You have been anticipating this day and dreaming about it since you were a little girl. Pregnancy. Today you woke up to hear more about the pandemic across the entire globe, you feel your belly and you breathe deeply, but anxiety and fear are knocking. Peace Power Mama. 

1. Power for Peace: Life is growing inside of you and your ability to go deep and KNOW you have the power physically, emotionally and spiritually to stay in peace will provide health to both you and the baby. Limit your time watching the news. Increase your time with healthy options that allow you to feel calm and encouraged. Limit your interactions with people who speak to your fears, but find the people who encourage you with wisdom and guidance. Remember your breathe is powerful. Take a deep breathe.

2. Power for Connection: Connection is still in your power. The limits of direct contact during your pregnancy and birth wasn't in your birth plan, but today is the day to find a doula or someone who you can connect with online about your hopes and dreams. A doula has been known for being supportive during birth, but even more important they are an advocate and knowledge resource for you during your pregnancy. A doula will listen to you and assist you to navigate decisions for your pregnancy and birth during the pandemic. Even with limited internet capacity, a phone call is a power connection between two people.
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3. Power for Decisions: You feel emotionally exhausted and your hormones are crazy, how could anyone expect you to make decisions with the looming pandemic? When you focus your mind on your baby and only the decisions that you need to make today, you can do this. Create a mindset that sees a healthy baby, a strong mama and a supportive family. Don't loose sight of your vision and dreams and continue to be creative in your decision-making to accomplish the same outcome you had before the pandemic. You've got this!

4. Power for Happiness:  We can hear you and see your rolling eyes as your read this statement Power for Happiness. Happiness may seem unrealistic in the season of uncertainty but you can choose to be happy. Surf Babyli.st to see all the cute baby products and allow your senses to experience happiness. What makes you happy? Flowers? Writing in a journal? Taking photos? Baking? Coloring? Knitting? Talking to your best friend? Choose these happy actions and you and your baby will feel happiness. 

5. Power for Life: Live day-by-day. You have what you need to get through today. Even before the pandemic, our futures were unknown but we lived life to the fullest, taking in opportunities and possibly some risk. The opportunities and risks are different today than they were two weeks ago. Some of you are experiencing change of employment, knowing someone who has COVID-19, fear of contracting the virus, broken relationships and lack of toilet paper. We (the writer of this blog) are also walking day-by-day through this historic pandemic where there are no instructions. We are in this together and will get through it. 

Reach out to us because we love and care for you. Let us know what we can do to encourage you at pregnantinmn@gmail.com.

1. Have the kids make her a valentine.
There is nothing that brings tender tears to a mom's eye than to receive a handmade card from a child. From the youngest scribble to a teenager's two word poem, it doesn't have to be fancy. You also don't need a lot of supplies, use what you have and get creative. A piece of paper can be folded and then cut to be a heart. With a pencil you can trace a small hand and then have the child color it. Show us what you come up with.

2. Arrive with a smile ready to help with something.
No matter who you are, if you are going to be visiting a mom. Put on your biggest smile and genuinely find an opportunity to help. You are bringing energy of support and a smile is contagious. Let us know how you have helped a mom.

3. Know a product she loves and buy it for her.
If you have a special mom in your life, watch around for her favorite products. Many moms have a favorite purse brand, food item, lotion products and/or clothing. If you don't know, you can always give a gift card for a service like a manicure, pedicure or massage. What are the favorite products of moms?

4. Make her a valentine card.
Adults being creative making a card can be one of the most heart-warming gifts to receive. It doesn't have to be Picasso. Add a nice note that conveys how they make you feel and how appreciative you are for them. If you do this, let us know.

5. Discuss a plan to give her an outing with you. 
Moms need a break and sometimes this isn't easy to coordinate. Give her time to plan out an opportunity to take a day and/or evening off for some love and relaxation. Let her decide what she would like to do. Many of us don't realize how hard it can be when you are nursing and/or the CEO of a home to get away. Be patient and kind. Show us a photo of you and a mom out having fun.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the families! 

We have all been there, you are invited to a baby shower and are now trying to decide to shop for a gift off the big box store registry or purchase something else. Today we are encouraging you to shop local for the baby shower gifts. Here are a few recommendations.

Do you know a quilter or knitter? They may be willing to do something on commission for you OR possibly they have an inventory they would have you look through to purchase. Baby blankets will never go out-of-style. Many kids carry around their favorite blankets that were handmade with LOVE.

Families with newborns sometimes would like to have help with cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry, babysitting, yardwork or other non-material items. We really love the Babyli.st app. Babylist allows new moms to add non-material items to their registry. Get creative and make up some coupons for your baby shower gift. 

Give a gift certificate to a professional photographer or a gift certificate to purchase photography prints and/or frames. These images are priceless! 

Pregnant in Minnesota has local maternity products and services to make sure you have the best baby shower gift for your special expecting family. If you don't see your favorite maternity or baby business, please let them know to request their FREE Birth Business listing. 

Dear Yule Mama:

We see you and you have pulled it off! All the shopping, decorating, laundry, pumping, unexpected guests, parties, sick kids, nursing, cravings, clothes that don't fit, baking, late night bottle feedings, canceled date night, children performances, meal preparations, diaper changes and the list never ends. Let the list be a blur TODAY.

We know you can get lonely. We know there are disappointments. We know there are situations you don't know how to navigate. We are writing this letter to you. Let the worries be a blur TODAY.

Enjoy TODAY. Give extra hugs and keep smiling because you are loved at Pregnant in Minnesota.

Love,
Faith (and Amanda), Yule Mamas