It seems as though the second those two lines appear, so does a freight train of exhaustion, hormones, and hunger…or nausea…sometimes both! Watching your body change as it creates life, stretching and growing until you think you might just burst. Understandably, it’s exhausting to grow a whole human. A cozy nap with snacks nearby sounds far more appealing than a walk, much less an intentional workout; and the appeal only increases as your hips widen. As enticing as it is to indulge in every craving, napping as “needed,” it’s increasingly important to fix our focus on nurturing our bodies rather than indulging in the temporary temptations with lasting implications.
The pursuit of nurturing one’s pregnant body means understanding and appreciating the good work it’s doing and preparing for; and acknowledging that it is work. There is a lot of grace to be given to one’s body in seasons of pregnancy and postpartum, but grace comes in all shapes and sizes… and to nurture your body through a healthy lifestyle is surely a grace. This can look like getting out each day for a walk, researching pregnancy safe workouts, or even better specifically focusing on deep core and pelvic floor… you’ll thank yourself later!
In terms of nutrition, nurturing your body could simply be setting a goal for how many grams of protein you’d like to eat each day or making sure you’re eating enough to sustain the good work your body is doing. For others it may look like choosing healthier options to satisfy your cravings. Being the vessel through which life is sustained, before and after birth is hard work. It’s hard physically, mentally and emotionally; but prioritizing one’s health can improve the quality of their pregnancy and postpartum experience. If it seems hard to continue along in healthy habits during pregnancy, it won’t be any easier with the sleep deprivation brought by a newborn or the appetite brought on by breastfeeding. But with diligent discipline and intentionality, healthy habits can be created and continued, nurturing with grace the body with which you’ve been blessed.
