Latham Thomas is not only the founder of Mama Glow, a holistic lifestyle company that focuses on nurturing and supporting women throughout pregnancy; she’s also a mom herself. Thomas’s smooth pregnancy with her son inspired her to create a platform for pre- and postnatal guidance. “My pregnancy was a really amazing process and I attribute that to diet and lifestyle and a way of being,” the birth coach and certified yoga teacher told theGrio. “I saw the need for someone to hold women’s hands while educating, informing and inspiring them through the experience. There’s nothing to be afraid of — having a baby is like a right of passage.”
Part of her platform of support includes Latham’s new book, Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy. Just released on November 6, Mama Glow features illustrated exercises, fertility boosting methods and over 50 recipes to help women thrive during pregnancy. Even though she is planning launch parties for her book on both sides of the Atlantic — while working with clients including Style Network star Tamera Mowry-Housley — Latham took some time out of her busy schedule to share seven key tips for a happy pregnancy.
1. Green is always good.
Energy is one of the hardest things to maintain when pregnant. While vitamins and resting are important to sustaining energy levels, mothers-to-be should eat as many green, leafy foods as possible. “Green veggies are a must,” Thomas told theGrio. “But I also recommend nuts, blueberries and macaroons to give energy and vitality. Most people, hands down, will make the right choice about food once they inform their bodies on what it is they want to eat. Food not only goes through your blood stream, but also translates into how you think and feel.”
2. Weed out the wackness.
Just like cleaning out your closet for a new season, mothers should also get rid of anything that doesn’t add value to their lives. From throwing out unflattering clothes to halting communication with certain people, this needs to be done for your peace of mind. “You have to take care of the space [you inhabit] in your life. It’s an important process of becoming a mother — establishing your ‘Queen-dom.’ Look through your phone list. Who fortifies you? Who tires you? Who inspires you? Even if it’s a friend from when you are five — if you don’t like who you are with this person, why are you forcing this [if there’s] no way to authentically connect? We have to watch what’s in our space — when we toss out the negative it makes us more available for our blessings.”
3. Have power smoothies in the morning.
Buy a small blender and throw in a few natural foods for a tasty, vitamin-packed smoothie. “I promote for every woman, before and during pregnancy, to drink a green juice with leafy veggies, kale, cucumber, parsley, celery, lemon, ginger, pear, or apple in the morning — make it moderately sweet if you want with [extra] fruits. Doing that keeps your blood cleansed, plus it’s fortifying giving you folates. Even when you’re not pregnant you need it. It sets the tone if you take it in the beginning of the day in terms of what your body craves later.”
4. Assemble a crew if you need to.
For many new mothers the daunting reality of being single with little support in the home can be overwhelming. Along with not falling into victim mode, Thomas believes pregnant mothers should figure out who will be around once the baby comes, to help with the day-to-day efforst. “A lot of mothers have tons of people around them, but are still stressed. Lean on them for support! You need a circle of people who can help you. Identify the folks who are really going to be there for you before you have the baby. The process will really show you who your friends are.”
5. Make Mommy “me” time.
Women hear time and time again about the importance of taking time for themselves, but for mothers it’s key to sustaining your child’s happiness. “Find some time when your child goes to sleep to have time for yourself. Run a bath with candles, buy flowers to beautify your space. If we start acting like we deserve, people will see that we’re worthy. A lot of times we put energy into our children and none into ourselves and start feeling bad. Your children need to see that you’re happy and proud about it.”
6. Drink more water.
For summer pregnancies, water is essential. “Your baby is encased by water, your joints need it and it takes a lot of water for every metabolic process that is happening during pregnancy,” Thomas said. “So you need more water. In the summer women forget to drink water constantly and can experience uterine contractions or even go into pre-term labor from being dehydrated.” For women who aren’t pregnant, water is also a great way to soothe menstrual cramps.
7. Speak the hormone love language.
Even while in the womb, babies are still very intuitive about what’s going on in the outside world. “If a mom is happy, a baby is happy. Pregnant mothers communicate through hormones. If she’s afraid the baby will be.” Thomas suggests music, slow dancing and certain stretches to unwind. “Moms can lie on the bed or floor and put their legs at a 45 degree angle on the wall (this relaxation pose is safe to do up to 36 weeks of pregnancy). Hang out there for 20 minutes a day. It helps with swelling and it’s equivalent to taking a 2 hour nap. It’s also a nice way to relax and connect with your baby.”
The New York City Mama Glow: A Hip Guide to Your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy launch party benefiting Every Mother Counts will take place on Nov. 8 at 6:30 pm.
Follow Danielle Kwateng on Twitter at @danispecialk.