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It’s typical for the holistic approach to be labeled as a “natural approach.” 

We agree that these go hand in hand.

However, you are able to have a natural approach to pregnancy without necessarily taking on the holistic side of things.

That leads us into our next discussion, how to have a holistic and natural focused pregnancy.

Fertility + Conception

It starts with our bodies, we want to be in the best shape to prepare for pregnancy. We can do this by ensuring our pelvic floor is nice and strong. If you are curious about pelvic floor therapy or exercises you can do at home to strengthen your pelvic floor, check out this article. https://momentous.care/blog/pelvic-floor-therapy-why-its-needed Aside from a strong pelvic floor, we want to ensure we have a healthy lifestyle in place. With daily exercise and a fantastic diet you will give your body a huge jumpstart in a natural and holistic pregnancy.

Diet

Your diet makes all the difference in keeping a holistic approach in pregnancy. It is said that while pregnant you are expected to consume an additional 300 calories on top of pre-pregnancy diet per day. (600 calories for twins) Although this may be difficult due to morning sickness in those early weeks, it is absolutely crucial for your developing baby. Maintaining balance within your diet and choosing healthy fats and sugars will benefit you and your baby. 

Prenatal Vitamins

This topic can be controversial in the holistic groups. Many of the prenatal vitamins, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, are not necessarily the “best” choice as they are still man made supplements. We are able to receive many of the vitamins and supplements from our diet intake. Unfortunately, many of us are not the best at maintaining a balanced diet leading to a lack of certain vitamins and minerals within our bodies. As prenatal vitamins prevent this from happening, many who prefer a more natural approach will choose to take organic supplements and receive the rest from their diet intake. For more information on natural and organic prenatal vitamin supplements, this is a fantastic article to reference from Mama Natural - https://www.mamanatural.com/best-prenatal-vitamins/ Please note that you should always consult your healthcare provider before switching any type of supplements or vitamins.

Choosing Your Prenatal Care

Many link holistic pregnancy approaches to unassisted prenatal care and it is simply not the case. There is a weird stigma surrounding prenatal care that has been instilled in our brains since the early years of hospital births. Before hospitals, people birthed at home with midwives or birth assistants. Very rarely were there routine prenatal visits let alone early bloodwork to check the gender of the baby. Birthing people were left to provide their own prenatal care. They tracked their diet, exercise, fundal height, belly mapped, baby movements, etc. Keep this in mind when choosing your prenatal care provider, if you choose to have one at all.

Provider Options

OBGYN - Many will choose to use an OBGYN if they have a high-risk pregnancy, had trouble with fertility or if they simply decide they would like to have an OBGYN. For whatever reason you choose, it is important to know the OBGYNs role. OBGYN means Obstetrics and Gynecology. Obstetrics is defined as the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth. Gynecology is the branch of medicine which deals with the functions and diseases specific to women and girls, especially those affecting the reproductive system. OBGYNs are trained surgeons, meaning they are going to be the best option for someone who is scheduled for c-section. If you are looking for natural, unmedicated and non-invasive labor, you will want to interview your OBGYN intensively about their practices when it comes to your birth plan.

MIDWIFE - A midwife means, with women. Most commonly when choosing the natural route in pregnancy, you will find that midwives align with your birth plan most. Don’t let that fool you into thinking all midwives are alike as this is not true. We like to use the term “med-wife” which is someone who is a licensed midwife but works within a hospital setting or even within state laws that require specific practices and protocols for laboring mothers. It is important to remember you will always have to interview your provider when it comes to making sure your voice is heard and your birth plan is followed. 

UNASSISTED PREGNANCY - Some will find going completely unassisted in prenatal care is the best choice for them. When we say “unassisted”, we surely do not mean NO prenatal care at all. Unassisted prenatal care is when the mother chooses to document her pregnancy. Oftentimes, she will perform the same routine that a typical prenatal visit within a doctors office would. Checking and documenting her weight, temperature, pulse, blood pressure, urine, and fetal heart rate. 

Research

This is the utmost important topic of the holistic approach. Question everything, research everything and the side effects. Your body and your baby’s body are temples and deserve to be treated as such. Research common tests and practices that will be expected of you and baby while in the care of whichever provider you choose. Research informed consent and learn to use your voice. Many of us go with the flow because we simply do not know any better. Don’t be that person, educate yourself so nothing comes as a surprise.