6 Tips to Decrease Stress During Pregnancy
Eliminating, or at least trying to decrease stress during pregnancy is critical for the health and well being of both mother and baby. In fact, recent studies have shown that stress during pregnancy may lead to complications including low birth weight, premature delivery, as well as causing an increased susceptibility to conditions such as respiratory problems or even developmental delays.
Pregnancy, one of the most joyous, exciting times in a woman’s life, is also one that’s wrought with a wide range of emotions, as well as a myriad of physical changes simultaneously occurring to the body. While everyone experiences some degree of stress, pregnant or not, which is actually normal, as well as healthy, it’s extremely important to keep stress at a manageable level during the months of pregnancy.
1. Exercise and Regular Prenatal Care
Always consult with your doctor to find the best, and safest, exercises for you to do all throughout your pregnancy. Besides swimming or walking, yoga has been found to be an excellent form of exercise, not only for keeping one healthy and fit, but for helping to ease delivery by strengthening core muscles and acting as a stress reliever.
2. Give In to Your Cravings, Within Reason
Suppressing your cravings during pregnancy may cause you to feel irritable, agitated, and restless. Rather than adding these symptoms to the already growing list, pay attention to the type of craving you are having, and choose something healthy to eat. If you’re dying for sweets or chocolate, substitute with a piece of fruit, or concoct your own treat with yogurts, nuts, fruit, ice and milk for a delicious shake that’s nutritious for you both.
3. The Fetal Doppler Monitor
Women who have had miscarriages, or other difficulties related to fertility or pregnancy may want to consider the use of a fetal doppler monitor. A fetal doppler monitor works similar to an ultrasound using sound waves to create audible tones from within the uterus, and is regularly used to monitor the baby’s heartbeat. These machines can be rented for use at home and can be used for detecting the heartbeat as early as 11 weeks into the pregnancy. The assurance of actually being able to hear the baby in between prenatal visits can be rather comforting to expectant parents.
4. Take a Class
Besides the obvious benefits of being under the guidance of a trained childbirth expert, a prenatal, or childbirth education class is an excellent way of dealing with tension and stress during pregnancy. Just being near other women and couples who are going through all of the same thing helps to decrease stress levels as it somehow normalizes everything, putting it all in perspective. Shared support as well as learning what to expect with each stage of pregnancy can be invaluable assets for new parents.
5. Ask for Help
Building a reliable support system during pregnancy is so important, not only in terms of dealing stress and anxiety, but for both of your overall health. Don’t be afraid to delegate household tasks, or ask your husband, or family and friends for assistance if need be. You deserve to have the help you need, and so does your baby.
6. Relax and Enjoy
Although at times, being pregnant may seem to be a never ending battle with swollen ankles, hemorrhoids, and mood swings, the nine months will actually pass by very quickly, and even with the negatives, the experience is one that should be thoroughly enjoyed. Make it a point, at whatever cost, to truly relax and enjoy what’s happening inside your body. Find a quiet area where you can sit comfortably with a book, reading it aloud in a soft tone so that your baby can hear the soothing sound of your voice, or listen to a CD or DVD designed specifically for pregnant women.