Mum-To-Be Malvika Sitlani Shows How To Enhance Mental Well-Being During Pregnancy
9 Feb 2023 | 7 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 799 Articles
Pregnancy is a phase where your emotional well-being directly affects your baby’s physiological and mental development. This is why it is essential for you to stay happy, joyful, and relaxed throughout this time.
However, with all the bodily changes and discomforts, you might find it a tad bit difficult to stay positive every day and that’s absolutely fine too. Every pregnancy is different, and so are the experiences of a mother during this time. Not all days are gleeful, but on the brighter side, not every day is filled with anxiety, given you try to indulge in joyful moments in your life and indulge in self-care activities.
Recently, beauty content creator and soon-to-be mum Malvika Sitlani opened up about her pregnancy blues and shared her “small pockets of joyful moments” that help enhance her mental well-being during pregnancy and keep her mood uplifted. The gorgeous beauty blogger took to her social media account to talk about how pictures on Instagram can look “rosy,” but in reality, pregnancy is a tough journey, and “so not a bed of roses.”
Malvika also added that while the journey is tough, “we can take it one day at a time.” She then went on to reveal 10 small habits that act as her “small pocket of joy moments” and help her stay relaxed and happy.
Malvika revealed “My pockets of Joy moments are…
- Dolling up in my lowest times
- Reading books that teach me new things
- Listening to podcasts that give me new perspectives on life
- Journaling and self-care mornings
- Getting coffee with my girl
- Talking to God
- Allowing myself to feel my feelings and cry if I need to.
- Having my mum cook my favorite meals
- Intentionally taking deep breaths
- Being extremely kind to myself and knowing that I’m enough”
Take a look at her post!
The mum-to-be concluded her post by adding, “Look for small pockets of joy every day. I know it feels like a never-ending journey, you’re mentally drained out, and it feels like you can’t see the light. But the light is coming. Hold on tight…We are all waiting for it.”
Malvika’s self-care tips are really simple and yet immensely effective in just soothing her mind and relieving anxieties. Even you can try these activities and look for little joyful moments that can help boost your mental health during pregnancy.
In the next section, we have highlighted some simple tips that you can incorporate into your daily routine to enhance your health and happiness.
7 Simple Ways to Care for Yourself During Pregnancy
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Your lifestyle affects the way you are, and the way you operate in your life. An active lifestyle keeps you healthy and productive and always does more good. However, as your pregnancy progresses, there is every chance lethargy will set in.
You will also feel the urge to give in to your pregnancy cravings and binge on junk food frequently. But stick to healthy eating choices. Pack your plate with loads of fruits, veggies, and a choice of protein to deliver key nutrients that aid in your baby’s development.
Apart from eating healthy, make sure you are moving your body every day (according to your comfort level) and performing light to moderate pregnancy-safe stretches. This will help improve your blood circulation, relax muscles, and soothe cramps and aches.
Do Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation are a boon for pregnant women. They help you feel rejuvenated, happy, and strong. Like stretching, yoga relaxes your joints and muscles and relieves pain. It also helps enhance flexibility in your body and strengthens your hip, back, and pelvic floor muscles.
Meditation and the associated breathwork can release emotional toxins from your body and rebuild your positive thinking pattern. Spending at least 30 minutes every day on meditation can make a huge difference in the way you feel and think.
Spend Time Outdoors
Self-care may start from within, but being outside, in a natural setting can amplify that tenfold. Spending time outdoors, and exploring nature can lower your cortisol levels and help calm your mind during pregnancy and beyond. Simply take a walk around your house, or head to a botanical park to breathe the outdoor air. Trust us, the time spent outdoors can have a therapeutic and stress-reducing effect on your mind.
Catch Up with Your Besties
Let’s face it, once your little bub arrives, you will have no time to catch up with your gal pals. So why not make use of this time and plan a fun outing with your besties? Go for brunch at your favourite cafe, or enjoy a fun movie night.
Plus, talking to your besties and sharing your feelings can have a positive impact on your emotional well-being.
Enjoy All the Preparation
Before the arrival of your munchkin, you will be busy making plans. Right from shopping for maternity clothes to preparing the nursery, you will have lots to do. You should relish and enjoy every moment as you prepare your house for your munchkin’s arrival.
Take a Breather
Life will always be hectic. But during pregnancy, it’s important you set boundaries and say ‘no’ to anything that is beyond your comfort level. Put a pause on your ever-busy work schedule and take time to nap, meditate, read books, or indulge in activities that cheer you up.
Recharge your batteries by treating yourself to something good and take a pause for some quiet time, guilt-free.
Plan A Babymoon
A babymoon is your one last hoorah before your munchkin arrives! The second trimester is the ideal time to plan a babymoon, as you still have a lot of energy and no travel restrictions. Plan a tranquil country escape or a relaxing beach break, because you deserve it, mamma.
As Malvika rightly said, the challenges during pregnancy may be never-ending, but you can overcome them by putting extra focus on yourself and indulging in self-care activities. The tips that we have discussed can be easily incorporated into your routine can keep you healthy and cheerful, and improve your mental well-being during pregnancy. Just listen to your body, take ample rest, indulge in some of your pregnancy cravings, and enjoy every minute of your pregnancy journey.
Pro-Tip
All set to welcome your newborn? Here are some products that you should cart stat to offer the best care to your munchkin.
Moisturising Creamy Bathing Bar
Also read:
Masoom Minawala shares her pregnancy routine: These are the only three mantras that the influencer relied on to maintain a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Alia Bhatt talks about motherhood and career: Check out what new mum Alia had to say about balancing her career and her new role as a mum.
Cover Image Credit: Malvika Sitlani / Instagram
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