Category: Wisdom of Healing

Back pain during pregnancy is incredibly common, affecting more than half (57.3%) of all pregnant women, with one-third experiencing severe symptoms that can significantly impact daily life, according to [recent research](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7934802/). If you’re among those struggling with pregnancy-related back discomfort, know that you’re not alone—and more importantly, there are safe, effective strategies to find relief.

Have you ever noticed how pregnancy seems to amplify everything? Your emotions, physical sensations, worries about the future—they all become more intense as you navigate this transformative journey. In the midst of such profound change, mindfulness offers a powerful anchor, helping women cultivate presence and emotional balance during pregnancy and beyond.

Pregnancy shouldn’t mean putting your career on pause. Yet for many women, the physical demands of pregnancy can create workplace challenges that impact their ability to perform job duties. With recent legislative changes, both employers and employees need to understand the evolving landscape of pregnancy accommodations.

The first three months after giving birth can feel like navigating uncharted waters. Your body is healing, hormones are fluctuating wildly, and you’re adjusting to life with a newborn who depends on you entirely—all while functioning on fragments of sleep. It’s no wonder that approximately [1 in 7 to 1 in 8 mothers](https://home.beginning.com/blog/post-pregnancy/postpartum-movement-mood-support/) in the United States experience postpartum depression, with anxiety affecting an even higher percentage at around 18%.

In today’s competitive business landscape, progressive companies are discovering a powerful talent retention strategy: supporting employees through pregnancy and the postpartum period. With nearly 70% of women continuing to work while pregnant according to [Beginning.com research](https://home.beginning.com/blog/pregnancy/pregnancy-workplace-support-flexible-work-during-pregnancy-maternal-wellness-at-work/), and 1 in 4 women exiting the workforce during their first year of motherhood as reported in [workplace return studies](https://home.beginning.com/blog/post-pregnancy/postpartum-workplace-policies-return-to-work-after-birth-supporting-new-mothers-at-work/), how organizations respond to maternal employees’ needs directly impacts their bottom line and organizational health.

Have you noticed how quickly celebrities seem to “bounce back” after having a baby? One day they’re announcing the birth of their child, and seemingly the next, they’re on a magazine cover looking as though pregnancy never happened. This creates an impossible standard that affects new mothers everywhere.

The early days of motherhood can feel like navigating uncharted waters while sleep-deprived and emotionally raw. With postpartum depression affecting [1 in 8 women](https://www.postpartumdepression.org/resources/statistics/) in the US—that’s over 460,000 new mothers annually—self-care isn’t just a luxury; it’s essential for healing and wellbeing.

Are you meticulously crafting the perfect birth plan? Detailing your preferences for everything from lighting to labor positions? While having a written birth plan certainly has merit, there’s something even more powerful at your disposal: education.

Becoming a mother is transformative, beautiful, and—let’s be honest—completely exhausting. While everyone focuses on the baby’s needs, your physical recovery and emotional wellbeing often take a backseat. Research indicates it takes roughly a full year for your body to reach a new equilibrium after pregnancy and childbirth, yet 40% of U.S. mothers return to work within just 6 weeks postpartum.

You’ve welcomed your baby into the world, but instead of feeling purely joyful, you’re experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. Tearfulness, anxiety, irritability—these feelings can be confusing and frightening when you expected motherhood to bring only happiness. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Nearly 25% of women experience postpartum depression up to one year after childbirth, according to [research](https://home.beginning.com/blog/post-pregnancy/early-postpartum-support-first-six-weeks-after-birth-postpartum-emotional-needs/).