Three Ways to Tap Into Your Mama Intuition (And Ignore Everything Else!)

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Prenatal Yoga Classes Charleston SC

Parents have a myriad of decisions to make. Many of us wade through the advice of countless well-meaning friends and family members that insist that the way THEY did it is the RIGHT way. (Do I even need to mention the blog posts that show up in the social media feeds of new mothers on every kind of parenting topic imaginable?)

If you’re a bookish type, you might turn to recommendations from academic journals and the American Academy of Pediatricians…You know what? You can find studies that are both pro and con just about every hot-button parenting topic that exists from vaccination and co-sleeping to screen time recommendations and added sugar intake.

It’s enough to make your head spin.

That’s why in the prenatal yoga classes that I teach, the most important takeaway isn’t really about how to stretch your hips and strengthen your pelvic floor (though we definitely do lots of that!) If I had to choose ONE thing that I hope these glowing pregnant mamas take away after six weeks of yoga classes with me it’s the realization that they have infinite wisdom within themselves and that that wisdom is readily available to them anytime they take a bit of extra time to tap into it.

As Rachel Hollis wrote in her best-selling book Girl Wash Your Face: “The God who made the moon and the stars and the mountains and the oceans, the Creator who did all of those things, believed that you and your baby were meant to be a pair…You need not fear failure because you can’t fail a job you were created to do.”

This is a lesson that I’ve seen carry many a mama through uncomfortable pregnancies, anxiety about birth, the birth itself, and through the sleepless nights of motherhood.

As a mama who has been there, done that, and made many mistakes along the way, I can now say with confidence that the decisions I feel best about are the ones that were guided by my own intuition.

I don’t ignore the research and the kind advice from other mamas who have been there. But I carefully weigh it against what comes naturally to me in practically every moment.

Tapping into my who I am meant to be and, possibly more importantly, about how to be a mother to my two amazing little girls has been the one thing that has helped me maintain my sanity as I make both small and significant decisions for my family. I use the following as a guideline when I schedule doctor appointments as well as when I clean out a closet (Keep the sentimental baby toys? Or let them go?)

Below are three ways to tap into your own infinite wisdom as a mama.

Remember, you were designed to do this. Your family needs you to do motherhood YOUR way, not the way that helps you fit best into some parenting category. Smooth or crunchy? Unless we’re talking about peanut butter, I don’t care! (If we ARE talking about peanut butter, I’m a smooth girl all the way).

  1. Body: Have you ever had an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you feel like something just isn’t right? Always listen to that feeling. It’s there for a reason. If it shows up before a doctor’s procedure or before you send your kid off to someone else’s house for a playdate, consider waiting until you’ve got more information before you go through with it.

Try this: Come to your hands and knees with your shoulders stacked over your wrists and your hips stacked over your knees. Focus on how you feel in your body. Find your breath. Then, start to move in whatever way feels best to you at this moment. Wag your tail. Arch your back. Circle your spine or your hips. Get into the tight or creak spots. Practice listening and responding to your body’s needs.

2. Breath: The next time you’re faced with a big decision, take a few minutes to think about each scenario. Then, pay attention to how your breath is responding to each one. If, when you imagine one choice your breath is shorter and seems to stay more shallow (in your collarbones instead of deep down to the base of your belly), it’s a good indication that you’re not comfortable with that decision. If, on the other hand, your breath feels smooth, easy, and goes all the way down to your belly, that’s likely the right one for you!

Try this: Sit in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair. Let your spine be long and your chin parallel to the ground. Bring one hand to your collar bones and take a couple deep breaths there, feeling the rise and fall of your chest. Then, bring that hand to your ribcage and repeat. Finally, rest a hand on your low belly as you breathe in deeply feeling you feel your tummy respond to the breath. Finally, rest both hands in your lap and follow the breath as it fills your collarbones, ribcage, and low belly making sure to empty fully with each exhale.

3. Mind: The biggest barrier to making the best decisions for yourself and your family is often in your mind. Even the most confident mama can be influenced by the advice of others and by comparing herself to other moms she knows. When I notice myself worrying about what other people will think of my parenting tactics and making decisions from that place of fear, I find it’s very helpful to remind myself of my own innate ability to care for my family–and the benefits of doing it MY WAY.

Try this: Spend a few moments coming up with a sentence or two that helps you tap into your intuition as a parent. (I’ve pinned a ton of these positive affirmations on Pinterest!) My personal affirmation is: I trust myself to make the best decisions for my family. Whenever you’re feeling unsure about what to do, close your eyes, find your breath, and quietly say these words over and over to yourself. Feel the tension in your body release as you calm your mind. After a few minutes, blink your eyes open and go about your business, doing the mom thing in the way that only YOU can with confidence and ease because you know that you are exactly what your little ones need.