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August 2019 Moms
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Self Care Discussion

WinchesterGirlWinchesterGirl member
in August 2019 Moms
I was getting myself ready to go out for work this morning and realized I've completely fallen out of any sort of self-care routines with feeling so badly for so long. This is something I need to work on!

So, what's your go-to self care methods?
Any new/changed for pregnancy?
If this is an area you struggle also, how are you hoping to implement self-care into your routine?
Rainbow baby Dean is due 2/17/17!
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Re: Self Care Discussion

  • mkrelmkrel member
    I tend to get cheap when I'm pregnant because I always think about the new furniture we need to buy plus my weeks of unpaid maternity leave, so I slack off on self care at a time when I could probably use it the most.  I get my eyelashes done every two-three weeks, which is so relaxing and it makes me happy.  I try to get exercise in, but it is harder when I'm tired.  I love getting pedicures, and will probably get back into that as the weather warms up.  The biggest thing I do for myself is get to bed early so I at least START the day well rested.  
    Something I wanted to do in my last pregnancy that I never did, was get a prenatal massage.  Maybe I'll splurge this time! 
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  • jrm_14jrm_14 member
    I love this thread, @WinchesterGirl !  
    For me, if self care isn’t worked into my daily routine, I typically won’t engage. For example, sometimes self care looks like having my favorite bath products on hand. I have to shower/bathe, so I make it more enjoyable. I plan at least one meal a week I’m more excited about. I commute to work, and always make sure I have a good podcast or audio book I enjoy to make that time for myself. For pregnancy, I splurged on some oil & lotion/cream to make me more likely to use it. 
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  • thirdtimesacharm2019thirdtimesacharm2019 member
    @mkrel I tend to be cheap all the time, but especially during pregnancy. I try to combine special treats with existing gift opportunities. For example, my birthday is coming up so I’m planning to ask for a prenatal massage. There’s also Mother’s Day in the relatively near future (even FTMs qualify in my opinion). 
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  • bluebonnet15bluebonnet15 member
    Working out (classes or just a walk outside) is so helpful for me. I’ve already gotten 2 prenatal massages and have a 3rd booked. I’d like to do one every 6 weeks, but we’ll see. I’ve also been mindful of saying no more and not overextending myself (I tend to)
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  • velvetskyyvelvetskyy member
    I am so bad with self care, but I now try to carve time out of the week to get a pedicure and have time all alone to just relax.  When I cant manage that I have DH watch the kids and put them to bed so I can have a long bath and watch some cheesy TV or listen to an audiobook.
    BFP 03/30/12 | EDD 12/07/12 | DS1 12/01/12
    BFP 06/25/17 | EDD 02/24/18 | DS2 02/19/18
    BFP 12/20/18 | EDD 08/26/19 

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  • mwmiller4mwmiller4 member
    @sourlemon that SOUNDS glorious!   I'm very jealous!

    My self care is usually getting up and working out (I have a cold so I slacked 90% of this week which I also count as self care and crabbiness prevention because the extra hour of sleep really helped).  I'm going to play trivia with friends this Sunday which I'm so excited about.  DH and I switch off weekend days to "sleep in" I'm usually up because I'm wired like a bird, but it's so nice not to have to get up and deal with anything right away. I'll also use the time to sometimes go out and get coffee or do fun errands (like Target) without my 3 year old helping.
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  • Allycat11Allycat11 member
    I love this topic! After DD was born I learned that I really needed to prioritize self care. For me, making sure that I get in some time to chat with friends is so important. Some of it is built into my weekly routine, like 2 of my good friends have daughters in dance with DD so we catch up with eachother for an hour every Tuesday. Others I have to make a greater effort to connect with regularly. I also prioritize taking myself out somewhat regularly. for coffee just to enjoy some peace and quiet. 
    11/2010 Diagnosed with PCOS 
    10/31/11 M/C at 9 weeks
    1/12/13 DD was born
    4/9/16 DS was born 
    9/17 CP 
    6/23/18 BFP EDD 3/4/19 

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  • WinchesterGirlWinchesterGirl member
    You all have some great ideas! <3  Now that I'm starting to come out if the morning sickness fog (at least part of the day), I want to try to work some things back into my routine. 

    Typically, I'm a hot bath and a good book kind of girl (with a square or two of a favorite chocolate along). Lately those haven't been as appealing, but I'm trying to get back into the routine. 

    For pregnancy specifically, I ordered a stretch mark oil & cream, but have been terrible about consistently applying, so I want to work on that. 

    I would love to get back into yoga daily on nap time, once the nausea is gone. I used to go to a studio that I loved pre-baby, but we've moved away from that location & I haven't found another. Plus I'm cheap, and I have a few nice yoga DVDs so I've talked myself out of the studio in the name of frugality. 
    Rainbow baby Dean is due 2/17/17!
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  • jmesue1030jmesue1030 member
    I use a habit tracking app to keep myself accountable for self-care. My practices include journaling (once/week minimum), meditating at least 3x/week, being a yoga student at least once/week (I currently teach 4-5 classes weekly so making time to be a student can be difficult), exercising for 30 minutes 3x/week, walking my dog 3x/week (the fresh air is sooo important for me) and staying on top of my work helps me to feel way more relaxed at home. I also get my nails done once/month and try to get my hair done every 8 weeks. I got thai yoga massage monthly throughout my first pregnancy and it was so wonderful— highly recommend!!
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  • olivemommaolivemomma member
    I finally have an awesome bathtub in our master so bubble baths have been high on my list. I’m lucky in that I stay home and both my kiddos are in school so I do get a lot of “me time”. I try to read, get outside with our pup on nice days, and occasionally treat myself to breakfast, lunch, or coffee out. I’m not big into pedicures but promised DD I would take her for her first one as a date with mommy once the weather permenantly warms up. I also plan on starting a monthly pregnancy message soon! 
    BabyFruit Ticker}
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  • zamoraspinzamoraspin member
    I like reading what everyone does to take care of themselves!

    Some things I do often: long baths, long walks with my pupper(s), watching trash TV. I also have made an effort this past year to come in to the work on weekends as needed for a few hours to catch up on things or work at home on my laptop on admin stuff. When I do this I find my Mondays are so much better. I also like to get the occasional pedi, facial or massage at this especially nice spa in town. 
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  • agpandmeagpandme member
    edited March 2019
    I am never really about self care unless it involved sleeping on my heating pad. I do a lot of that now.  We have a tub with jets so I use that occasionally.  I also get my eyebrows tinted and waxed every month. My husband said "I don't know why you do that, it doesn't make a difference".  I say "It makes me feel good and its 20$ a month so byeeeee".   :D


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  • mrosek91mrosek91 member
    @Avrilmai @MamaK225 That's so interesting. I always tell DH that one of the things I find most frustrating about the new born stage is that the only me time is when I'm sleeping. Whenever anyone comes to help, and takes the kids, I feel this pressure like I need to go nap, but sometimes even when I'm exhausted I don't want to nap. I want to read a book, or watch a show, or something that isn't taking care of the baby/boys or sleeping.
    I guess I should appreciate the sleep more.
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  • MamaK225MamaK225 member
    @Avrilmai - I never realized how true it was until DD1. I've always been a lover of sleep, though I can function just fine on very little. I didn't realize my PPA until probably 18 months post-partum and at that point, I figured it was too late to do much about it (plus there was a lot of anxiety mixed in from repeated fertility treatment failures), so I decided to be adamant about my sleep and it really did to wonders. I do sometimes feel torn between "me time" and sleep, but have resolved sleep is most important ... and I can find micro-moments of "me time" so I don't feel the need to have such big chunks of it and stay happy. Thanks for the validation :) 
    **History in Spoiler**
    Me-35, DH-36 - TTC since 08/10
    Me - anovulatory, non-Insulin PCOS, DH - low end of "normal" sperm count
       IUI#1   - 02/15 - Cancelled due to scrubbed sperm count <1MM
       IVF#1  - 08/15 - 13x5-day blastocysts (ranging from AA-BB, most are 5 or 6), not PGS, on ice
       FET#1 - 10/15 - 1 emb - BFP (DD 07/16) (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
       FET#2 - 07/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
       FET#3 - 08/17 - 1 emb - BFN (estrace + PIO sesame oil + prometrium)
       FET#4 - 10/17 - 2 emb - BFN (changed to estrace + prometrium because of allergic reaction to PIO sesame oil)
    ERA Testing - 12/17 - window moved (-1 day)
       FET#5 - 03/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
    Karyotype Testing - 04/18 - Negative (we're ok)
       FET#6 - 06/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
       FET#7 - 10/18 - 2 emb - BFN (estrace + prometrium, ERA-timing used)
       FET#8 - 11/18 - 2 emb - BFP; looks like one baby is going to make it, DD is due 8/16 (though likely to be 8/9)


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  • peachy0709peachy0709 member
    I love including sleep in self-care.  I definitely am aware that I have a better disposition when I have slept. 
    BabyFruit Ticker

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
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  • WinchesterGirlWinchesterGirl member
    @mrosek91 "Rest" comes in many forms. Maybe for you it is more restful to read than day nap. I am not a day time sleeper, so reading or watching a "grown up show" would be my preference over sleeping during the day. 
    Rainbow baby Dean is due 2/17/17!
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  • mrosek91mrosek91 member
    @WinchesterGirl you're right, I haven't been posting my self-care because I think it's super unconventional, but as we keep saying on this board, everyone is different.
    My weekly rejuvenation is going to synagogue every Saturday. I don't even go to services, our synagogue has a playroom, which is really just a room with some comfy couches, and toys. Anyone with toddlers or younger is welcome to hang out there during services. My boys are distracted with "new" toys, and their friends, and I get to hang out with my friends and catch up. I really sense a difference in my mental health weeks that I don't make it.
    I even went the second Saturday after DS#2 was born! Everyone kept saying I can't believe you made it here with a week and half old baby, and I was like, are you kidding, coming here is easier than staying home with 2 under 2.
    I totally plan on being there within 3 weeks after this one comes.
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  • peachy0709peachy0709 member
    @mrosek91 That is ABSOLUTELY self care  <3
    BabyFruit Ticker

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker 
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