Have you had a glass of water today? Did you get enough sleep? Have you spoken to someone close to you? Are you being kind to yourself? Are you accepting the changes your body is going through during pregnancy? Have you given your body what it needs?
Self-care is about making intentional choices that support your emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. Remember that everything you do to care for yourself also affects your baby. It doesn’t just benefit you — it supports your baby’s development and your journey into parenthood too.
Self-care can be seen as a multi-layered approach to wellbeing, where you pay attention to your physical, emotional, and social needs, based on what you need at this moment. According to psychologist Dr Gill Lopez, self-care can also be divided into two additional types: long-term and short-term self-care.
Long-term self-care focuses on habits that bring lasting benefits over time. Practising mindfulness regularly, for example, may support brain health, improve memory and learning, and help create emotional balance. Short-term self-care, on the other hand, includes actions that offer more immediate relief or comfort — such as calling a friend.
Ways to practise self-care
Mental wellbeing
- Meditation or relaxation exercises
- Spending time outdoors or in nature
- Taking part in wellbeing-focused ceremonies, courses, or workshops
- Building a support network
Physical wellbeing
- Including movement or exercise in your routine
- Nourishing your body with balanced, healthy eating habits
- Remembering to drink enough water
- Attending midwife or doctor appointments as planned
- Prioritising sleep whenever possible
Emotional and psychological wellbeing
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Allowing yourself to rest
- Taking time just for you
- Calling someone you love
- Writing in a journal
- Spending time with close friends and family
Sources:
- Glowiak, M. (2020, April 14). What is Self-Care and Why is it Important For You? Southern New Hampshire University.
- Rasouli, M., Pourheidari, M., & Gardesh, Z. H. (2019). Effect of self-care before and during pregnancy to prevention and control preeclampsia in high-risk women. International journal of preventive medicine, 10.
- Pregnancy self-care essentials. (n.d.). Medibank. Retrieved September 7, 2021.