Top Tips for Natural Pregnancy

Photo by Josh Dubya.

Alternative medicine specialist Jen Aliano of Natural Baby Pros has all the answers when it comes to bringing a little bundle of joy into the world. While pregnant with her first child, Jen hunted for natural fertility and birthing options, to little avail, and decided to step up and co-create what is now a one-stop online hub of natural pregnancy solutions.

As a mother and wife, Jen understands the joys and challenges of being a new parent and pushes Natural Baby Pros to evolve, continually supporting these relationships as they grow and change. New parents know that advice from experienced ones is worth it’s weight in gold so we asked Jen to offer her top tips for expecting and new parents.

Advice for the new daddy: Don’t be afraid to dive right in!

• Try to become involved in as many ways possible. Though dads may feel a slight disadvantage when it comes to bonding with the baby (mom has 9 months to do so!), they should remember that their baby has heard daddy’s voice for quite some time before birth and so is already familiar with him in some ways.
• Daddy can bond by burping baby after feeding (nothing is more satisfying than a good burp!), try baby wearing (my personal favorite is Moby Wrap), and take turns changing diapers.
• Take the baby on walks (which are usually very soothing) so that mom can get some rest or have some time for herself.
• Support the new mother. Most new moms grossly underestimate the amount of help they will need after the birth of a baby, and many also find it difficult to ask for and accept help from others. Fathers can play a crucial role in the first few months of a baby’s life just by supporting mom, taking over chores, and helping her with her needs as much as possible.

Newly expecting mommies. Prepare to become flexible!

• Plan ahead and ask for help! It’s hard for new mothers to imagine how much their life and daily routine will change as well as how much help she will need in the first few weeks, if not months, of her new baby’s life. Ask for help ahead of time; if you are not good at asking for or accepting help, learn to get over it, and start practicing. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors if they might be able to help you with some specific item, such as preparing a meal, doing a chore, running an errand; anything that will take time off your hands and free it up for you and your new baby. Have a calendar ready, and start scheduling people to be there to help you; even though you probably don’t know what day your baby will be born, you can still start to plan.
• Rest as much as you can, and try to schedule some time for yourself. Pregnancy and birth takes a lot out of you, and a new mom needs some time to recuperate. Don’t let yourself get worn down; be sure to care for yourself. Doing otherwise will make it harder to care for your baby. Just remember, a sick, stressed, worn-out you does your baby (and your milk supply!) no good.
• Research your options in caring for yourself during pregnancy, your birth, and caring for your baby. Visualize and have the birthing experience you want! If you are unaware of the possibilities that you have in birth, get excited, the options are abundant. Do your research and ask around. Developing your birth plan is one of the best ways to research your options in birth. Look into having a midwife, doula, or other support person at your birth. Surround yourself with positive birth stories; look to your community events calendar such as Bold Red Tent Events.

For more tips and birthing support, visit Natural Baby Pros.

Christine M. Dionese L.Ac. specializes in integrative medicine, medical journalism and is the VP of marketing at WellWire LLC. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog, Reaching Beyond Now.