A lot happens in your pregnancy: you experience new pains and discomforts, increased anxiety, decreased sleep and work to find your new norm. You should know, though, that you are not alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of great resources available to help you navigate your journey, regardless if this is your first pregnancy or your sixth.

A few resources that I would highly encourage you add in your Prenatal Dream Team are (in alphabetical order):

Acupuncturist - Acupuncture is credited with easing a wide range of pregnancy symptoms like heartburn, edema, carpal tunnel, back pain, headaches and morning sickness. Additionally, late in the third trimester, acupuncture can be used to help bring on labor.

Chiropractor - Routine chiropractic care in pregnancy can help manage pain in your back, hips, and joints, as well as establish pelvic balance. All which helps to provide your baby with as much space as possible over the course of your pregnancy, and may lead to a faster, easier labor and delivery.

Doula - A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support to you and your partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. They also help educate you about pregnancy, birth and childcare, as well as advocate for you and your wants in labor and birth.

Fitness Professional - It is extremely important to keep your body moving in all three trimesters. Talk with your healthcare professional about what is right for you. Also, look for local fitness professionals specialized in pre and postnatal movement like Empowered Mama Fitness.

Massage Therapist - Many massage therapists are not comfortable massaging pregnant mamas, but this is extremely important for your #selfcare. Find a masseuse that is trained in prenatal massage and schedule frequent massages to help you relax and ease common discomforts in pregnancy.

Nutritionist/Dietician - You may find your appetite and desire for certain foods changes over your pregnancy; it’s completely normal. Your little one requires so much to grow and develop appropriately, though, and a daily prenatal vitamin to offset the Standard American Diet isn’t going to cut it! Work with a nutritionist to make sure you are taking in the right amount of micro and macronutrients. A dietitian may also be recommended by your healthcare professional if you are diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.

Midwife - If you are thinking about a natural birth, consider using a midwife instead of, or in addition to, your current healthcare professional. Using a midwife gives you more options for your birth plan and you have more control over your birthing experience, from where you choose to deliver your baby to the type of drug interventions you’re comfortable using. 

Women’s Physical Therapist - If you experience hip, pubic and/or back pain in your pregnancy, reach out to a women's physical therapist. They make sure your core and pelvic floor are working optimally during pregnancy, as well as work to re-strengthen both in postpartum. If you have pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence or Diastasis Recti, a women's PT can help you heal.

With all that said, it’s important to note that many of these resources are just as important after birth as they are before. Build your dream team early and lean on them often to support you in your journey to motherhood. If you don't know where to start, or are looking for specific referrals for any one of these professionals, please reach out to Kelly at empoweredmamafitness@gmail.com for local resource recommendations.

If you filled your dream team with other resources and want other moms to know, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out to Kelly at empoweredmamafitness@gmail.com and I will add them to this post!