Last week I shared the exciting news that Michael and I are going to start trying for baby #3 in a couple months!
And I shared 3 of the ways I’m starting to prepare NOW for an awesome pregnancy.
Because the truth is, there’s so much you can do in the months leading up to conception that can make such a difference in your pregnancy and birth.
So here’s Part 2 of that post with the other 4 ways I’m preparing for an awesome pregnancy…
*note – this post contains some affiliate links
4. Carrying His Peace and His Presence
I have a goal for this next pregnancy…
I want to walk through the whole thing in God’s perfect peace without worrying about anything!
It might sound crazy, but I think it’s possible.
Graham Cooke (one of my favorite speakers) says that he can’t remember the last time he worried about something – it must have been 18-20 years ago. Wow! I want that! I know it comes from his deep intimacy with the Father, his close friendship with Jesus, and his confidence in who God is and who God will always be for him.
I’m going after it, Mamas! Babies feel our emotions in the womb. And they also receive the hormones we release. So if we release stress hormones and Cortisol during pregnancy, the baby receives those stress hormones as well.
I long to create an atmosphere in the womb for our next baby that is filled with only joy, peace, trust, and the presence of God.
I wonder how that would affect a baby’s spirit. What type of peace would a baby carry if they felt no stress or worry during their 9 months in the womb? What type of foundation would that lay for their life?
I want to find out! So I’m starting to ask God how to get there.
I’m pressing into His heart at deeper levels and learning to abide continually in His peace and presence.
I’m learning to take each situation in my life to him immediately to get HIS perspective and thoughts on it (cuz He’s definitely never worried about it).
I’m learning to absolutely refuse to worry or to entertain the whispers of the enemy.
I’m learning that my peace, contentment and joy in the Lord is more important than anything else: the bills, the to-do-lists, the unknowns in the future, etc.
So I’m practicing and pressing in to His heart to prepare for my dream of a worry-free pregnancy!
5. Charting My Cycle
I’ve been charting my cycle using the Fertility Awareness Method since Michael and I got married 7 years ago. And I LOVE it!!!
It has seriously been one of the most empowering things I’ve done as a woman and I love being so in touch with my body and really understanding what’s going on with my hormones each month.
I take my waking temperature each morning and chart it on a graph, along with changes in cervical fluid and a few other things. Through this method I’m able to tell exactly which days of the month I’m fertile and not fertile and the exact day that I ovulate and the exact day I’m going to start my period. It’s amazing!
We’ve successfully used this method to prevent conception throughout our marriage, as well as to conceive quickly when we were ready to try.
But the other cool thing about charting is that I’m able to really understand what’s going on with my hormones. I’ve been able to tell in the past when my progesterone or estrogen levels were low and then was able to take steps with a natural doctor to fix those levels.
So I’m starting it up again. I want to make sure my hormones and cycle are looking good before trying to conceive.
Plus, through this method, I’ll know the exact day we conceive and our exact due date for the baby. Ultrasounds don’t always give you an accurate due date and that can cause problems if your doctor thinks you’re 2 weeks overdue and wants to induce when you’re actually only 3 days overdue.
If you’re interested in learning how to chart your cycle, understand how your fertility works, and how to naturally prevent or try for pregnancy, come join my online Understanding Your Fertility Class: Natural Prevention & Conception! You will come out of this class so empowered and excited to partner with the beautiful way God designed your body and fertility! I seriously believe every woman needs to take this class!
Also, my favorite book on this topic is “Taking Charge of your Fertility.” It walks you through the whole process of charting your cycle step by step and gives you charts to photocopy and use.
6. Getting the Best Maternity Insurance
It’s important to think about the kind of birth of you might want and to work on getting insurance that will cover that ahead of time.
Personally, I would love another homebirth and signed up for insurance that will cover that for us. It’s important to do this ahead of time because most insurance companies will only cover full maternity costs if you are a member before conceiving.
I joined Samaritan Ministries for this pregnancy and birth. It’s a Christian Sharing Network that isn’t technically insurance, but still meets the government requirement for everyone to have health insurance.
What I love about them for maternity is that they cover:
- Any type of birth (hospital, birth center, or homebirth)
- Any licensed doctor or midwife (they don’t have to be in a certain network)
- $500 towards a birth doula
- Prenatal supplements
- And if needed, prenatal massage, acupuncture, or chiropractor visits. So awesome!
If you look into it and decide to join as well, will you give my name (Kierra Blaser) as the person who referred you? Thanks – It will help support this website and ministry!
7. Replacing My Beauty Products with Natural Ones
I’ve been meaning to do this forever, but the thought of growing a baby inside me gives me the motivation to actually do it!
Sadly, there are no regulations on beauty products in the U.S. and many of the products we use every day have chemicals in them known to cause cancer, reproductive issues, and more.
And everything that enters my body goes to the baby as well. So if I use a shampoo or sunscreen filled with toxic chemicals, my growing baby will be affected by those chemicals as well. Yikes! Time to clean out my bathroom!
I’m not throwing products out, but as soon as something runs out, I’m committed to replacing it with a safe, all-natural product.
I love Skin Deep’s website where you can look up any beauty product and see it’s rating for toxicity and the dangerous chemicals in it. I’m trying to only buy products that have a Skin Deep rating of 0-2. My favorite companies right now are Beauty Counter and 100% Pure.
So there you have it friends! The final 4 ways I’m preparing for an awesome pregnancy!
And if you missed last week’s post with tips 1-3, you can read it here!
I pray that these ideas bless you on your own journey towards an awesome pregnancy and birth! Share any other ways you’re preparing in the comment section below!
Much love,
Kierra
Photo Credit: Flickr.com – Thomas Pompernigg