If you’re a new parent or are expecting – congratulations! The ‘birth’ day is upon you, shortly will be, or was recent. You’ve got a lot on your mind likely focusing on the birth of your baby and how you will get through it. Or, maybe you’re in postpartum and you’re looking for ways to feel better.
For me, I spent a lot of time online and in classes at the hospital learning about what to expect during my pregnancy, the birth, and very little time outside of breastfeeding basics on what it would be like in postpartum.
A month or two after my son was born, I learned about the importance of a support network in addition to my spouse. I learned about doulas and the amazing job they do to ensure that birth plans/wishes are followed, comfort measures are in place, and more! I learned that there are birth and postpartum doulas that carry out different roles and responsibilities. They serve as a coach and an advocate and I believe they are a vital component to a parent’s journey into parenthood. At some point in the future, it is a desire of mine to certify as a doula.
If you’re reading my blog and are interested in a doula for you or a loved one, message me and I’ll share some resources. If you’re grieving a loss, there are doulas that have specialized training in this area who can support you on this journey.
Let’s pivot, this blog post is also about another important factor that many families don’t consider and that’s nutrition. I didn’t. It wasn’t even on my radar. Unfortunately, because of the lack of attention or the desire to learn the importance of eating healthy, I suffered in my third trimester and even prior to my pregnancy, I dealt with years of GI issues. My son was born in 2008. It wasn’t until 2009, after I had made some food changes, that I started to feel better. That year I started a blog sharing tips on what was working for me and the education I was learning. Three years later, I certified as a health coach!
If you’re struggling (overwhelmed or need reassurance) in your personal wellness journey and want to learn how to eat better, consider hiring a health coach, working with a nutritionist, or making an appointment with your primary health provider asking them to guide you into eating healthier. You can learn more about health coaches and how to find us here.
In the meantime, if you’re pregnant now, you can lower the rates of complications through education, resources, and strategies in the four areas of health: lifestyle (L), exercise (E), attitude (A), and nutrition (N). You can also apply these principles in postpartum and beyond! You can use these same principles in different ways at all stages of parenthood (adulthood)!
(L)ean: Refers how to choose to divide your time between work, relaxation, and sleep. These choices will continue to be important even after your baby is born, because taking care of yourself and making healthy choices will enable you to provide optimal care for your baby.
(E)xercise: Refers to being physically active. This is important for your physical as well as mental health. Particularly, while you’re adjusting to being a new parent, regular exercise can help you feel good about your changing body. It can help regulate your sleep schedules.
(A)ttitude: Refers to keeping your mind healthy and your outlook positive. Especially while you are adjusting to the demands of being a new parent. It’s important to stay positive and maintain a healthy perspective about your roles as your baby’s caregiver.
(N)utrition: Refers to your body’s intake of nutrients to foster optimal health. If you choose to breastfed, your body will work to provide all of the essential nutrients for your baby which means that you will have to be extra conscious of making sure you say ‘yes’ to healthy nutritious foods and ‘no’ to foods that provide little to no nutritional value.
Health coaches certified through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute that are trained in the family and pregnancy lifecycles like myself can help! We can point you in the direction of connecting and learning ways to positively impact the health of both yourself and your baby through education, encouragement, and accountability.
Parents who practice L.E.A.N. are more likely to:
· Have a healthier pregnancy
· Deliver healthier babies
· Experience less complicated labors
· Have a faster and smoother recovery from birth
· Avoid pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, toxemia, anemia, leg cramps, heartburn, and obesity
Babies born to parents who practice L.E.A.N. are more likely to:
· Be born at a healthy weight
· Not be born premature
· Have fewer congenital defects
· Show better brain growth
· Not be overweight as adults
If you’d like to see if we’d be a good fit working together, send me a message or can't wait? Book a no-cost Discovery Session.
While you’re considering if we'll be a good fit, I invite you to peruse the Services tab and visit Coaching Packages and the A La Carte menu. Look for the online L.E.A.N. Start I facilitate. If you're interested in an overview that takes less than an hour, I have a Pregnancy Wellness workshop. In this workshop, I cover the Baby Bs, Common Vitamin Deficiencies, Eating Smart, Baby Foods, and more!
Disclaimer: This blog post is not intended to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease, condition, or ailment. This information is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Speak with your healthcare provider to see how/if it pertains to your individual needs.
The purpose of this blog is to offer support for your health goals. As of July 2022, Jessica David is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Jessica has ten years of coaching experience and you can consider her an encourager, someone in your corner, a friend, and a professional.
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