Birth Mother Self-Care During the Adoption Process

When it comes to self-care, it is pretty easy to forget that you should do it. Life is busy and there are hardly enough hours in the day to get everything that you need to get done. At Adoption Choices of Nevada, we understand that but we also know you have to take a breath and slow down before you overdo it. 

It can be hard to find the time to care for yourself, but you need to. This is going to help make sure not only your wellness is being taken care of but also your baby’s. With all the responsibilities, a self-care routine is vital to keep you feeling your best through the whole adoption process. With the help of your support team, you can find the time to take care of yourself. Below are some things you should include in your self-care during the adoption process routine. 

Self-Care During the Adoption Process

• Enough Sleep

Never underestimate the power of sleep. If you’ve ever been so tired you can’t make sense of things, then you know how important sleep is. For you, it is even more important, as you are growing a new life! As a pregnant woman, it is expected that you need more sleep than you would normally need, and this includes naps during the day if you can swing them. The power of a nap can really change how your day goes. 

With adoption comes many choices and responsibilities. If you are feeling laggy or unfocused from being tired, those choices can be hard to make. There may be times you have to sleep on a decision to be made. If you’ve had a long day and are tired, a big choice isn’t going to be easy. Get enough sleep, refresh your brain, and tackle the responsibilities with a fresh mindset and more energy. 

• Eating healthy

Getting the right nutrition for your body is great self-care. Since every woman is different, you are going to want to come up with a plan with your doctor about what you need. Now, this isn’t to say you can’t have some sweets now and again, but balance it out with the good stuff. It is going to help your system and help the baby grow too. 

Besides, the better you eat, the more energy you are going to have. Again, you are going to want to work with your doctor on what is best for you, and if you need any supplements. What is right for you may be different from what is right for someone else. 

• Exercise

Exercise is something that is going to depend on what you can do. You have to talk to your doctor before going for an exercise plan. Once you have it, set aside some time during your day to go through it. Don’t forget to have rest days, though! While you may not be doing hardcore exercise, just getting up and moving is going to keep your system running smoothly.

As you near the end of your pregnancy, this could be a little harder. Some women have bigger bellies than others, after all. One suggestion that can be made is to exercise with a buddy. Having someone to talk to during the workout can make it go faster and be more fun. Plus, if you struggle with motivation — like we all can at some point in our life — having someone there can keep you going. 

• Time for One’s Self

This is possibly one of the most important things you can do for self-care. Taking the time for yourself and taking care of you needs to happen. Yes, you are going through the adoption process, and yes, you are carrying a baby, but you are also in need of your time. Take some time to do things you enjoy. If you really enjoy sitting on the couch watching a movie, then take the time to do that. Maybe you really enjoy a nice relaxing bubble bath and a good book. Take some time out of your week to do that. 

Just make sure you set aside time to put yourself first. While you have so many responsibilities and things to do, don’t forget yourself in the mix. Your feelings matter during this whole process. Let yourself feel those feelings rather than just pushing through. 

Letting yourself relax and do something you enjoy is something everyone should do. Even if that is talking to other people. Just do something for you and take time to not worry about anyone but yourself. At the end of the day, you matter too. 

• Hobbies

Hobbies are possibly an underrated self-care act. No matter what your hobby is, taking the time to do it will bring you joy. Just make sure you are physically able to do your hobby first, like camping or hiking. It also may be a good time to find a new one that you enjoy. No matter what, taking the time to do something you enjoy is a great way to relax and unwind. 

Though the Adoption Process, Remember You’re Important Too

You are such an important part of the adoption process, but you have to take the time to care for yourself too. Take some time in your day to do at least one thing you enjoy, even if that is watching a TV show. Take some time for yourself. Don’t worry about everyone else for a little, just focus on you for a moment 

Adoption Choices of Nevada has been providing adoption and surrogacy services across Nevada since 2012. You can also call us to speak to someone now. Contact Us 24/7: 855-940-4673 (Toll-Free) | 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas) | 775-825-4673 (Reno) | 775-738-4673 (Elko) | 775-884-4673 (Carson City).

Meet the Author: Tia Kitchens is a college graduate with a B.S in Psychology from Capella University who has always had a passion for three things: animals, writing, and mac ‘n cheese. Two of these three are things she has based her work around. Animals are a big impact on her life due to her love for helping others through difficult situations. Through her studies, she has found the human-animal bond is strong enough to help others. This, paired with her writing, helps her record her findings and teach others through her words.

Her goal is to make a change in the world with her words and end up on someone’s inspiration Pinterest board! Being a key quote on someone’s Pinterest board it shows her words have a huge impact on people. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but if that picture is just words it surely means more that way! To learn more about her, follow her on Twitter and Instagram!