Delivering in a Global Pandemic
People having babies right now could never have imagined they would become parents during a global pandemic. It is an extreme circumstance that has tested our nerves, support systems, and survival instincts.
What are my options?
What information is accurate?
What is best for your family?
Those questions are typical for most going through pregnancy, but there is a new level of urgency that wasn't there before. There is a new kind of stress. We are grasping for a degree of safety that seems out of reach.
All of it together makes the most mindful person stretch to remain connected to their needs. This time feels dark and numb.
Mindfulness and staying present are centuries-old practices that have proven benefits to mental health, and physical well-being. With all the added pressure, it is even more relevant to add mindfulness exercises into your day to balance stress and anxiety, which invades our personal spaces.
For people uninterested in drastically changing their lives, mindfulness may be swept aside as being too holistic and unavailable. But even the smallest bit of effort has rewards.
One major part of mindfulness is staying present. And staying present can be a small and simple change. But a change that helps most have more control over one's life. And in this time of so many unknowns, many find comfort in having control, even in the littlest things
Staying present can look like taking a breath and noticing how your body responds when you read or hear something new.
Staying present means choosing not to look past the next choice, and keeping your focus in the moments you are in. Or for Frozen 2 fans, you can think of doing The Next Right Thing
Staying present can mean setting the alarm to give yourself a break from your phone.
Staying present can mean appreciating the flavor of your meal, or the sounds of your home.
Staying present can look like connecting with your pet when they seek your attention.
Staying present can mean naming your feelings and not pushing them down.
If this sounds like a struggle before you start, there is another way to tap into some peace of mind going into birth. This will be the first time you have ever given birth to this baby. It is a totally new and unique experience. And with anything new comes the anxiety of what Brene Brown calls the FFT (f*cking first time.) And there is value in staying in the hard times, working through the fear, and staying connected instead of shutting down.
She does a way better job describing it - so take a listen on her podcast if you need some reassurance and some advice on FFTs.