✨Trying to relax/hypnobirth/meditate✨

Do you sit down and find you can't stop the internal stream of thoughts to even take a deep breath?

Or maybe you don't even bother to try because you know it won't work?

That's ok!

Forcing things and judging yourself isn't going to make it a pleasant experience even if you did try!

So maybe if you'd like to take time to connect and slow down/switch off, try this:

✨ Write a list

✨ Don't do anything on the list

✨ Look at the list

✨ Take a deep breath

And another one 😤💨🫁💚

Great you can stop here if you want and go about your day. You have just paused and slowed down.

If you feel like you want to keep going

✨ Decide what need to be done URGENTLY in the next 3 minutes that can't wait

✨ Go and do it but then come back to this list

✨ Sit and take 3-5 deep breaths while you pick a song that you'd like to listen to right now.

✨ Now sit if you'd like, or lie down or walk (even around the room/house) or do something with your hands like washing up. (Or go sit in the bathroom and lock the door)

✨ Now just listen to the song and enjoy it.

✨Slow your breathing down as you listen.

✨ How does it feel to be in your body? Could you be comfier or do you need food or water?

✨Can you feel your deep breaths getting easier?

✨ Is there a bit more space in your brain? Yes - great

No? That's ok too! Its kind of crap that you still feel stressed so maybe you need to find a way to create some space in a bigger way? Maybe talking/a hug/ writing it down help?

Or if it's a huge overwhelm of a to do list or feeling, then punching/ screaming into a pillow or having a big cry might help.

Sometimes giving yourself space doesn't open up to peace, but to the big feeling that needed to come out. That's good and important to release it. Just finding a safe space to do it in is important.

Pregnancy is a time of anxiety, hope, joy, sadness and everything in between. But it's all more raw then pre-pregnancy (thanks hormones). But also big things shift and change during pregnancy so while finding inner peace and time to connect with your baby is great, it's not always the easiest to find moments like this.

If you're feeling overwhelmed/anxious more often than you'd like, talking to a good therapist definitely does help.

Mind is a great website to look at see the link below.

Ruth Olayinka is a local hypnotherapist that specialises in pregnancy/birth/postnatal support if you want some support as well.

Check her out here: https://g.co/kgs/Hfht9H