Stress Busters During Pregnancy

Stress Busters During Pregnancy

Identify the problems: Are you stressed by financial concerns, changing body or physical illness, changing relationships, fears of inadequacy, too much to do, interfering parents or in-laws, or more than one of the above? Finding the reasons for your stress will help you to identify solutions or to understand you’ll need to accept what you cannot change.

Stay connected: Family and friends are excellent sounding boards for working out your problems. Keep in contact with upbeat friends who can help lighten your mood. Share your feelings with your spouse. If you don’t feel comfortable venting your frustrations to friends, contact a qualified therapist or pastoral counselor.

Go for a walk or a pregnancy fitness class: Exercise is a great stress-reliever for the body. When you feel better, you feel more in control and able to cope. Joining a class will make you feel part of a group whose members share your concerns.

Rest and relax: Get a good night’s sleep every night; your body needs rest to create a healthy baby. Pamper yourself with a nap in the afternoon, or a massage or manicure or bubble bath.

Make time for mood-lifters: Get together with friends for board games, watch a movie that makes you laugh, play fetch with the dog – do anything that gets your mind off your problems or off your aches and pains.

Say yes to help: Let go of your need to control. Accept offers from family, friends or co-workers to carry some of the load. You may need to cut back your work schedule or get help with errands. Ask your mother or mother-in-law to help prepare the nursery. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your baby.

 

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