Should I be “Nesting” or Resting?

Our Newest Little Blessing is Likely to Arrive Within the Next 2 Weeks!

And, it is an exciting time in the Walker household!  I am someone who thoroughly enjoys being productive.

But, as you can see by this picture (to the left), even I have my moments where I need to stop and rest “a little”.  That is- if Pastor Rich’s “protect my wife (even when she doesn’t want me to) instinct,” doesn’t stop me in my tracks all together.  LOL!

Seriously though, I’ve learned to TRULY thank God for Pastor Rich, whose love for me- protects me from me -being willing to over do it- at times.  Pastor Rich’s sacrificial reminder for me to take care of myself, helps me not to be drained or overwhelmed in the midst of it all.  I love that man!  And, I am thankful for Pastor Rich’s God-kind of love (i.e., agape) for me.

In like manner, God’s love guide us as pregnant women to know whether or not we should be nesting or resting?

As you may know, this concept of “nesting” goes beyond an average desire to be neat and tidy.  Nesting is characterized as being more of an uncontrollable desire of a pregnant woman to clean and organize in preparation for their baby’s arrival. 

Unfortunately, for some expecting mothers, nesting is synonymous with acting bossy, busy and eventually exhausted from preparing for the imminent arrival of their newborn? 

So, W.W.J.S (i.e., What Would Jesus Suggest) to a pregnant woman oscillating between nesting or resting?  Since past suggestions are often a prediction of future recommendations, let’s see what the Lord Jesus suggested to a woman named Martha who was being busy and likely bossy, instead of resting in preparation of the Lord Jesus coming to her house.

Luke 10: 38-42 NIV says, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed— or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Now, if there is ever a reason to understand a woman’s strong desire to have everything perfect and in order for a new person coming to their home-it would be for the Lord Jesus-right?

But, NOTHING -we mean NOTHING is worth distracting you from grabbing a hold of what the Lord Jesus told Martha.  HE said, “you are worried and upset about many things, but FEW THINGS ARE NEEDED- or indeed only one.”  One being, Martha stopping her busyness and being at peace.

Certainly, we understand and have compassion on those who feel distracted from finding a sense of peace because they…

have many things on their minds and even more things on their to do list BEFORE the baby comes. After our 7 pregnancies in 8 years,  we are far too familiar with all of the preparation needed for a newborn. And, still balancing the demands of managing “life” (e.g. responding to emails, returning phone calls, work, perhaps caring others, updating family and friends on social media like facebook and twitter-especially about the pregnancy, etc.).

But, instead of being overwhelmed or nesting as a means to address the worries, fears, and/or doubts trying to shake your faith from having the birth you desire most:

Remember to REST in God’s limitless love for you-and everything will be all right!

For the remainder of your pregnancy, take moments throughout the day to…

STOP-

• Quite your spirit
• Center your soul, and
  
• Trust that your body is fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalms 139:14 KJV) to have a calming pregnancy and peaceful birth.

 

For an inspiring resources to help you overcome any fears or uncertainties about your childbirth, buy the EBOOK version of “How to Give Birth in the Presence of the Lord” for yourself and/or the  PAPERBACK version as a gift for someone else.

3 Ways to Help You Avoid Birth Regrets

I am roughly 5 weeks away from when Pastor Rich and I will likely give birth.

And, I want to help ensure that I enjoy this baby’s birth, as much as, I have enjoyed all 4 of our other non-medicated childbirths.

There are 3 things that all expecting mothers can do during pregnancy  (including myself) that will be a safe guard from many birth regrets and even postpartum depression in some cases.

First~ Learn to truly enjoy THE MOMENT.  This time you are having with your little one in the womb is special. Whatever you do- don’t allow “life to get in the way” from you enjoying each moment of your blessed pregnancy.  If you do, you may also be willing to allow repetitive regrets of “should of-could of-would of thoughts” to get in the way of  you nurturing your beautiful baby after he/she is born. For instance, who could of attended the birth-but didn’t, or who should of said what during labor-but wouldn’t, etc…

And, if birth regrets continue without proper attention, postpartum depression can loom in the air and be exasperated by powerless thoughts of -“if only”….   “If only- I had more support/ help from person x, y, or z…; or, if only- there were more money or better job stability, etc.  Now, it can be healthy to spend some time examining your birth and identify aspects of it that you wish were different.  But, after you have determined what you would do differently moving forward-consider it a lesson learned.  Remember:

Philippians 3:13 KJV says, “… but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

Forget about things concerning your past birth (s) that you can not change. Use the lesson(s) you’ve learned to help you and/or others have better births.  Count all of your blessings-LITERALLY- and enjoy “THIS MOMENT” with your precious little baby!

Second~ Do NOT to COMPARE your pregnancy, birth or life with others.  You, your baby and family are unique in your own right. CELEBRATE THIS!!

Too many mothers feel as though they have failed because their pregnancy or birth was not like the video they saw or the birth story they heard.

Rejoice, for the mother you saw in the birth video or the birth story you heard.  And, even if things seem less than favorable in your current pregnancy or birth – there is something that you can rejoice about too!

Matthew 6:34 The Message (MSG) says, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Do not compare your life with what is SEEMINGLY happening in  another mother’s pregnancy, birth or life.   Neither should you overly concern yourself with future events surrounding your pregnancy or upcoming birth that may or may not happen.

Have faith~ God is doing something in your life right now and He will help you deal with whatever hard things come up IF/when the time comes.

Third~ Receive Encouragement!!  When words of encouragement or acts of kindness come to you during pregnancy or around your birth-  RECEIVE the encouragement!  Do NOT be like some who dismiss such gestures with a thought that a person is just being nice or polite, but doesn’t mean it.  Instead, when a spouse, friend or stranger shares a kind word or does a kind deed for you during pregnancy and/or around the time of birth- Thank God and Be Encouraged!  God Loves You and others do too! 

For additional inspiration for your pregnancy and upcoming birth-

Buy: “How to Give Birth in the Presence of the Lord” NOW

Dr. Sharon Miller OB/GYN says, “…They (Karla and Rich Walker) have labored and delivered using natural childbirth techniques with each child…. The Walkers overcome the fear and pain in a way that makes delivery a fun and rewarding process.”

E-BOOK version or Paperback Version

Weight Gain from the Holidays AND Pregnancy-OH NO!!

After our years together and being 7 months pregnant with baby number 5 -we appreciate how easy it is for us to still find many reasons to love each other.

But, I certainly don’t appreciate how easy it is for me to find MANY reasons to gain an excessive amount of weight during the holidays and pregnancy. 

 

Now, this picture (to the left) and the first picture (above) were taken on the same day.  To me, I seem heavier in one picture than in the other. 

But, regardless of my complaints about the lighting, the angle of the photo I think makes me look heavier, etc., I KNOW that the real issue is that I have reached my range of healthy pregnancy weight gain for MY body.  My pre-pregnancy start weight and my prenatal visits records confirm what I already know about my weight. 

And, with this knowledge, I now hold the responsibility to remain in this healthy pregnancy weight gain range for the overall health of myself and this precious little one who depends on me.

Whether we are talking about prenatal or postpartum weight gain, don’t we all REALLY know when our weight is creeping into the overweight danger zone?  Pictures and/or concerned comments about excessive or rapid weight gain from health professionals or family and friends are often evidence of what we already know about our weight in our heart.

During this time of pregnancy, let us all BE ENCOURAGED to be proactive about what we already know about our weight and manage it during the prenatal and postpartum period with proper nutrition and prenatal fitness. The thinking that you can eat however much you want during pregnancy because you are eating for two (or three if you are having twins) is simply not true.

Just as you want the best for your children, we as loving parents we want the best for our wonderful children as well-from pregnancy and beyond.  It is understandable why any pregnant mother or couple wants to counteract issues like having a baby with a low birth weight.

But, it must be understood that eating two or three times as much food as normal does not make a mother two or three times as likely to have a healthier baby.

Our bodies are FASCINATING, and during pregnancy our body utilizes the nutrients we eat more efficiently.  So, eating as much as you want in excess often just manifest into excessive weight gain for you and increases the risk of pregnancy and birth complications that can affect the health of you and your baby.

So, as you move forward inspired to have the healthiest pregnancy and birth possible, remember,

If you’re at a healthy weight prior to pregnancy:

1. You need no additional calories in the first trimester,
2. You need about 300 extra calories a day in the second trimester, and
3. You need about 450 extra calories a day in the third trimester– which can look like a couple glasses of Pure Silk Coconut Milk and a handful of raw almonds and half of a small size apple or a glass of Pure Silk Coconut Milk, a chicken sandwich and an medium size apple.

If you are having multiples, overweight or underweight prior to pregnancy:
You’ll need more or less than what is listed above, which should be adjusted based on the weight goals you and your Obstetrician or Midwife set. 

Lastly, STAY ENCOURAGED and ENJOY the remainder for your pregnancy!  To find these and other healthy pregnancy and birthing tips- buy a copy of “How to Give Birth in the Presence of the Lord” in an Ebook or Paperback version.