Mother Her Yoga

💗 How do you want to feel mama? 💗

Birth preparation classes and birth plans can help make sense of the ins and outs of different procedures/interventions and then you actually EXPERIENCE labour. I love the old adage "Man plans and God laughs".

It's true! How can you birth your baby the exact way you want to? This is NOT about outcomes. You may need a medically necessary induction, an emergency Caesarean, baby could need to go to special care but you CAN minimise feelings of regret, disappointment and anger.

You do this by focusing on the feelings.

I had 2 very similar labours that both resulted in a Caesarean. It took me years to process the first birth experience. We had focused on all things we were going to "do". The next time around I hired a doula. I had done EVEN MORE research than the first time around but the biggest difference is I went into the birth knowing clearly how I wanted to feel. I held my little squishy baby in my arms afterwards and had absolute peace in my heart. Birth is unpredictable. It's our initiation into Motherhood. It's the practise of total surrender.

💗 How do you want to feel mama?? 💗

Don't wait beautiful Mama. There's no milestone that will make everything okay. Choose to feel good today. Surrender to the ebb and flow of Motherhood. The challenges will change. Some days will flow better than others and that's okay too. Do something you love for even 5 minutes. Listen to an audio book or podcast, put on your favourite handcream, dance around to an old song! Something that puts a smile on your face. I love these words from Abraham Hicks Morning Rampage "Today I am going to look for reasons to feel good and I will find them"

My first thought was "all I do for you and this is what you write down?" and then the **guilt**, "Have I spent enough time with him? Is this really all he sees me doing now?"

But now I see. This really is why I'm a good mum!

The past 6 months have been hard for him adjusting to a new addition in the family. He's actually doing really great and is an amazing big brother!

And it's true! I have been priotising my most basic needs. Good food, sleeping when I can and drinking plenty of water. This alongside regularly moving my body, listening carefully to what it says it needs that day. It might be a stroll with the pram by the river, a few yoga poses on the bed or a high intensity workout to release pent up energy from being in the house most of the time now.

"Remember to ask for help when you need it" a helpful suggestion commonly said to expecting or new mums yet this is something I see a lot of mums struggle with, myself included!

As a society we celebrate the "power through" mentality. Pop a few of these pills and you'll be able to carry on, carrying on!

First there needs to be an internal shift, an acceptance that it is indeed A-OK to ask for help.

Then, when to ask? It's not always crystal clear! Do you want to be so burned out that you are crying in a heap? Think of it more like a scale. Get used to checking in with yourself for even 1 minute each day. How are you feeling today? 1-10. Rate it. Don't get to one before reaching out!

To all those mamas out there that need to hear these words today! Our internal monologue can get the best of us some days. Find a few moments (even 5 breaths) to to focus inwards and repeat this mantra. You can also try changing it to "I am.." statements. With love and gratitude, Sarah 💗