mental health
Mindfulness M
for pregnancy
it's the 'buzz word' of the moment, but what can mindfulness actually do for you during your pregnancy?
indfulness is certainly the 'buzzword' that's hitting the headlines at the moment, with barely a day going by
without one newspaper or another eschewing its benefits. What's more, recent research by the
National Health Service and Oxford and Harvard Universities has shown that, by practising mindfulness, you can bring about:
• a significant reduction in stress • improvements in mood • pain relief • reduced depression • less anxiety • a boost in positive emotions
Put simply, there couldn't be a better time to learn mindfulness than during pregnancy. On top of the fact that pregnancy is such
an emotional time where you’re experiencing both unfamiliar physical and hormonal changes, there's also the 'shock' realisation of the enormity of bringing a new life into the world and of the fact that
16MODERNMUM Spring 2016
you’re going to be the primary source of care for another human being! With so much responsibility, is it any
wonder that your head may be spinning a little? And that's where mindfulness comes in... Mindfulness is a basic technique that
was invented thousands of years ago by Buddhist monks. Today, it’s no longer about religion, but about training the brain to cope with life. An impressive body of clinical studies
have already shown that mindfulness that can reduce anxiety and chronic pain, clear the brain, boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, tackle insomnia and improve the memory: benefits that you’d want to experience at any time, but particularly during pregnancy. In addition to the physical benefits,
mindfulness also trains you in awareness and this will help you to understand why you think and feel the way you do. You'll also learn to be at ease with your mind regardless of what's going on win your life. Put simply,
you'll create more space in your head, which will undoubtedly be in the interests of you, your partner or husband, and your child. So, exactly how can mindfulness help
YOUR pregnancy? Slow down
During pregnancy, you obviously need to slow things down and take your time. With mindfulness you can learn to avoid taking too much on and can block off some time for yourself. Tink about Tick Nat Hahn's words: 'Smile, breathe, and go slowly' – a fantastic mantra, which if you practise it regularly, will bring great benefits to both your mind and your body.
Go with the flow
Regardless of whether you have the most detailed of birth plans, remember that, when it comes to birth plans, things oſten don't go according to plan. If you experience a less-than-desirable delivery and birth, >
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