It’s normal to experience some stress during the course of your pregnancy. In fact, ”up to 70% of pregnant women report symptoms of stress and anxiety” to the physicians in charge of their health.
However, not only can stress wreak havoc on your body and soul, but it can also take away from the joy of pregnancy and the excitement regarding what is to come. As such, its crucial that you are able to find an effective way to handle stress during your pregnancy (and beyond).
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Here are some solutions that you may find useful during this time!
Further your knowledge of all things pregnancy and babies
Sometimes, the reason that we feel heightened stress during pregnancy is because we do not know what to expect in the coming weeks and months. Therefore, working to expand your knowledge can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to managing complex emotions and putting any fears to bed. For example, this knowledge can help you to mentally prepare for birth and parenthood.
Find effective ways to distract yourself
Often, the key to reducing stress is to find a way to re-route your train of thought toward something more positive. As such, finding a suitable distraction can play a key role in eliminating your stress. There are many different ways in which you can distract yourself during this time. For example, many studies have found that card games such as solitaire serve as a welcome distraction from stress by pulling your attention toward strategy and gameplay.
Try your hand at journaling
Journaling is a great way to keep your stress and anxiety at bay. This is because, instead of sitting on your emotions and letting them consume you, you’re finding a healthier outlet for them. Sometimes, when writing down our feelings and emotions, we’re able to further our understanding of them, which means we’re in a better position when it comes to controlling them. For example, journaling may help you to identify what exactly is triggering your stress.
Speak to a therapist about how you are feeling
During pregnancy, your body’s hormones can feel as though they are all over the place. This can make it harder than ever to regulate our emotions, meaning that even minor stressors can feel a little like the end of the world. If you are consistently feeling overwhelmed by the stress you are dealing with, however, you may want to continue speaking to a
Therapist. Not only will this provide you with a safe space to open up about how you are feeling, but it can also help you to develop a range of healthy coping mechanisms that you can rely on whenever stress takes hold.
Speak to other expectant parents
Speaking to other expectant parents about how you are feeling can also prove useful during this time. This is because it shows that you aren’t alone in your feelings and that many other mothers-to-be are dealing with higher levels of stress than they thought possible. Not only is this incredibly validating, but you can also support each other throughout the rest of your prengancy. If you stay in touch, this also means that your children can be friends as they grow or that you have someone to reach out to when you need additional help and support after the baby is born. After all, you may feel that you just need to rant to someone who understands exactly how you are feeling.
Stay as active as possible
During pregnancy, it’s normal to leave your typical exercise routine behind. After all, your body is going through a lot of changes, and you may find that you tire much more quickly, too. However, as exercise can be a great way to combat both stress and anxiety, you should try to stay as active as possible throughout your pregnancy. For example, taking a short walk each day ensures that you’re staying as mobile as possible and can also increase your body’s endorphin production while suppressing the production of cortisol (the stress hormone). Alternatively, you may want to sign up for exercise classes that are tailored specifically to expectant mothers. This way, you will not be putting yourself (or your body) under too much strain while still getting the exercise you need to care for your physical and mental health. This can also be a great way to expand your network, as you’ll be able to connect with other women in the same position, making friends for life while doing so.
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