It’s Ok. Take Your Time.
There is a not-so-quiet pressure in Western culture to “keep life movin’, power through.” That’s crazy talk, even when you aren’t pregnant, but that’s the expectation when you are? Or immediately after you’ve given birth? I think NOT! Appointments, advice, expectations, and especially working outside the home—all layered on top of a body already doing extraordinary work.
Did you read that part “…a body already doing EXTRAORDINARY WORK?” That’s you, Ma’am! So, today, let’s gently, but intentionally, rid you of all that dim-witted pressure.
First, understand that moving slowly, especially during and after pregnancy, is not you falling behind. It’s listening and the ultimate form of unapologetic, “because I need to” self-care.
When you allow yourself to slow down, your nervous system softens. Your breath deepens. Your body receives the message that it doesn’t have to brace or rush. This matters—not just for you, but for your baby, too!
Take a moment now. Notice your breathing without changing it. Notice the subtle rise and fall of your upper body. This simple awareness is grounding. It brings you back into the present moment, where you are safe and where you and your baby belong.
A Small Daily Practice
Choose one task today and do it intentionally slower or be more mindful than usual. while doing the simplest tasks.
It might be making tea, folding laundry, or taking a warm (not hot) shower.
As you do:
Feel your feet or body supported beneath you
Breathe slowly through your nose
Let the moment be enough
You are not behind. You are exactly where you need to be - in the present moment. Make this gentle practice a daily habit, or if need be, engage in it multiple times a day. It will become a soft place to land for you, especially after your baby is born.
For many mothers, especially Black and Latina mothers, slowing down can feel unfamiliar—or even uncomfortable—because rest has not always been modeled or protected. Here, we name that truth gently. Slowness is not a luxury or laziness.
You do not have to ask for permission to slow down and be intentional. Let the act itself be permission granted.
