A few weeks back I started thinking about what makes a calm pregnancy and baby. I’d just had the absolute pleasure of photographing newborn twins. What a special treat it was, double cuteness and double cuddles. However, as a Hertfordshire Newborn Photographer I’m well aware that newborn shoots don’t always go to plan.
Of course, this is fine, newborns are unpredictable and plans can always be broken! I’m most happy to go with the flow and my Hertfordshire newborn photography is always baby led and relaxed. None the less two tiny babies could have potentially been a small challenge. Thankfully I was greeted by a super calm mum and her super calm babies, not to forget super calm dad too.
As our shoot progressed I heard all about the chilled out birth, natural, imagine doing it twice in one go?! I heard how the babies feed once in the night, giving tired parents a chance for some well deserved rest. Similarly, I saw how beautifully content and relaxed this mini brother and sister were.
What Makes a Calm Baby?
As I drove home I got to thinking about what makes a calm pregnancy and baby. Does a baby get a vibe from his/her surroundings once born? Is a calm baby made in the womb? Can you learn calmness or are you just blessed with it, or not.
My quest for answers has led me to ask some local, awesome ladies all championing natural wellbeing focusing on a holistic approach. Each offering support, from conception through to arrival and beyond for both mothers and babies. We all need to be aware of our emotional and mental health, this is especially important during and after pregnancy. Having a baby (or two) is a big thing!
We all strive to be calmer, more in the moment, able to enjoy the here and now. I think also, we’d all love calm and happy offspring.
How Can A Little Self Care Help You, Your Partner and Your Newborn?
Below you will read the benefits of a little pregnancy and birth self care. How it can impact you, your partner and your newborn baby. I hope you find it both informative and useful. Each lovely wellbeing professional featured here is based in Hertfordshire and would be happy to answer any of your questions…get in touch to start your journey to calmness! Your doorway to a calm pregnancy and baby.
Baby Massage by Sarah Kray – Wellness @ No.4
Reflexology by Clair Symcox – Twinkletoes Reflexology
How can Reflexology help me during my pregnancy?
Primarily Reflexology is deeply relaxing, it helps you to feel calmer, less anxious and stressed. It also contributes to more restful sleep, which is always a good thing!
We can also help to calm and balance those erratic hormones and gently soothe the aches and discomfort of back or pelvic pain, heartburn and nausea.
After the birth Reflexology can support you through the healing process, through breastfeeding and the joyful but tiring first few months. Even newborn babies can have Reflexology! They love it and it’s a beautiful way to bond with your baby (dad can do it too) whilst giving you a practical way to help soothe your baby through digestive troubles and teething.
Hypnobirthing by Michelle Grant – Birth In Harmony
You will learn an amazing set of breathing, visualisation and relaxation techniques to help you remain calm and in control during pregnancy and labour.
Understanding the physiology of birth and how fear impacts the birthing body.
We will explore the options and choices available to you giving you the confidence to make the right decisions for you and your baby. This course is also brilliant for birthing partners who always come away from the course feeling confident to be able to support Mum and play an integral on the day!
So whatever birth you’re planning or however your birth evolves this mind blowing course will help you to navigate your journey, enabling you to have ‘the right birth on the day’ for you and your baby! I also offer private courses in the comfort of your own home. I am also a Birth & Postnatal Doula and Breastfeeding Peer Supporter so can offer couples continuity throughout pregnancy, birth and into parenthood!
Yoga by Claire Winterbourne – Yoagfeet
Yoga is a wonderful practice for your body, mind and soul through pregnancy, regardless of whether you already know it or are new to it. It will help support your changing body. It will help ease any tensions and find some space within, to stretch into and to breathe into. Focusing on breath, and connecting with our body that is changing, connecting with our inner wisdom; we find tools that will carry us not only into labour, but also into motherhood.
Offering a landing pad for our mind brings a sense of calm at an often very busy time. As a pregnant body changes so does the kind of yoga practice we need to embrace change too. I would always look for a prenatal class, from about 14 weeks onwards. (NB if you have a current practice it’s important to let your teacher know as they may wish to move you to a pregnancy class or to offer modifications within your regular practice).
Once you have found a regular class then it would be wonderful to pick some of the practices that you do and start to make a little time to do them at home too. Daily if you can. Even for five minutes. Perhaps it’s to ease tired shoulders or back, or to find some calm when our minds have so much to think about, or to remind ourselves of our strength and innate knowing – that this is what we do. Yoga helps us to trust that instinct.
Yoga During Labour
We move into natural labour from a place of calm, and if you practice yoga regularly through pregnancy this place will become familiar to you already. The breathing techniques will be perfect for a natural labour and equally valid if your birth needs intervention. Physical practices that you have learned within your prenatal class, even birthing positions, will be useful during your labour too.
Once you have had your baby, the focus of your practice will shift once more, but what you have learned through a prenatal class will give you tools as you step now into motherhood, even to help soothe your baby, and you, in the early days. I am so happy if you have any questions about prenatal yoga to get in touch with me. What a beautiful journey to be on, Claire
Visit Claire here or here
or call on 07968 416001
Birth Preparation and Hypnobirthing by Astral Lucas – Empowered Mamas
A little foot note about me!
