Category: Female Health

Creating a Serene Home Retreat for New Moms: A Guide to Self-Care

Welcoming a new bundle of joy into your life is a joyous occasion, but it can also be demanding for new moms. Amidst the sleepless nights and endless baby care, finding time for self-care becomes crucial. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to design a home retreat tailored to meet the unique needs of new moms, promoting relaxation and rejuvenation. 1. Designing a Tranquil Space Begin by identifying a quiet corner or room in your home that can serve as your personal sanctuary. Choose calming colors, such as soft pastels or neutrals, to create a soothing atmosphere. Incorporate comfortable furniture and soft textures to enhance the overall sense of coziness. 2. Mindful Decor Choices Opt for decor elements that promote tranquility and positivity. Consider adding plants for a touch of nature, as well as soothing wall art or quotes that inspire and uplift. Dimmable lighting can be beneficial for creating a serene ambiance, especially during late-night feedings. 3. Essential Self-Care Stations Read moreYoga during pregnancy for normal deliverySet up dedicated self-care stations within your retreat. A comfortable nursing chair, equipped with essentials like a cozy blanket and breastfeeding pillow, can make late-night feeds more enjoyable. Create a skincare station with your favorite products to indulge in a quick pampering session when time allows. 4. Embracing Technology for Relaxation Explore technology that enhances relaxation, such as white noise machines or calming music playlists. Consider a meditation app for short, rejuvenating sessions. Embracing technology in moderation can aid in creating a harmonious atmosphere within your retreat. 5. Prioritizing Sleep Quality sleep is a precious commodity for new moms. Invest in blackout curtains to create a dark and peaceful sleep environment. Establish a bedtime routine that signals to your body that it’s time to wind down. Utilize comfortable bedding to enhance your sleep quality. Conclusion Read more17 Ways to avoid burnouts and be happierAs a new mom, it’s essential to prioritize your well-being amid the demands of caring for your little one. Creating a home retreat tailored to your needs can serve as a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation. By dedicating time to self-care, you’ll not only recharge your own batteries but also be better equipped to provide the love and care your new baby deserves. Here’s to a happy and harmonious journey into motherhood! Feel free to share you opinion or a question in the comments below 😉  Subscribe for newsletter to be updated or follow my instagram. Let’s stay in touch! Yours Marghe Read More

Ayurveda tips during pregnancy and postpartum

I would like to talk about recommendations of Ayurveda during pregnancy. So you can learn also another point of view, not only medical. During pregnancy, a woman should avoid that which causes an increase in the Vata dosha in the body or the lower modes of passion and ignorance. Vata dosha is made up of the planets Mars, Saturn, Mercury and the elements of air and ether. Therefore, especially before childbirth, the body must be protected from drying out. If the body is too dry or tight, then childbirth will be more difficult for both the baby and the mother. Therefore, any signs of dryness should be corrected immediately. Some signs of internal dryness can be identified by dryness of the skin or lips. Constipation, hemorrhoids are also signs of internal dryness. Against dryness, you need a diet that increases Kapha dosha, i.e. drink plenty of fluids, milk, yogurt, more fruits and vegetables rich in fiber, oily foods, prunes, raisins, vitamins A, E, etc. If there are no special medical contraindications (threat of miscarriage, etc.), it is advisable for pregnant women to move more. Movement increases circulation and metabolism. For pregnant women, blood circulation in the pelvic area is especially important. It is advisable to take small, hourly walks in nature or fresh air every day. This will improve blood circulation and saturate the blood with oxygen necessary for your baby. Read moreYoga during pregnancy for normal deliveryIt is very useful to do a light oil massage daily. Special attention is paid to the feet, legs, abdomen, back, neck and shoulders, especially if there is a feeling of pain or heaviness in these places. The oil is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and soothes internal dryness. Oil microclysters are also good for this purpose, especially in the last month of pregnancy. A pregnant woman should follow a dosha-balancing diet. Nutrition should be fractional – often, but a small amount of food, so that there is no feeling of heaviness, bloating and tension. Canned foods should be avoided. Meals should include whole wheat flour products, brown rice, moong dal, fresh fruits, high fiber vegetables, dairy products and more healthy drinks. Boiled milk with cinnamon, butter and honey should be eaten more often. This should be done in the evening before bed or in the morning for breakfast. And don’t forget calcium and magnesium. Read more17 Ways to avoid burnouts and be happierREAD ALSO WHAT IS AYURVEDA? During pregnancy, the change in hormones in the mother’s body affects her appearance, psychology, behavior and consciousness. It should be noted that usually the emotions of a pregnant woman manifest themselves more strongly. Therefore, sometimes they do not control their feelings, and cry at the slightest provocation. There is no need to suppress it, as this is the normal state. Thus, the body throws out toxins and gets rid of negative psychological programs. The husband and those around him must be patient. Tell her more often about how you love her, how beautiful she is and how dear she is. A pregnant woman should be treated in the same way as a crystal vessel full of precious elixir, being afraid to break and spill at least one drop, i.e. carefully. In order for her mind to be peaceful, one must try to satisfy all her desires. However, this does not mean that all nine months are serene inactivity. If the mother only lies and sleeps, the child will be lazy. All actions and reactions of the mother strongly influence the child, and the formation of his psychotype. If the mother is naturally active, as usual before pregnancy, then it is better for the child than inactivity. But mother can not lift weights, walk fast, jump, overstrain, get nervous and tired. Work should be joyful and preferably creative. You need to decide wisely how much to rest, especially at the end of pregnancy. If a woman did yoga before giving birth, she not only can, but simply must do it if she wants the birth to go without complications and she has a beautiful and healthy baby. * But doing yoga should follow the recommendations for pregnant women in accordance with the trimesters. You need to follow the class schedule and carefully follow all the recommendations of the master. Then you can practice up to the 9th month. But yoga itself is a deep and complex science and it is not worth experimenting on your own, especially in such a special state, it is better to do it under the guidance of a qualified and responsible mentor. We know how many contraindications there are during pregnancy. And this is another list of what to avoid during pregnancy, following the Vedic tradition: In modern medicine, there are no reliable studies confirming or refuting these recommendations, but Ayurveda has centuries of experience in giving such advice to pregnant women. It is good for the mother before delivery to use ghee with a little chili powder (red pepper). During childbirth, it is desirable that prayers, mantras, spiritual hymns, beautiful music sound, as they create a favorable atmosphere during childbirth. The lower back and abdomen are constantly massaged to relieve discomfort, and in order to reduce pain, a hot mint compress is used. The allocation of mother’s milk largely depends on food, pleasant emotions and peace of mind. It happens that milk disappears from frustration, stress and bad mood. Therefore, the father must vigilantly ensure that no one offends or upsets the nursing mother. Subscribe to a Newsletter or follow my Instagram. With love, Marghe Read More

Postpartum Yoga: benefits and reasons to try it

During pregnancy we were practicing Prenatal yoga, we were working on opening our bodies and preparing for giving birth. Now is already past, and you are having your little one born on your hand, and is time to recover your body and mind after becoming a new mother. And here will help Yoga Postpartum, also called Postnatal Yoga. Funny fact: In my post, I will use the word Postpartum, as I live in Italy, and in Italian “Natale” means “Christmas”, so many Italians understand it as something like “After Christmas” :)) Please promise me to finish reading this post by the end. There you will find a surprise 🙂 What is Postpartum Yoga? Read moreYoga during pregnancy for normal deliveryPostpartum is a modified yoga practice that helps women to recover safely after birth-giving. Postnatal recovery combines deep breathing with small, slow movements and stretches. They can help you regain your posture, close your body after giving birth, and can prevent stress incontinence and womb prolapse. Benefits of Postpartum Yoga How soon can I practice yoga after giving birth? As soon as two hours after natural delivery and once the drains have been removed after a C-section. The first practice can be done on a bed or couch. The more you practice postpartum recovery the more beneficial they will be but don’t do more than you feel able to. Trust your instincts and build up your practice gradually and sensibly. Your body will thank you in the future! Why should you try Postpartum yoga? Read more17 Ways to avoid burnouts and be happierI encourage every woman to find at least 10-15 minutes a day to practice postpartum yoga. Why? As you were reading before the benefits of this practice are way more important than you can imagine. After giving birth our bodies remain damaged, and open, with very weak abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. And we must help our body to get back on track without any rush because you should be a healthy and strong mother when your baby starts growing. I’m sure that after you won’t find a time when your baby is still very small. Many women only seek the perfect body as soon as possible after giving birth, they start with abdominal exercises and never think about pelvic floor muscles. Even if a woman was never giving birth with a time the pelvic floor muscles gets weak, and older you become there is more possibility to have womb prolapse. What I am trying to say is that abdominal muscles are highly connected with pelvic floor muscles. And ignoring of pelvis floor muscles can lead to urinary incontinence, which would be hard to fix in the future. Plus yoga Postpartum is practiced together with your baby. It contains exercises for new moms and also Baby yoga for a newborn. Takeaway Now that you studied a little about Yoga Postpartum, I would like to invite you to a free trial lesson in my Online Yoga Studio. You can get more info on my website www.viviyoga.tilda.ws. There you will also find more information about my certifications. To trust me more I will remind you that I have my first child 3 years old, and now I am waiting for the second. And I tried all the benefits of Postpartum Yoga on me and Baby Yoga on my child. Feel free to contact me for more information and subscribe for updates. You can also follow my Instagram where I post more information about pregnancy, yoga, and motherhood. Hope you found this post useful. Yours, Marghe. Read More

Yoga during pregnancy for normal delivery

As a Yoga Teacher, I’ve studied also Prenatal Yoga and Yoga Postpartum. But also I tried them both on myself. Currently, I am 5 months pregnant for the second time, and this time I have more yoga in my life than in my first pregnancy. And I wanna tell you that if you are pregnant doesn’t mean that you can practice only Prenatal yoga. Yoga in general has beneficial results on women during pregnancy. If you love yoga you can still practice Hatha, Vinyasa, or Restorative. Simply that your teacher must know how to adjust you for any lesson. In this post, I will talk about the benefits of prenatal yoga, and I’ll give you tips on how to practice yoga safely during pregnancy. Importance of Prenatal Yoga Yoga incorporates the principles of stretching, breathing, and posture throughout pregnancy from 14 weeks to delivery.The importance of practice is as follows: Yoga in early pregnancy Read more17 Ways to avoid burnouts and be happierFocus and taking care of yourself and rest (first 14-16 weeks) Yoga in mid-pregnancy Focus on extension and centering (16 to 33 weeks) Yoga in late pregnancy Focus on releasing and letting go (from 33 weeks to delivery) How to practice yoga safely during pregnancy Join me for Prenatal Yoga Read more4 Steps to kick-start your plant based dietAs I mentioned before, I am currently five months pregnant, and we can go through our practice together in my Online Yoga Studio. I offer the first lesson for free to everyone. Only what you have to do is to register here and chose a “Free Lesson pass” which won’t cost you any cent. And book your first lesson at any time that is comfortable for you 🙂 Read also Vegetarian diet during Pregnancy. Hope you find this post useful. Feel free to contact me or comment below and ask any questions about Yoga during Pregnancy. I am here at your service. Subscribe to the newsletter or follow my Instagram to stay in touch 🙂 Always yours, Marghe Read More

Finding yourself after having a baby

Honestly, I would never imagine this topic. My life as a mother would be easier if somebody told me those very easy tips for fining myself after having a baby. As I was doing everything the opposite way and becoming less happy. It took me a while to understand that exist not only my daughter and all my duties, but also me. That I should never forget about myself first. And one of my first duties as a mother and a wife is to be happy, light and restored. Even that is not easy sometimes, and I just wanna do as maximum is possible for my family until there is a moment when I can’t do it anymore. And is wrong. I wrote down those tips also for me, to don’t forget 🙂 1. Ask for help Ask your friends, grandparents, nanny, or daycare. Depends on the situation you have. But don is a shame to ask for help. Since ancient times women was helping other women. Just families and communities before were much bigger. But is in our feminine blood to help each other, especially to new mothers. Thins also about a babysitter or a daycare. I tried many nannies, but It was simply not my option. When my daughter turned 9 months old she starts going to a daycare in Bali. Find what works better for YOU and don’t compare yourself with others. 2. Exercise To keep your mind fresh try to train every day. It can be yoga, running, bicycle, swimming. When your baby is sleeping, or even together. It is important to start slowly and small. No need to run a marathon in your unique free hour. Is enough 15-20 minutes a day, or few times a day. 3. Go for a date with yourself  Leave your baby with one of the options above and instead of cleaning the house just dress nicely and go out. Take a cup of coffee in the place you like, take a walk with the earphones listening to your favorite music, meet your friends or go shopping. Even if you don’t need to buy anything just go to see and try something new. 4. Be beautiful even at home  Don’t wait when you will be invited to a super event. Dress for the event at home. Start using accessories and nice dresses, do a bit of make-up and fix p your hair. When the baby arrives we spend a lot of time at home, and better to feel ourselves beautiful also at home. It will cheer you up and your partner will be way happier to see you perfect at home. In India, women dress their best dresses at home and I took it as a tip. 5. Have time alone with your partner Important not to forget about each other. After all, you two happened first, and the baby is a product of the love of two. It can be a tuff moment for both because all the attention is now around a little one. But try to take care of each other, stay together when is possible. 6. Do one new thing everyday  Read a new book, draw, go to a new place, or use a new road, or simply change a nail polish color. One new small thing a day will change a feeling of monotony. 7. Start working or find your hobby If you think that is time to go out of the house, a good solution is to find a part-time job or a hobby. But remember, it is just something that makes you more inspired and alive, not more overwhelming. Maybe you would like to come back to your old job or to start something completely new. Just do it! You will find a way to find a time for it, only a few hours a day, or a week. If the mother is happy then everyone around is happy, right? Check out also my post about Water Birth. Subscribe to newsletter or follow my Instagram to stay in touch! Take care dear! Yours Marghe Read More

Plant-based diet during pregnancy

I think the best what I could do for me and my child is to switch to a vegetarian diet. And I would like to share my story here, to give more confidence to women who are being worried to eat plant-based even during a pregnancy. Why I don’t eat meat anymore? My husband is a vegetarian for more than 25 years. And when we met I was still eating fish. But during my pregnancy I became a complete vegetarian. Someone decide to become vegetarian or vegan from one day to another, like my husband did. Me instead, gradually arrived to this stage. While living in Asia, my diet start consisting less meat and dairy products. After a while you notice a difference, that you body and mind becomes lighter and cleaner. You just feel better, that it. At that moment I was already practicing yoga. And I remember a phrase my teacher in China said: “When you start practicing a lot, every day, never skip you realise that you don’t wanna drink alcohol again or smoke or eat meat.” This is connected to our consciousness, which we develop while practicing constantly. If you start searching, you find out that yogi’s diet consist only of plant-based product. I write more about it in this post WHAT IS SATTVA AND WHY I CHOOSE SATTVIC DIET. Main tips on vegetarian diet during pregnancy Protein During your second and third trimester, you should aim to eat around 70 grams of protein each day. High-protein, plant-based foods include tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils and whole grains. Iron Iron improves your blood’s oxygenation and can help you feel less tired. And women during pregnancy need 50% more of iron as your body increase its blood volume. And vegetarian diet is perfect for it, remember to consume enough of dark green leafs, kidney beans, lentils or green peas. Plus is important to take enough of vitamin C, as it helps with iron absorption. Calcum High-calcium foods include calcium-set tofu, green leafy vegetables, beans, seeds, nut butter, and fortified foods as plant-based milk and cereals. Flaxseeds oil for Omega-3 I don’t wanna lie to you, but one table spoon os flaxseed oil contains daily amount of Omega-3. Is perfect substitution for vegetarians and vegan. Only thing, it tastes exactly like a fish 🙂 Another sources for Omega-3 are: flaxseeds, walnut or chia seeds on soups, salads or yoghurts; kidney beans or edamame beans avocado eggs (if you are vegetarian) Vitamin B12 and D Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin which is limited in vegetarian and vegan diet. Out of pregnancy I take supplements with B12 alone, but during pregnancy I switch to a B complex. As during pregnancy, especially first few months, is also important to take enough of folic acid which is vitamin B9. Just a reminder, folic acid helps to protect you baby against central nervous system defects, premature birth and low birth weight. Takeaway I meet more and more vegan and vegetarian women which decide not to change their diet even during pregnancy. But the most important thing here is to listen to yourself, to you own body, and you will find the answers. Don’t let somebody scare you, be sure about your own health. If you would like to learn more about plant-based diet, I have written a guide exactly for this occasion. It called Plant-based Eating: A beginners guide to optimal health, sustainable weight loss and increased energy. With the help of this guide, you will be ready to step into the world of plant-based eating in no time and set yourself up for success. You will learn about plant-based nutrition. You will learn about the science behind plant-based eating. You will discover the steps to transition to a plant-based nutrition. You will discover plant-based recipes. You will learn tips to reach success. And how to implement a plant-based nutrition in your lifestyle. And much more! The cost of the book is only $7. You can buy it here. Enjoy! Please feel free to leave comments below or follow my instagram to stay in touch.. Take care dear! Yours Marghe Read More