Stress During Pregnancy:  Coping with stress during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a journey of nine months wherein a woman experiences different levels of emotions and stress during pregnancy is one of the most common of them. Due to rising levels of stress and anxiety, the growth of the fetus can be affected. The child may develop some abnormalities due to maternal stress.

The child may develop an improper nervous system and can lead to disorders of brain etc. The mother has a lot of stress and may have varying levels of emotions like loneliness, irritation, shame and sometimes even medical depression may be there. The spouse or the family members may not encourage to seek medical help as the problem may not be so big an issue so as to seek someone else’s help. All this has a direct effect on the baby.

Studies have proved that an increase in stress during pregnancy may even cause miscarriage. Stress generates certain hormones in a woman’s body that can lead to miscarriage and can also cause premature labor pain.

Every woman wants to reduce the increasing levels of stress during pregnancy which makes her feel unpalatable and therefore wants to adopt some methods by which stress can be reduced.

• Watch your way of living and make a new timetable for yourself. One has to take out sufficient time for oneself. After allocating the time to various activities that keep you happy and engaged, think whether it is achievable or not.

• Start thinking about yourself and the newborn who is going to come. Eat a well balanced diet and ensure that you exercise so that you keep fit.

 

• Be prepared to tolerate all the medical problems that will come in your way. You may have morning sickness. You may need to take rest and can also be hospitalized at times.

• Remember that you are the best planner and caretaker of yourself. Plan and take care of yourself. Always, do not depend on others.

 

• Always communicate with your loved ones. Until and unless you tell them how you feel they wont understand and may also not be able to help you.

• Learn and read about pregnancy as much as you can. The more you read, the more you know about it. Consult people.

 

• Talk to yourself and write about your day to day changes and emotions. This will help you know yourself better.

Life is difficult and absurd. There are ups and downs and stress does not go away soon. It is not so easy to deal with stress during pregnancy. But one can evaluate the stress and make changes in one’s lifestyle so that one can cope with it better. This will make you a lithe person and make the journey worthwhile and memorable.