Every medical expert will tell you that lowering your stress levels contributes to a happy and healthy pregnancy. Meditation is an easy way to naturally reduce stress and open yourself to inner peace, but it can be intimidating to many people. However, when you reframe the traditional practice of meditation to look like your everyday life, such as being mindful and present when you do daily tasks like washing dishes or driving it can become a friendly asset to your pregnancy experience.

Reflections
This may signal a time for you to quiet your life, slow down your mind and be present with yourself and your growing baby. As previously suggested, meditation can take on many forms. It can be sitting in a peaceful place doing deep breathing, or it can be an act of releasing chatter in your mind to maintain conscious presence while engaging in everyday tasks. The important thing to remember when trying to meditate is to make room in your mind for being completely aware in the moment and inviting a sense of calm to your being. This is particularly valuable during pregnancy, as a balanced body mind and spirit will encourage an easier physical experience and will give your baby the gift of growing in peace and tranquility. Overall, you will have lower stress levels, which directly impact the type of pregnancy and birth you have.

Try to maintain a daily practice, even if it’s only for five minutes a day. If you can start your day with a few moments of silence, you may see an energy shift in the way your days start to flow. This will benefit both you and your growing baby by reducing your body’s stress hormones.

Ideas

• Buy a meditation pillow if you plan on practicing sitting meditation.
• Ring a bell to signal a quiet time, and then set a timer for however many minutes you have to dedicate to being mindful and present and then ring the bell again when you are finished to signal closure.
• Buy some nice meditation music that helps you to calm your mind. If you do not have time for a daily sitting practice, try playing the music while you engage in other everyday activities to see if it changes your energy while you do the tasks.
• Book Recommendation: The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh.