Before we begin, I would like you to take a deep breath in….and out. And again. Ahhhhhhh that feels better, doesn’t it?
Hope you have a lovely hot cup of tea nearby or a natural view that forces you to slow down and relax….
The world is so incredibly fast and busy in our modern world (and the technology is way ahead of our biology) As women, there are so many expectations on us to be and do everything and show up for everybody’s needs.
While we have the freedom to be many roles, the other side of the coin is that we have put ourselves in a head spin with all the countless things we need to do in any given day and the to-do list just keeps on growing (along with our bellies!!) No wonder it can be overwhelming at times.
Some people get their sense of importance from their constant head-spinning busi-ness which does nothing good for their health and wellbeing. Inside their head is one big mess and then their bodies follow the same direction. Just look at folks who look like a bundle of nerves rushing around (you might even know someone like this intimately lol) They are very easy to spot and even if you can’t see it you can certainly feel their energy when they enter the room or how YOU feel when they leave!
In our male-dominated society, it is too easy to forget the importance of just BE-ING (not just DOING) and there is no greater time to practise this than while growing a beautiful new life inside of you who fully depends on you for their wellbeing.
I was just speaking to a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who is busy working on women’s hormonal issues as a result of this busi-ness and she has no shortage of work. She says our modern lifestyles are messing about with our hormones in a really big way and fertility issues are just one result as well as a whole host of other health issues.
So what is the answer to all of this? Slow down, switch off, unplug yourself from your devices (TV, computer, mobile/cell-phone etc) even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Become aware.
Have you noticed most of us don’t wait for buses or trains anymore or for kids to finish school or don’t even watch their children playing sport? Instead we just get back onto our devices and checking messages like there is not a second to waste. Yet by doing this, we waste the opportunity to relax for a few moments and regain our sanity or be part of our children’s world and show them that they matter more than the silly device in front of us. Does anyone else think about this stuff and what we are doing?
I remember one lovely lady who attended my workshop came to the realisation that she had worked all the way through her pregnancy without allowing herself to slow down or take maternity leave. As a result, she felt very disconnected with her growing baby and guilty that she had ‘missed’ the pregnancy altogether. It was only that last stretch (no pun intended lol) that she had become fully aware of it and was able to do something differently.
There are so many ways to start bonding with your baby. Some women like to talk to their baby, perhaps sing a special song just for them or read stories or rub their belly lovingly with their favourite oil or cream….
What are some of your favourites?
Do you feel like you are taking the time to really connect with your growing baby or are you too busy DOING and running around to actually BE present? Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Until next time, take time to rub that beautiful belly and celebrate the gift of pregnancy 😉
Birth Blessings,
Katrina Zaslavsky
Birth Goddess
What others have said about **Slow down and remember to just BE pregnant!** via email…..
“I really thank you for this. Recently I made the realization that I have not been present in a good way during my pregnancy. During the beginning of my pregnancy I was going through a lot of emotional distress with my husband. I was also working full time. I started to feel like I hadn’t bonded with my baby. I began to slow down but it was not enough. I got sick. My manager wasn’t too understanding. That’s when I got the epiphany that I needed to respect my body and my responsibility to my child. I am now in the process of taking maternity leave. I think if it were not for getting a gallbladder attack because of not eating mindfully I probably would have kept working.
I knew that I need the time to properly prepare low fat meals, rest and connect but I thought I had achieved that balance. It was not til landing in the hospital and having to take antibiotics (which I dislike) that I realized I was barely surviving. You are right, we are expected to do a lot. That same guilt made me think my job was number one. Thank you for this reminder.I needed it. It is as if the universe is reminding me I’ve made the right choice to take my maternity leave now, two months before my due date.”
Martha
