Learning to Relax While Pregnant

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my blog!

As I navigate the beautiful yet transformative journey of pregnancy, I’ve realized that this experience is not just about bringing new life into the world—it's also about the metamorphosis of my own Self. I am learning not only how to grow and nurture my baby, but also how to grow and nurture myself.

One of the surprising gifts of pregnancy has been the sense of grounding I’m feeling within my nervous system. As someone who has struggled with anxiety due to adverse childhood experiences (ACE), I’ve spent much of my adult life learning and unlearning how to manage these tendencies with both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.

Pregnancy, however, has presented an opportunity for me to find new ways to soften into this experience.

My first trimester was incredibly challenging. Like many women, I had no energy, which made it hard to do even the simplest things. But what made it even more difficult for me was the fact that I felt disconnected from one of my primary coping mechanisms—being active. I found myself glued to the couch, binge-watching Desperate Housewives and true crime documentaries in between client sessions. My mind was resisting the needs of my body, which caused mental tension. I also stopped teaching hot yoga, a tough decision because the studio environment fuels my social energy and connection to others. This period of social isolation and lack of movement left me feeling deeply depressed. Week 9 was especially rough, with endless crying spells. But eventually, I was able to shift my mindset, focusing on gratitude for the miracle growing inside me. In hindsight, I realize that my depression stemmed from the lack of connection between my mind and body.

Now, well into my second trimester, my energy has returned, and I’m able to be more active again. I feel much more like myself—something many women report experiencing as they move through this stage of pregnancy. However, as my energy picked up, so did the familiar pressures of capitalism: the need to produce, create, and "do more." I even rebranded my social media account in an attempt to promote the prenatal yoga classes I’m teaching, sharing my pregnancy with my online followers.

Immediately after, I felt a rush of anxiety, as though I had exposed myself and my pregnancy before I was truly ready. The regret was overwhelming. Why did I do this? Well, my intention was to increase awareness of prenatal yoga and potentially help other pregnant women emotionally, but I acted impulsively. I’m a private person, and sharing such intimate details of my life on social media doesn’t align with my values. In fact, one of the ways I protect my mental health is by staying off social media as much as possible. But in 2025, it can feel almost unavoidable, especially if you’re running a business.

As a therapist, I’ve always valued the sacred and confidential nature of my work. For anyone reading this who follows my business account, there’s a good chance I’ve deactivated it by now. I want to be present in the lives of my family, friends, clients, and myself—not distracted by the noise of the online world.

Pregnancy has taught me the importance of slowing down and learning to relax. It’s shown me that doing less and receiving more can be just as nourishing, if not more, than trying to “do it all.” Being pregnant has shaken up my routines and disrupted my usual coping mechanisms for maintaining a strong mind/body connection. But I’m grateful for it, because it has taught me to listen better. Perhaps this quiet time during my pregnancy is a gift—a moment of respite before the chaos of motherhood takes hold. I am learning to listen to my body and act more thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively to the demands of my mind. We often get caught up in the "shoulds" of life, and I've come to realize that those "shoulds" are best avoided whenever possible.

Sending love to anyone out there who is pregnant for the first time and discovering new depths of self-awareness. I hope you, too, find time to simply relax and receive.

With Love,

Jordan Spector, LCSW

Jordan Spector has passionately worked in Mental Health for nearly a decade.

She integrates Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and Somatic Therapy into an individualized treatment plan. To schedule an appointment with her,

CLICK HERE 

www.jordanspectortherapy.com