Pregnancy can be stressful; there is so much unknown. Mindfulness meditation is an increasingly popular approach to managing this stress and preparing for childbirth and beyond.
Potential benefits of mindfulness include:
- reducing anxiety, stress, and the risk of perinatal depression
- managing pain during pregnancy and labour
- enhancing ‘connection’ between parent and infant
Headspace Pregnancy Pack
Headspace, an online app, is an excellent resource to help you develop and maintain an ongoing meditation practice. They have a 30 day Pregnancy Pack to “help you to achieve a strong connection with your baby… and also help you prepare your mind for all the unexpected moments in new parenthood.”
A Mindful Pregnancy
The founder, Andy Puddicome, has also recently released a book, The Headspace Guide to a Mindful Pregnancy. It’s a practical guide, with exercises to help you (and your partner) live mindfully from conception through pregnancy and early parenthood.
A Mindful Birth
On the Headspace blog, co-author Shamsah Amersi, MD, shares her 10 tips for a mindful birth to give you some insight into their approach.
Check them out; there’s a lot to be gained from a little Headspace.
Do you have a favourite mindfulness resource or app? I’d love to know; please share in the comments below.
Let me know what you think!