Creating Your Pregnancy Support Team
photo credit: The Moods of Motherhood Photo
Pregnancy is one of the most significant transitions of your life, with changes occurring in your body, brain, energy, identity, relationships, family, and more.
If there is ever a time to seek extra support, it is now.
Consider or journal on some of these questions:
When you think of your pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experience, how do you want to feel physically, mentally, and emotionally?
What kind of people do you want to surround yourself with and have cheering you on?
If you could have all the support in the world, what would that look like for you?
Finding a provider (OB/GYN or Midwife) that will support you and your decisions around pregnancy and birth is crucial. Beyond that, it can be highly beneficial to your pregnancy and well-being to have additional support people and professionals in place. While this will require some time (attending your sessions) and possibly money, it is an investment in your health and well-being that you won’t regret. You deserve to feel supported and strong during this precious, critical, and fleeting time.
Becoming a mother or adding a new baby to your growing family is full of change, uncertainty, and transformation. You can’t control everything on this journey, but you can control how you choose to experience this transformation, how you respond to unexpected challenges, and the mindset you embody. By taking care of yourself, you will be more equipped and able to care for your family and show up as the parent and person you want to be.
Below are professionals you may want on your support team:
(Consult with your physician to make sure these modalities are right for you and to ask for referrals.)
Psychotherapist
It is very common to experience changes in your mental health during pregnancy and motherhood. A mental health therapist can help you navigate stress, depression or anxiety, issues with your partner, or past traumas that may come to the surface during this time. A great therapist will allow you to express your concerns and help you with coping strategies.
Coach
A certified coach will help you feel highly supported around your well-being and goals during this transition. There are many types of coaches. Look for one that aligns with you, your life stage, and your desires. That could be a health, life, or prenatal coach. As a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), I help women and mothers navigate physical, mental, and emotional changes and establish healthy routines and habits for their best pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. That can include reducing stress, navigating career questions, working on nutrition, establishing self-care habits, improving relationships, elevating the home environment, maintaining exercise or physical therapy routines, and creating a positive and empowered mindset around the significant life change of pregnancy and motherhood. A great coach will be a consistent partner and a non-judgmental, supportive listener to help you set positive intentions and take action on what matters most to you during this time.
Doula
A trained doula can empower you during birth and recovery with helpful information and emotional and physical support. Many doulas also offer support during pregnancy and postpartum. A doula will advocate for you, support your birth plan, and can be in the hospital with you, helping you with comfort measures and optimal birth positions during labor and delivery.
Nutrition Coach or Dietician
Navigating new experiences, challenges, questions, or concerns around food during pregnancy and motherhood is common. Whether it is hormonal changes, food aversions, nausea, stress, blood sugar dysregulation, or the many other interesting symptoms you may experience, working with a supportive nutrition coach or dietician may be crucial for your journey. As an NBC-HWC, Nutrition Coach and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, I help women navigate their relationship with food and their body while feeling nourished and satisfied on and off the plate.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist will help you navigate any injuries, pain, or symptoms that arise (or maybe return) during pregnancy or postpartum. The key is to keep up with those exercises in between sessions!
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
A Pelvic Floor PT will help you navigate any issues that arise with your pelvic floor and can also be great to work with preventatively as you prepare for childbirth. Most women begin Pelvic Floor PT after the first trimester. A great Pelvic Floor PT will make you feel safe and supported and may help you with back and hip pain, incontinence, constipation, birthing prep, body alignment, and more.
Acupuncturist
The Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture may help with pregnancy symptoms like nausea, pain, headaches, stress, and more. An acupuncturist can also be helpful when trying to conceive and in the postpartum stage. A great acupuncturist will be knowledgeable about the different stages of pregnancy and how they can safely help you.
Prenatal Massage Therapist
A massage therapist specializing in prenatal massage may be just the relief you are looking for as you navigate the aches, pains, and stress of pregnancy. Massage therapy may have many benefits, including improving circulation, reducing back and joint pain, reducing stress and anxiety, and reducing swelling. A great prenatal massage therapist will have you in a safe side-lying position and will know what areas are safe to work on with you.
Personal Trainer
A fitness trainer can help you stay active and feel strong during pregnancy while moving at a personalized pace and level (which might be very slow on those fatigue-filled weeks!) Pregnancy can bring up various physical challenges, and having private attention may be helpful for your unique exercise journey. A great personal trainer will have proper certifications and be knowledgeable about the various stages of pregnancy and any modifications you need to make to keep your body and baby safe. There are also many affordable prenatal workout programs online if a personal trainer is not in your budget or a fit for you.
Birth Trauma Coach or Counselor
If you have had a previous birth experience, a new pregnancy may bring up past unresolved trauma. This is a great time to work with a coach or therapist specializing in birth trauma. A great birth trauma coach can help you resolve or find peace in the past and move forward with more ease and hope.
Support Group
Feeling connected to other women is key to any person’s motherhood journey. We are meant to be in community, yet we often feel alone. Joining an aligned support group may be just the boost in well-being you need to thrive in pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Check out the motherhood support circle I lead here.
When considering your team beyond pregnancy, you may also want to research local lactation consults, postpartum nurses/doulas, newborn educators, infant sleep consultants, or postpartum support networks.
Whoever you decide to include in your pregnancy support team, I hope you know you are never alone on the journey. At this very moment, women all over the world are experiencing the highs and lows of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood. Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.
If you are looking for a supportive partner and coach on your motherhood journey, please reach out to me here or send an email to emily@emilykriner.com