As I’m writing this, I am 38 Weeks pregnant and I am so thankful that I have been able to find peace in the midst of being pregnant during a global pandemic. It took a lot of effort, a lot of major decisions but I’m thankful that I did the work that needed to be done to feel safe for me and my unborn child leading up to birth. 

With this being my second pregnancy, my intention and approach was to be present in the joy of this pregnancy and do all I can to seek a provider that would support my goal to have a VBAC birth. Little did I know that finding a VBAC supportive provider in LA County was not going to be an easy task and that the world as we knew it would be shifting on a very large scale. 

During my first pregnancy, in 2016, I dealt with a lot of trauma. My mother passed away from breast cancer during my eighth month of pregnancy and I ended up having an unexpected, traumatic c-section birth. I had to heal and recover from the things I faced during my pregnancy in many ways. I did a lot of hard work and soul searching to be mentally present with my son as a whole, healthy, happy mother. I made it my mission to honor my mother’s legacy by being the best mother I can be, being present with my family, while giving myself grace and compassion every step of the way. 

I was so excited about this second pregnancy and greeted the news with the notion that I was not going to have to deal with so much sadness and trauma this time around, and then the pandemic happens. As an empath, I automatically knew that if I was going to guard my peace and stay centered for the wellbeing of my unborn child. I’ve had to navigate through how to best guard myself and create boundaries between being informed and not feeding into everything in the media. During the initial time of shifting and reality settling in that things were changing rapidly, I was in the middle of changing providers. After not being happy with my care at a traditional hospital, I found solace in an incredible midwife at a birthing center that my husband and I connected with instantly. We had our consultation with her and literally two weeks later, the entire LA county shut down. 

After doing so much research, even attending a VBAC support group, I was so relieved that I found my provider just in time. She respected my goals, respected my husband and I as a unit and was willing to be thorough and walk us through all the details during this uncertain time. Weeks after things really began to shift, I was truly saddened that more changes were happening and my husband wasn’t going to be able to attend prenatal appointments anymore. To protect our three year old, he’s been staying home to care for him when I’m at appointments. There have been many adjustments that have had to be made. We’ve had to consider and follow through on a lot of precautions with preparing for not only our unborn child but the protection of our three year old while we give birth. It has taken a lot of extra effort, but I will say it has been a beautiful season of empowerment for me as a mother. 

I’ve taken great pride in the efforts I have made to protect myself and my family. The beginning was very hard and I found myself having to count my blessings instead of dwelling on the things that I longed for and missed. For example, we didn’t get to have a baby shower, but I was able to have a Virtual Baby Shower with so many loved ones from all over the country that never would have been able to attend had I had one in Los Angeles where we reside. It was truly amazing and gave me so much loving energy that I so desperately needed. I’ve been able to get a ton of quality time in with my son before he becomes a big brother. I’ve been able to rest more. And part of my nesting this time around has included me having a surge in creativity. I released a new song while nine months pregnant (who does that!? LOL) and just finished my first book! 

It took me a little time to find the balance to truly just take things day-by-day and not worry about things I can’t control, but I was able to find a good mental space to function in. I truly believe implementing the following things, on a consistent basis, helped lead me to a path of peace during this pandemic:

• Prenatal Yoga on YouTube
• Meditating
• Reading 
• Stretching
• Taking Baths in Epsom Salt 
• Drinking Herbal Teas 
• Watching Birth Documentaries (really enjoyed BIRTH STORY: INA MAY GASKIN & THE FARM MIDWIVES)
• Spending Quality Time, being present at home with my immediate family
• FaceTiming loved ones 
• Creating: writing, taking photos, creating content, etc. 
• Counting my Blessings when I feel any kind of negative energy trying to take over
• Limiting my intake of news and social media

If you are able to implement any of those things into your daily or weekly agenda, I have a feeling you will feel like the Goddess mother you are and be in tune with your soul and unborn child in a way that allows you to operate on a higher frequency in peace and gratitude.

Mama Glow community, please be encouraged! Especially my fellow expecting mothers trying to navigate through so much uncertainty. It is my hope that you are able to find some peace and strength. If you are pregnant, may you feel empowered by the extra efforts you are taking to keep yourself and your unborn child safe. Do what you are comfortable with, no matter how extreme or not so extreme it may seem. Ask the questions you need to ask. Shift if you need to shift. Do the research. Explore the options that are available where you live. You still have power in the midst of the pandemic and as Latham has always said, we truly must OWN our GLOW!