Did you ever hear of the pregnancy joke, “Each month has an average of 30-31 days, except the last month of pregnancy, which has 1453 days”? Many women feel that the final weeks of pregnancy are not only difficult physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Nervous energy, eager anticipation, and physical discomfort combine into a whirlwind that can make each day closer to birth feel just a little longer and more restless. If you are first-time mom, you may have concerns about the birth process and self-doubts about being a good mom. Mothers that have been through the process before may have other worries, like how a new baby will change the family dynamic and how older children will react. Pregnancy is never easy, but those final days and weeks can really take a toll on the mind and body!
I am currently expecting our third child in just a couple of weeks, so I am familiar with that ironic, hard-to-explain phenomenon of feeling exhausted and restless at the same time. The days feel like a long blur in our household while we “detox” from the holidays, organize the house, and prepare our older children for life with a new baby. Many women feel the same way I do during this time – eager for the pregnancy to be over and meet our little ones. Please note that I don’t bear any credentials on pregnancy and childbirth – and you should always consult with your physician or midwife before trying anything – but I have found a few tips and tricks that can make the days seem a little more bearable while waiting for a new bundle of joy to arrive.
Continue a non-strenuous fitness regimen
While it isn’t recommended to do anything too strenuous while heavily pregnant, some mild activity like walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga can keep you feeling strong and able up until birth while simultaneously making some time go by. Physical activity can also help alleviate aches and pains and also aid the baby in getting into the right position for birth.
Walking is perhaps the easiest and most beneficial exercise during this time and even shortly after the postpartum period. As far as exercise is concerned, nothing is quite simpler than putting on a pair of sneakers and walking outside for 20 minutes, or even just 15 minutes during the late stages of pregnancy. Swimming is also beneficial – especially for tight joints or ligament pain – but access to a pool can sometimes be difficult.
My favorite regimens during this time are actually the ones done right at home, especially since I have younger children to care for. YouTube and other “apps” on laptops and televisions can help greatly with convenient, stay-at-home workouts, and the variety will keep you from getting bored. Prenatal yoga can embody movements that are specifically tailored for pregnant women and can even help during labor. Yoga is also great for the mind by utilizing deep breathing and other focusing methods to alleviate the anxiety that often comes during these final weeks.
Some yoga moves that can help prepare the body for labor are:
Squats
Cat-cow pose
Pelvic floor exercises, such as Kegels (especially when done in squatting position)
Hip stretchers, like pidgeon-pose
Be sure to ask your doctor or midwife about starting any exercise regimen, especially if you have been relatively inactive during your pregnancy. It is never too late to start! Remember though, there is a fine line between being physically active and overdoing it, especially in the late stages of pregnancy. If you are naturally active due to your lifestyle or by having other young children around to care for and clean up after, then you may already feel physically exhausted by day’s end. Listen to your body and give it rest when it calls for it.
Tie up any loose ends
Your nesting instinct may already be kicking in, so now is great time to get organized and tie up any loose ends that may be difficult to accomplish for the first few months after birth. If you have older children at home, it may be helpful to schedule last-minute haircuts, doctor and dentist visits, prescription refills, new eyeglasses or contacts, or anything else that they may need in the coming months. These types of appointments could also be for you, as well. Even pets could benefit from grooming or veterinarian visits before baby arrives!
Maybe now is also a great time to catch up on thank you notes, emails, and other correspondences. If you haven’t done so already, the final weeks of pregnancy could also be spent packing any hospital bags, scheduling childcare for older children while you’re away, alerting any schools or activities if you plan on keeping older children home for a bit, de-cluttering the house, or perhaps even scheduling a professional housecleaning. If you like to cook, preparing and freezing meals can also be beneficial for when baby arrives. Think of the things that are either on your mind or tend to cause you stress if not completed and try to do them now.
Plan things to look forward to
The impending birth of your baby may already be enough, but sometimes it is helpful to have other things in the near future to look forward to. Thinking about the life events that make you happy can boost your mood and reduce stress levels. My mother always says that a watched pot never boils, so instead of agonizing over whether each day will be the “one” that baby arrives, I’ve started to think about other upcoming events that get me excited and take my mind off of the discomfort of these final weeks. For instance, my baby will be due the middle of the January, with the following months initiating the start of spring. This time of year is always a nice time for our family. Both my husband and I share spring birthdays (which always warrant a nice family activity and respective date night!) and my boys will have many outdoor activities, such as tee-ball games, Easter egg hunts, and plenty of park time. I will also plan our newborn daughter’s Baptism in the spring, and we may even take our first mini-vacation as a family of five. These are the precious moments that make me excited and grateful for the future, and getting a head-start on planning is helping to alleviate the monotony of these days and see the big picture of life as we grow our family and cherish our time spent together.
You may have different visions of happiness or you may not have much planned at all once baby is born, and that is perfectly fine. The goal is to plan your life with a newborn by incorporating things that make you happy, keep you calm, and lift your spirits.
Spark your creative juices
If you have always felt an inclination towards something creative but never had the opportunity to act upon anything, the final stages of pregnancy may be a great time to either rekindle a lost art or learn about something new. This could be anything that sparks your creative drive, such as painting, photography, writing, or even pottery or calligraphy. I, personally, am not much of a photographer, but the art form has always interested me. I would love to be able to take our own family pictures once our baby arrives. For me to be able to do this, I have been getting to used to the settings on our camera, brushing up on the manual, and taking practice shots of our other children whenever possible. I may eventually decide to leave this up to the professionals, but it certainly is fun for now!
Try the safe practices that help prepare your body for labor
Please note that after much research, I’ve found that there are no well-documented studies that support the use of anything to “speed up” labor, bring it on more quickly, or make it easier. In fact, these last few weeks are a very important time for the baby’s growth and development, and – no matter how uncomfortable it may be – it is best to let nature take its course (unless you have a medical issue that warrants early induction, a scheduled Caesarian section, or anything else).
With that being said, there are some relatively innocuous practices that can help prepare your body for labor and can be fun to try during this time. Red raspberry leaf tea has long been used since ancient times to promote uterine tone and support a healthy menstrual cycle. The American Pregnancy Association also holds a relatively positive stance on a cup of daily red raspberry leaf tea, considering it “likely safe” in the third trimester. Some studies have also shown that this herbal tea can decrease the length of labor and the number of interventions used. It may also help keep women from delivering too early or too late. Aside from its possible pregnancy benefits, red raspberry leaf tea is also rich in certain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making the tea beneficial for overall health.
Pineapple has also been purported to help soften the cervix in preparation for labor due to an enzyme called bromelain, however quality research is hard-pressed to support this and it is likely not helpful for this purpose. Even if you would like to try it anyway, pineapple is perfectly safe, healthy, and nutritious in typical daily servings. A great way to incorporate pineapple into your diet is by eating it raw, grilling it with meats, or making a pineapple smoothie. A great recipe for a pineapple smoothie that provides many nutrients to pregnant women is the following:
A handful of fresh or frozen pineapple
A handful of baby spinach
½ banana
1 tsp fresh ginger root
½ cup strawberry or vanilla yogurt
½ cup milk of choice (regular milk, almond, cashew, or even rice milk work well)
Blend for 2 minutes and serve cold.
Other ways to prepare your body for labor are doing activities such as walking or squats. Spending time with your spouse is also beneficial, as it stimulates oxytocin, a hormone that helps make us feel good and trigger our nurturing behaviors. You may not be up for a late night romantic dinner at this point, but even just catching up and spending intimate time with your loved one over a lunch date or delicious take-out can help bolster this hormone in preparation for birth and motherhood.
The last few weeks of pregnancy can be difficult for the mother, but very beneficial for baby. If you are expecting a baby soon, I hope some of these tips can help you get through your final stretch!
