Hello everyone, I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend so far. How cold has it been over the past few days? I’ve been wrapping myself in lots of layers and my 200 denier (bump-friendly) tights have been amazing at keeping the warmth in!

I’m now 7-months pregnant (how?), and I am growing by the day. The baby is putting-on half a pound each week and we are so in love. Shaun is the best and he is looking after me so well (massages, oranges, cuddles and rolling me over in the middle of the night), little pickle and I are very lucky indeed.

Looking after myself too has been really crucial over the past 7 months and I have learnt to really listen to my body and what it needs to grow our baby big and strong. Pregnancy can be quite a anxious time, especially when it’s your first baby because EVERYTHING is new. However, there are some things I’ve implemented along the way to make the ride smoother and even more enjoyable. I truly believe that when we take care of our roots, our foundations, we gift ourselves with the opportunity to flourish.

Here are some of the rituals I do on a daily basis to feel well:

•Drink warm water with lemon juice each morning before anything else. If I sleep through the night, I wake-up so thirsty! The baby needs a lot of water to grow and the amniotic sack contains quite a lot of fluid.

•Eat little and often and don’t go to bed feeling hungry. This has been crucial! With my stomach now tucked-up right under my ribs, there’s not much room at the inn anymore for large meals (silent crying). However, I’ve been eating regular, smaller meals and this works amazingly. I still carry snacks with me everywhere I go (oranges, nuts, dates), and I keep a few of these beside my bed. If I’m feeling hungry, I feel like the baby must be feeling hungry and I like for us to both feel settled before bed. I say my little goodnight and play music and that’s us for he day. I love this routine and the baby seems to, too.

•Stay Active. This has been the most important element for me in terms of wellbeing. Walking in the autumn sunshine followed by a nice, hot mug of tea or hot chocolate has been my treat. Living by the sea can feel quite harsh in the winter months but wrapping-up warm & toasty and getting the blood flowing can have a hugely beneficial impact on our state of mind. I think I’ll be walking right up to my due-date – it can help with bringing-on labour, I’ve been told.

•Put your feet up. Quite literally. This has helped to sooth my legs after a busy day and I love getting cosy with a film (preferably Christmas-themed), some lovely food and my pjs. I’ve learnt to not feel guilty about resting and I’ve been telling myself that it’s absolutely necessary for myself and the baby (and if you can’t watch movies in bed when you’re pregnant, when can you, hey?)

•Take your time. Yep. Take your precious time with everything. I have been feeling quite out of breath recently (because, squashed lungs and extra blood), so I’ve been making sure that I don’t run around like I used to! It’s been rather nice actually – taking things a bit more slowly has its benefits.

•Don’t worry about appointments. At the very beginning of this journey, I felt quite worried about all of the appointments we’d need to attend but as the months have unfolded, we’ve found our rhythm and things are falling nicely into place. 9 months seems like a huge amount of time, and it is, but it passes quite quickly. That’s why I’ve been keeping a journal and taking lots of pics – I want a lovely keepsake for the baby of the first months of life inside the womb.

•Make lists. A good list goes a long way! My list was insaaaaane! Some things have been sorted, others are still pending (and that’s ok). It’s good to get an idea of what’s needed and you can go from there. I can assure you that as the weeks pass, jobs just get jobbed!

•Stay in-touch. It’s been really important for me to keep in contact with my friends and family. For some, I can imagine that pregnancy can feel quite overwhelming but by staying in the loop, things feel easier. Sharing our thoughts and feelings throughout this time can lighten the load (especially when hormones are doing their thang!)

•Love & appreciate yourself. I tell thee, being pregnant has ignited something in me that I knew was there but I’d never fully tapped into this bountiful well of love & gratitude that I now feel. I adore my body and what it is doing. It is amazing and I am in awe of how it is growing another life. I will never forget this feeling and I know that it is here for good. How beautiful. So, love your beautiful body, every gorgeous bit of it and don’t look back!

I hope you like my pregnancy self-care checklist (of sorts). I understand that pregnancy is different for every single woman and no-one can prepare you for the magic. I’m loving every second and I am so excited for the next chapter. I’d love to hear your pregnancy stories so please comment below or email me at hollyswholesomekitchen@gmail.com

Don’t forget that you can keep up-to-date with all of my wholesome recipes over on my website and Instagram and I have some BEAUTIFUL products in my store for that lovely slice of self-care sunshine.

Happy 1st December and have yourselves a Holly Jolly month.

All my love and encouragement,

Holly xxx