Surrogacy is an exciting journey and an incredible opportunity to give the gift of life to another family, but it’s not without challenging days.
While pregnant, it’s crucial to be mindful of the stressors in your life and make time to relax and decompress.
As a surrogate, you’re busy juggling being pregnant with all of your other responsibilities and obligations.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it's important to prioritize your wellbeing and the developing baby’s health by dedicating time to unwinding.
Finding time to relax each day helps to reduce maternal cortisol levels—also known as the stress hormone. When cortisol levels elevate too much, you run the risk of experiencing a premature delivery and affecting the baby’s development.
Prioritizing your wellbeing not only helps to eliminate stress, but ensures that your Intended Parents will be adding a healthy newborn to their family.
Here are a few tips to help you achieve peace and relaxation during your surrogacy journey:
1) Walk It Off
Going for a peaceful walk is one of the best ways to clear your head, eliminate stress, and stay active during your surrogacy.
Incorporating regular strolls into your routine will help you maintain good physical and mental health during your pregnancy. Exercise—even light walking—releases endorphins in your brain to boost your mood and reduce stress for a happier and healthier you.
Whether you're early on in your pregnancy or you're well into your third trimester, walking is a great way to stay happy and healthy during your surrogacy journey. Follow these tips for walking during your first, second, and third trimesters.
Walking at a moderate pace three times a week for 30-40 minutes is not only a great way to manage stress, but also to stay active and improve your mood.
2) Get in the Water
Light swimming and floating are excellent choices for de-stressing during your pregnancy.
No matter how far along your pregnancy is, floating makes you weightless. Relaxing in the water will not only ease your mind but also your body, temporarily alleviating the pain associated with the added pressure and strain on your joints and muscles.
Swimming during your surrogacy can also help you to relieve stress and improve your overall health by providing you with more energy and improving your sleep.
The feeling of weightlessness while floating and swimming creates a refreshing and relaxing way to destress.
3) Sign Up for a Prenatal Yoga Class
Prenatal yoga encourages stretching, mindfulness, and focused breathing to bring you peace and relaxation.
Practicing prenatal yoga offers a number of physical and mental benefits to help you unwind during your surrogacy and prepare for delivery.
Prenatal yoga helps to:
- Improve sleep
- Minimize stress and anxiety
- Build strength, flexibility, and endurance necessary for labor and delivery
- Alleviate pregnancy-induced lower back pain, nausea, headaches, and shortness of breath
4) Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers a broad range of benefits during pregnancy. Not only can it help you destress, but it can also help with the many of the aches and pains that cause discomfort during pregnancy.
Studies show that acupuncture can help to relieve:
- Morning sickness
- Lower back and pelvic pain
- Depression
- Headaches
- Sleep problems
5) Set Aside Some “Me Time” Each Day
No matter how chaotic life can get, it’s important to routinely make time for yourself to breathe, relax, and rest.
Set aside time to do something you love or raises your spirits. “Me Time” can be as simple as picking up a great book for 15 minutes before bed or waking up a little earlier each morning to start the day with meditation and stretching.
It's important to prioritize your wellbeing during your pregnancy. Find a range of activities that bring you happiness, energy, and balance and incorporate them into your everyday routine.
Dedicating time to yourself each day will not only increase your mood and decrease your stress levels during your surrogacy, but also help to ensure a healthy development for the baby.
