Happy, Happy Mother’s (to be) Day!

A special note to all you expectant mothers: We wish you a happy and peaceful Mother’s Day!

During this exciting time, don’t forget how important it is for you to relax and enjoy the moment. As we all know, stress can have a strong impact on our physiological and psychological well-being, and recent studies suggest that it’s also harmful to your unborn baby. Researchers from the University of Konstanz in Germany found that when a pregnant woman was exposed to stress, her baby’s stress-hormone level also increased, and this British study made similar conclusions.

Conversely, relaxing is good for your baby—very, very good. If you just sit in a comfortable place and breathe, you’re doing the most important thing of all, nurturing and caring for your baby. As you take each deep breath in, be aware that you’re also breathing for your baby. She’s taking in that life-giving oxygen and it’s nourishing her and helping her to grow. Now, be aware of the rhythm of your heart beating. Each beat brings invigorating blood to your baby, making her stronger every moment.

When you add your soothing voice to the mix, reading a calming, rhythmic story, you have the formula for perfect relaxation for both mother and child. As you read you’ll find yourself feeling more calm as your heartbeat and breathing slow down. This relaxation will immediately pass to your baby; you’ll both feel connected, soothed, and peaceful, and you’ll know that you’re accomplishing the most valuable task of all.