You’re Doing a Great Job!

5 Simple words that make a Big impact

She sat in the Non-Stress Test (NST) chair, legs elevated, chair reclined, relaxed. Belts strapped to her stomach, hearing the galloping of the baby’s heartbeat. Her eyes were smiling as she looked at me.

“Tomorrow’s the day!” She said excitedly. “I know, are you ready?” I replied.

“So ready!” she replied with a giggle and pure happiness. Yes, this is what I live for happy, healthy mamas and babies.

It was truly a pleasure taking care of her for the duration of her pregnancy. I was truly going to miss her, her smile, and just seeing her triumph. Of course, professionalism and Covid restrictions kept me from sweeping her in a BIG HUG! Yet, I wanted her to know- through the pandemic, the health challenges, the fears, some tears, the multiple appointments; she triumphed.

“Mrs. X, I want you to know, You did a good job”!

Tears, started to flow from her eyes. I asked her,why are you crying? She told me it’s been a long journey, one filled with hope, but also so many challenges. She told me hearing she “did a good job” validated her showing up every day. We talked some more, shared more moments and she left to begin the next part of her journey.

I sit here weeks/months later, still reflecting on how 5 little words, made a BIG impact. It is amazing when you notice that someone sees you and acknowledges you. That it has been noticed that you are doing the best that you can, that each day may be filled with triumphs or challenges- you showed up ready to do what needs to be done, affirming what you always known about yourself. You’re doing a great job!

This applies to any circumstance in your life. Any person, woman, mother, mom to be , wife, parent , student, wants to be seen, heard and acknowledge. As I care for the pregnant woman, women desiring to be pregnant and mom’s to be . I can only stress the importance of letting each one know, You’re Doing A Good Job!

It is easy to get into the day to day, head down, feet to the road and keeping it moving. While each element of life and the day piles upon your back , heart soul and spirit, as you move to the mantra “Got to do what I got to do”, “I got to keep moving”, “Can’t stop”.

The truth is prenatal stress can harm you and the baby. Studies have shown prenatal stress affects the brain and behavior of the offspring. Stress can increase the risk of children having a range of emotional , behavioral and or cognitive problems later in life(Lautarescu,Al,et.al.2020).

Spending time during your pregnancy, questioning if you are enough,if you are the right mom, if you are doing a great job, if you are nurturing your baby appropriately leads to increased prenatal stress. My desire is that each mom to be, each mama, acknowledges that she is Amazing, and while pregnancy may not always be rainbows and sunshine- You are doing a good job!

Easier said than done, right? Being pregnant in 2021 comes with its own set of special circumstances: (1) Global pandemic (2) Racial Conflicts (3) Vaccination debates (4) Mask wearing when you can barely breath when walking in your house (4) Keeping you and your family safe and healthy (5) Some of you are working full time with your first pregnancy or pregnant again and taking care of children at home while working full time. Basically, what I’m saying is pregnancy is more than just growing a human,spectacular,intriguing, mystifying and simply amazing. It is also growing a human while providing, working, maintaining a household, walking in your purpose all while managing internal and external stress. It is very important to learn stress management tools to use at work, home and, in everyday life (Nadholta,P.,et.al.,2020).

Two Nurse Tips I would like to suggest for you to help manage your stress are:

(1) Prenatal Yoga

Prenatal Yoga Yoga, can empower pregnant women by increasing quality of life, reduce uncomfortable experiences, stress, and anxiety (Nadholta,P.,et.al.,2020).

(2) Affirmations

Affirmations help you say and believe positivity surrounding you and your pregnancy. Affirmations can motivate you, encourage you and invite positivity into your life. It is known that speaking positive affirmations require regular practice if you want to make lasting, long-term changes to the ways that you think and feel (Moore,C.2021).

However, for now, the main thing I want you to know is:

This is my public acknowledgement to all the moms, moms-to-be, moms desiring pregnancy, those who are pregnant again and those supporting these mamas

YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!

If you have not heard it before, or have not heard it in a long time. I’m here to tell you..

YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!

Enjoy The Adventure,

Dr. Mary Echols, DNP,BSN,MSN,RN

Wife/Mother/Dr Nurse/Champiom for All Pregnant Women

Keep in touch:

Taapadventures@gmail.com

Www.instagram.com/theadventuresofpregnancy

References

Lautarescu,A.,Craig,H.C.,Glover,V. Chapter 2.Chapter Two – Prenatal stress: Effects on fetal and child brain development.International Review of Neurobiology. Volume 150.Pages 17-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2019.11.002

Nadholta, Pooja,Bali, Parul, Singh, Amit, Anand, Akshay. (2020). ‘Potential Benefits of Yoga in Pregnancy-related Complications During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Implications for Working Women’. Work, 67(2), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-203277

Moore,C.,(2021).Positive Daily Affirmations: Is There Science Behind It? Positivie Psychology.comhttps://positivepsychology.com/daily-affirmations/