As a woman, one of the biggest life changing events that can happen to you is getting pregnant. It affects your physical, mental and emotional state unlike anything you’ve experienced before. No two pregnancies are alike, making the journey of each individual one that much more unique. For some mothers, pregnancy can take its toll when things like swelling, insomnia, cramping and stress start to creep in on a frequent to everyday basis. Here at True REST, we hope to help alleviate as much of these symptoms as possible, so each unique pregnancy can be comfortable and relaxing for the mother.
In general, flotation therapy helps to reduce inflammation and swelling in the body. Many women who are pregnant often come into float with the complaint of uncomfortable swelling, especially in the later months of pregnancy, or cramping in their legs and sciatic nerve. While swelling and cramping may be normal, that doesn’t make it comfortable! We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to be as relaxed as possible during their float and sometimes all that takes is a little extra support and a little creativity!
Here are some of our top tips and tricks for anyone floating while pregnant:
- More Props: We provide a neck pillow for each floater, but feel free to bring your own additional waterproof props that will help make your session more comfortable. Some women prefer to float on their sides with a small pool noodle between their legs. Try out a few variations and combinations of props to see what works best for you.
- Move the Body: During pregnancy, laying on your back might not be the most comfortable position for you to relax in. Try belly floating instead with some prop support or if that isn’t comfortable, try turning on your side. As the body changes during pregnancy, we want to get creative with all the different ways to position the body to reach that optimal level of relaxation.
- Slow Breaths: Floating provides an opportunity for you to really tune into the sound and quality of your breath. Your breath and heart have a direct connection to one another; if you slow down the breath, you will slow down the heart rate. Practicing conscious, slow breathing not only helps you to decrease stress and relax into the float, but it also helps to prepare you for the breath-mind-body connection during actual birth.
- Connect: Pregnancy is such a special time for you to not only slow down and connect with yourself but connect with your baby. Some women have even experienced hearing their babies heartbeat and although it’s not a guarantee, floating provides a space for you to unplug from the rest of the world and just be present with you and your baby.
- Snack Before: It’s common for some women to experience nausea during their pregnancy. If that’s the case for you, try snacking on something light, nutritious and high in protein to keep that nausea at bay during your float. Plan on eating a bigger meal afterwards, you may be surprised how much of an appetite you can work up while in the float!
- Drink Afterwards: As the baby grows, it’s very normal to have to use the restroom more often. If this is something you’ve experienced, request a room that is closest to the bathroom for any quick mid-float trips. Make sure to use the restroom beforehand and skip any beverages that might fill up the bladder before you go into relax.
- Cozy Up: Take your appointment to the next level and bring your own cozy robe, slippers, hair towel (turbie twists welcome!) and any other products to make your experience as rewarding as possible. Think sheet mask, skin care, hair essentials etc.
Thank you to all the beautiful mothers who have come to float with us over the years. We love to provide this service for you and hear about all of your experiences when floating. Come on in for a float with us soon!