[5 min read]
In this article:
- A Providence Swedish midwife shares a little bit about her journey with pregnancy and new parenthood, as well as some guidance she offers her own patients.
- Having a mindfulness and body scan practice can help establish that mind-body connection and calm chatter about having to do things perfectly.
- Pregnancy isn't a one-size-fits-all experience; the time comes with moments of profound happiness and others that require understanding and support.
It’s lunchtime. Providence Swedish midwife Rosie Lawrence-Pine, CNM, ARNP, is busy feeding her happy, gurgling eight-month-old son as she shares about her experience bringing him into the world. The pair emanates warmth and is a poignant reminder of why the words “joy” and “miracle” are so often associated with this time in life.
Pregnancy is commonly defined by its symptoms — fatigue, nausea and challenging body changes — but it’s also a time filled with connection and emotional growth.
“I loved being pregnant. I loved feeling him move. He was a really active baby. It was interesting to have this person growing inside me,” says Lawrence-Pine, scooping a spoonful of food into her son’s mouth. “Obviously, I’m interested in pregnancy; I’m a midwife. But he would kick and I would touch his foot on the outside and push back against it. I was able to sort of communicate with him before he was born; it’s the only time in life where I’ll have that relationship with him. It was such an intimate, special time.”
Baby brings a new relationship with self
During pregnancy, the parent’s body undergoes a remarkable transformation to support new life. Blood volume increases: the heart works more efficiently, and organs subtly shift to make room for a growing uterus.
These physical changes come with powerful hormonal shifts that can influence mood and emotional well‑being. Estrogen and progesterone rise dramatically during pregnancy, helping regulate mood and emotional stability, bringing calming, sedative‑like effects that can promote relaxation and sleep. Many pregnant people also experience increased levels of oxytocin—sometimes called the “bonding hormone”—which plays a role in trust, attachment and feelings of closeness.
Conversely, hormonal changes during pregnancy can be difficult for some for some parents, bringing challenges like increased anxiety, mood swings and emotional sensitivity. Other pregnant people may experience more serious issues like panic attacks, racing thoughts and constant feelings of dread or impending doom.
“In a prior life I did extreme sports: marathon running, rock climbing, mountain climbing and backcountry skiing,” she says. “[Pregnancy] is a very, very different thing to ask your body to do, but it is remarkable that your body can do this. It was also exhausting. I had an “easy” pregnancy, and it was really, really hard, especially the first trimester. I’m a midwife and I was shocked at how exhausted I was, but it was also a really sweet time. It was winter so we just hunkered down at home. It was a time of real closeness with my partner because we got to hit the pause button on a lot of the things we’d normally be doing. It was a very cozy experience. It was a different season.”
Preparing brain and body for motherhood
Pregnancy doesn’t just change the body — it also changes the brain. Imaging studies show that pregnancy and early motherhood reshape areas of the brain involved in empathy, emotional regulation and caregiving. But modern life is complicated and poses a challenge to even the strongest evolutionary drives.
“We are in a time of increasing anxiety in so many areas, and it impacts pregnancy. There’s pressure to “prepare” in a certain way, so in my practice I try to help people slow down and reconnect with the baby and the exciting things that are coming,” she says. “ We do that really well in our Centering Pregnancy program. We do a mindfulness practice and a body scan to help establish that mind-body connection and calm all the chatter about having to do things perfectly. It’s a time when there can be a lot going on.”
The biology of caring
For Lawrence-Pine, this work is about helping parents deepen connections and feel more purposeful and tuned in. “Pregnancy brain” gets lighthearted attention, but during this time the brain is becoming incredibly efficient at prioritizing what matters most: meeting baby’s needs and keeping them healthy and alive.
After birth, hormones continue to play an important role in well‑being. Oxytocin spikes during labor, skin‑to‑skin contact and breastfeeding, reinforcing bonding and feelings of closeness. Prolactin supports milk production and has calming effects that may promote nurturing behaviors.
“One of the things I tell my patients is that to take care of a baby all you really need is some clothes, some diapers and a safe place for them to sleep. At the end of the day, the most important thing in taking care of your baby is the relationship you have with them and the care that you will provide for them,” she says.
Promoting emotional resilience
The pregnancy journey is not always joyful. Physical or health issues and body changes can make pregnancy difficult for some parents. In those cases, Lawrence-Pine says she tries to help her patients reframe their experience.
“Pregnancy does not happen in isolation from other social pressures,” she says. “In those cases, I try to help patients find the beauty in what their bodies are doing: they are capable of growing and housing another human. I try to be present with what's really happening for them and making space for that.”
“Not everyone likes being pregnant and that’s okay,” she adds. “Because if you really don’t like it, we don’t need to add guilt on top of that. I know people who don’t like being pregnant, but they are having their fourth baby because it’s worth doing and they love being a mom.”
In most cases, pregnancy comes with moments of profound happiness and others that require understanding and support. It’s all normal, says Lawrence-Pine.
“So much of what we do is just try to provide moments of comfort for mothers and a framework or space to sit with their experience,” she says. “This applies to the everyday and bigger challenges of pregnancy. So, we honor and acknowledge what it really feels like and just let that transpire. Sometimes the humor and joy are on the far side of that and sometimes it’s really straightforward, like feeling your baby moving and loving it.”
Learn more and find physician or advanced practice clinician care (APC)
Swedish has three birth centers — First Hill, Issaquah and Edmonds — making it convenient for people who live or work in the Seattle, Eastside and North End areas. Swedish patients can take classes, meet other families, get help with lactation and go for new parents and well-baby checkups at The Lytle Center for Pregnancy & Newborns at our First Hill birth center. You can also get expert advice there and help with wellness. Visit our website to learn more about midwives at Swedish and how they can partner with you to create the most personalized birthing experience possible.
If you need a gynecologist, women's health specialist or primary care doctor, Swedish is here for you. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory
And if you have questions or concerns about an older child’s wellness, Swedish Pediatrics is here to help. Call today to schedule a visit.
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