Tools for before, during and after pregnancy

Are you on your way to becoming pregnant? Maybe struggling to get pregnant? Pregnant and a bit lost regarding what to eat, do, prepare? Or a new mum confused about how to feed your baby?

This should help more than you think. Most of these were recommended to me by wonderful friends - thank you for saving my life!

1. Before Becoming Pregnant

"The Better Baby Book" by Lana Asprey, M.D. and Dave Asprey

This is an amazing book to get ready for pregnancy, and to build a solid understanding of what foods and supplements are best for you, before and throughout pregnancy.

This book helps you make better decisions to help your body function at its best. It is also invaluable for women struggling to get pregnant. Lots of useful information there - for you AND your partner.

2. During and After Pregnancy

"The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth" by Genevieve Howland

The best book I could read day after day - helping me enjoy my pregnancy and get organized. It is full of useful tips: yummy recipes, explanations of what is going on inside you and for the baby, practical guidance on natural birth, birth preferences, and what to buy for your newborn.

This book honestly blew my mind and helped me in so many ways. To me it is a must-have.

"Super Nutrition for Babies" by Katherine Erlich, M.D. and Kelly Genzlinger, CNC

A very comprehensive book about nutrition - for you while pregnant or breastfeeding, and for your little one. It covers the first weeks after birth, the best healthy nourishing formulas if you can't breastfeed, how to gradually introduce real foods, and everything from newborn to toddler (0-24 months).

As Hippocrates said: Food is medicine. By choosing the best, nutritious foods for your child from the start, you help them be more prepared and stronger for their future life.

3. For Women Scared About Labour or Childbirth

Unfortunately, every movie portrays labour as a screaming showcase of pain and terror. The stories you find online are usually the worst ones. And doctors in hospitals, having seen the worst, rarely reassure you.

So what is left? Your GUTS. Your inner feeling.

Is pregnancy a sickness? Of course not. It is a normal condition that most women will go through. Our body is made for it, and our body knows how to handle it. If we help our body do its best work, there is nothing to worry about.

A great tool to help: Hypnobirthing. It gives you tools to relax and meditate and get ready for the birth without fear. By listening daily to hypnobirthing affirmations, you gradually replace the deeply ingrained belief that birth has to be terrifying. It helps you understand what is actually happening in your body, and how your body is doing everything it can to bring your baby safely into the world.

A Final Note

I truly believe pregnancy can help many women feel better with themselves and trust their bodies again. Of course, the healthier you are before pregnancy, the easier it will be.

There are also so many women who struggle to get pregnant, and the problem is not always physical. Sometimes their mindset and beliefs are holding them back, consciously or not. By starting to take care of themselves on a daily basis - better food choices, more movement, more rest - things can shift.

And partners matter too: it is not always the woman's "fault". A man's lifestyle significantly impacts his fertility.

Pregnancy is a great moment to work as a team and make this natural event a beautiful one.

Trust the process.

In Love and Happiness,

Stephanie