I’m excited to introduce you to my very first guest poster today! Katie contacted me a few weeks ago with an idea for an article to share, and I loved it. So here’s a little intro from Katie herself and some great ideas for all you Mamas-to-be out there…
Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26
Natural Living Makes Pregnancy Better!
If there is one time when it is especially important to be at my healthiest, it’s when I was pregnant. During my pregnancy, I made it my mission to be the healthiest version of myself possible. I wanted to ensure that my unborn baby was getting the best care she possibly could. I realized that I was going to spend the rest of my life trying to make sure my child is protected and healthy- so why not start now? For that reason, I chose to live as naturally as possible.
Make Small Changes
I found that living a natural lifestyle wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be at first. I took it slowly and started making small changes so that I didn’t overwhelm myself at such an important time in my life. My body was already going through so many changes at the start of my pregnancy that I didn’t want to overwhelm my system or myself. The first thing I did was start buying organically. I found that buying my groceries organically was an easy start. Since I already was eating a healthy diet, I decided that this was a great change in my quest for natural living.
Buying Organic
The first thing I noticed when I started buying organic groceries was that it wasn’t difficult and that the food tasted very fresh. I found myself feeling better and I definitely noticed having more energy. During my pregnancy, I ate organic fruit such as apples, watermelon, and strawberries. I also loved grilling organic vegetables. Instead of loading my diet with fast food, I was able to keep my weight in check and enjoy healthy meals.
Skip the Aspirin
Another way I decided to live naturally was to forgo medicine. Since most medicines are forbidden during pregnancy anyway, I decided that I was going to ban all medications from my system. When I had a headache or didn’t feel my best, I skipped medication and instead, I exercised. I’ve learned that exercise is the best form of pain and stress relief! Prenatal yoga and brisk walking helped to alleviate headaches and migraines. Yoga helped me significantly when my back began to hurt later in pregnancy from the extra weight. Furthermore, exercise gave me plenty of additional energy so I never felt like I was missing out by not drinking caffeinated coffee or other unnatural beverages. I continued to drink plenty of water and it helped to keep me feeling hydrated, energized, and healthy.
Before making any changes throughout your pregnancy, make sure to consult with your doctor. Create a pregnancy and birthing plan that fits you and discuss anything you may be unclear about. I was fortunate enough to have a doctor who ran through everything with me including my delivery options, cord blood banking, breathing techniques and much more. Making these small changes, and having a plan with your doctor will lead to a happy and healthy pregnancy!
Thank you so much, Katie! I hope you guys enjoyed reading her writing as much as I liked having her stop over. Now please go check out her blog – it’s so cute!