer. It forced me to reevaluate my priorities and shift my mindset. I realized that taking care of myself mentally and physically was not just essential for my well-being but was crucial for the health and happiness of my unborn child. With this realization, I wanted to learn how to shift some negative mindsets to more positive ones to improve my positive thinking skills. 

Some of the mindset shifts that I am working on are

• Embrace Change: Accept that your body and life will change. Embracing these life changes and transformations as part of the beautiful journey of motherhood.
• Prioritize Self-Care: Shift from self-neglect to self-care. Make time for relaxation, nutrition, and exercise to nurture yourself and your baby.
• Trust Your Body: Believe in your body’s ability to carry and deliver a healthy baby. Trust your instincts and listen to your healthcare provider’s guidance.
• Let Go of Perfectionism: Release the need to be perfect. It’s okay to ask for help and acknowledge that nobody has it all figured out.
• Be Flexible: Understand that birth plans may change. Adaptability and a willingness to go with the flow can reduce anxiety.
• Seek Knowledge: Transition from fear to empowerment by gaining knowledge about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Educate yourself to make informed decisions.
• Focus on Positivity: Replace worries with positive thoughts. Surround yourself with support and practice mindfulness techniques to reduce stress.
• Embrace Vulnerability: Recognize that vulnerability is a strength. Sharing your feelings with loved ones can foster connections and emotional well-being.
• Plan for Parenthood: Shift from focusing solely on pregnancy to preparing for parenthood. Discuss parenting philosophies, childcare, and lifestyle adjustments.
• Trust the Journey: Have faith in the journey of pregnancy and motherhood. Believe that you can handle whatever comes your way with grace and resilience.

Nurturing Myself Mentally and Physically

Over the last six months, I have implemented several self-care strategies to nurture myself mentally and physically as I prepare for my daughter’s arrival:

1. Therapy: Seeking individual and couples therapy has been instrumental in helping my partner and I address our fears, anxieties, and concerns about parenthood. It has provided a safe space to explore my emotions and gain valuable insights. It has also helped us overcome communication barriers within the relationship due to the recent change. 
2. Pregnancy Journal: Keeping a pregnancy journal has allowed me to track my mental and emotional progress throughout this journey. It’s a personal reflection tool that helps me understand my evolving feelings and thoughts. I love this pregnancy journal that my aunt bought me from Amazon. It’s separated by trimester and enables you to dive into how you feel throughout every pregnancy step. 
3. Hydration: Staying hydrated has been a top priority. Drinking lots of water not only benefits me but also supports the healthy development of my baby. Admittedly, drinking water and staying hydrated on minerals is much harder than one thinks. For the first few months, I could not drink anything besides bottled, filtered water, and sometimes I would even throw that up. 
4. Prioritizing Rest: Sleep is essential for well-being, especially during pregnancy and motherhood. I’ve made it a point to prioritize getting enough rest, even if it means adjusting my daily schedule. Pregnancy is exhausting, and when you combine that with everyday life stressors, a nine-to-five job, and doing everyday tasks, you realize how tiring the day becomes. Learning to sleep for longer hours, resting throughout the day, and taking necessary breaks have helped me not feel dreadful 24/7. 

“A baby fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.”

Unknown

Coping With Health Challenges

While these self-care strategies have been crucial, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges along the way, some of which left me bed-bound for weeks at a time with the fear that I would never make it through this pregnancy: 

1. Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Severe morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, constantly struggling to maintain a healthy diet. Nausea and vomiting made it difficult to keep down food, and I often felt weak and exhausted.
2. Low Blood Pressure: Dealing with low blood pressure issues meant that I frequently lacked the energy and motivation to engage in physical activities. This posed a challenge for maintaining a fit and active pregnancy.
3. Body Image Struggles: Pregnancy significantly changes one’s body, and I found it challenging to accept these changes. Societal pressures and expectations exacerbated body image issues.
4. Lack of Self-Love: Going into this journey, I realized I had to work on self-love. To be my best parent, I needed to learn to love and accept myself, flaws and all.

Overcoming Challenges

While overcoming these challenges has been difficult, I am committed to doing everything possible to nurture my physical and mental well-being as I prepare to welcome my daughter. Here’s how I plan to overcome these hurdles:

1. Healthy Eating: Despite the challenges of hyperemesis gravidarum, I am working with a healthcare provider to maintain a balanced diet and ensure my baby gets the nutrients she needs.
2. Gentle Physical Activity: I’m exploring gentle physical activities like prenatal yoga and walking to stay active without overexerting myself due to low blood pressure.
3. Self-Acceptance: Embracing the changes in my body and practicing self-love have become daily affirmations. I need to set a positive example for my child.

Conclusion

My break from blogging has been a transformative journey filled with self-discovery and self-care. The fears and challenges that came with my pregnancy pushed me to prioritize my physical and mental well-being. As I prepare to become a parent, I am learning to embrace the changes, face the challenges head-on, and nurture myself mentally and physically. It’s my growth journey, and I can’t wait to welcome my daughter with love, strength, and resilience. Thank you for joining me on this path of self-discovery and transformation.