Sometimes, stress and pregnancy seem to fit together like a hand and glove. This isn't true of all women, of course. Some just let troubles roll off their back, like the proverbial duck with water. If you've been so blessed, good for you; pregnancy is likely just one area of life in which you find things easier.
The rest of us have to bear the burden of our doubts and anxieties. In pregnancy, of course, it's the endless voice in our head, wondering if the baby will be healthy. Are we eating properly? Sleeping and exercising enough? And, of course, for us first timers, there's the age old doubt: will I be a good mother?
I don't buy the story that stress is an unmitigated evil. That, it seems to me, is the talk of shallow sandal wearing, granola eaters. Stress contributes much to our ability to create, achieve and meet responsibilities.
Normal life is full of stress. And there's plenty about pregnancy that can be stressful. To paraphrase F.D. Roosevelt, though, all we have to stress about is stress itself.
The worst and most pointless stress is indeed stress about being stressed. So, by all means, it is important not to create a downward spiral for yourself.
Whenever an awareness of stressing over stress comes apparent to you, preventative action is prescribed. When you find yourself in that situation, there are two strategies I'd suggest you try: communicating and taking inventory.
Communication is of course important in most things. It has particularly therapeutic benefits in pregnancy. To begin with, it is important to talk about your concerns with your partner. I'm well aware that your pregnancy stress could have in fact a lot to do with your partner: particularly worrying over his feelings and reactions.
Even if that's your situation, don't refrain from discussing it with him. He might actually feel relieved at the opportunity to let out what's been feeling bottled up. And his feeling more relaxed will likely relax you, too. And even if your stress has nothing to do with him and he's totally cool with everything, often just being able to express your doubts or fears is an amazing elixir.
There's considerable reassurance in going through these doubts together, knowing and feeling that you're not alone. And, it is always striking how doubts and fears can simply vanish once we refuse to allow them to fester.
Talking to friends is also valuable, whether they're experienced with pregnancy or not. Feeling the strength of your support network can go a long ways in making you feel stronger.
Taking inventory is another valuable strategy for stress reduction during pregnancy. When you find yourself worrying about what you're eating or how much exercise you're getting, again, don't let it fester. Do something about it.
My dear, you are after all living in the most remarkable age of knowledge access in the history of the world. You know, that little old Internet thing? Use it! A wealth of health information, from the most credible scientific medical and maternal care professionals, is available at your finger tips. So, if you start feeling yourself begin to stress out, about your dietary or other decisions, stop fretting and start researching. When you have doubts about what to do; find out what to do.
If you're not doing it, then do it. Though, I suspect, the overwhelming majority of time, you'll discover what you've been doing is perfectly fine. Knowledge is your friend; let it put you at ease.
If it turns out though that neither of these strategies provide you the comfort you need, a more determined effort may be required. You just may be prone to worry. That's just the way some of us are put together. Even if so, there's still no reason to overly fret. That is, I still don't want you stressing over stressing. There are a variety of practices well proven for relieving psychological stress through the reduction of physical stress. Try these out for some relief: yoga, deep-breathing, meditation, massage, warm baths are all time-honored remedies.
And, give yourself time to relax. Many women are just too accustomed to being on top of everything for everyone. If that's your nature, so be it. But while you're pregnant, you need to let go a little bit. Put your feet up and let others bear some of the responsibility for a while. If you work outside of the home, don't be ashamed of taking off some sick days. Even if you're not technically sick. I mean, really, aren't you already doing the most important job of your life: bringing a happy, healthy child into the world?
Stress is only a problem if you let it become one. Nip the cause in the bud, don't dwell on bad thoughts and think about how wonderful your new baby is going to be. Those are the keys to resolving your stress and pregnancy concerns.
The rest of us have to bear the burden of our doubts and anxieties. In pregnancy, of course, it's the endless voice in our head, wondering if the baby will be healthy. Are we eating properly? Sleeping and exercising enough? And, of course, for us first timers, there's the age old doubt: will I be a good mother?
I don't buy the story that stress is an unmitigated evil. That, it seems to me, is the talk of shallow sandal wearing, granola eaters. Stress contributes much to our ability to create, achieve and meet responsibilities.
Normal life is full of stress. And there's plenty about pregnancy that can be stressful. To paraphrase F.D. Roosevelt, though, all we have to stress about is stress itself.
The worst and most pointless stress is indeed stress about being stressed. So, by all means, it is important not to create a downward spiral for yourself.
Whenever an awareness of stressing over stress comes apparent to you, preventative action is prescribed. When you find yourself in that situation, there are two strategies I'd suggest you try: communicating and taking inventory.
Communication is of course important in most things. It has particularly therapeutic benefits in pregnancy. To begin with, it is important to talk about your concerns with your partner. I'm well aware that your pregnancy stress could have in fact a lot to do with your partner: particularly worrying over his feelings and reactions.
Even if that's your situation, don't refrain from discussing it with him. He might actually feel relieved at the opportunity to let out what's been feeling bottled up. And his feeling more relaxed will likely relax you, too. And even if your stress has nothing to do with him and he's totally cool with everything, often just being able to express your doubts or fears is an amazing elixir.
There's considerable reassurance in going through these doubts together, knowing and feeling that you're not alone. And, it is always striking how doubts and fears can simply vanish once we refuse to allow them to fester.
Talking to friends is also valuable, whether they're experienced with pregnancy or not. Feeling the strength of your support network can go a long ways in making you feel stronger.
Taking inventory is another valuable strategy for stress reduction during pregnancy. When you find yourself worrying about what you're eating or how much exercise you're getting, again, don't let it fester. Do something about it.
My dear, you are after all living in the most remarkable age of knowledge access in the history of the world. You know, that little old Internet thing? Use it! A wealth of health information, from the most credible scientific medical and maternal care professionals, is available at your finger tips. So, if you start feeling yourself begin to stress out, about your dietary or other decisions, stop fretting and start researching. When you have doubts about what to do; find out what to do.
If you're not doing it, then do it. Though, I suspect, the overwhelming majority of time, you'll discover what you've been doing is perfectly fine. Knowledge is your friend; let it put you at ease.
If it turns out though that neither of these strategies provide you the comfort you need, a more determined effort may be required. You just may be prone to worry. That's just the way some of us are put together. Even if so, there's still no reason to overly fret. That is, I still don't want you stressing over stressing. There are a variety of practices well proven for relieving psychological stress through the reduction of physical stress. Try these out for some relief: yoga, deep-breathing, meditation, massage, warm baths are all time-honored remedies.
And, give yourself time to relax. Many women are just too accustomed to being on top of everything for everyone. If that's your nature, so be it. But while you're pregnant, you need to let go a little bit. Put your feet up and let others bear some of the responsibility for a while. If you work outside of the home, don't be ashamed of taking off some sick days. Even if you're not technically sick. I mean, really, aren't you already doing the most important job of your life: bringing a happy, healthy child into the world?
Stress is only a problem if you let it become one. Nip the cause in the bud, don't dwell on bad thoughts and think about how wonderful your new baby is going to be. Those are the keys to resolving your stress and pregnancy concerns.
About the Author:
Whether it's you or someone you love is coping with an unusually stressful pregnancy, you should be staying abreast of all the great info available on the Stress and Pregnancy blog. Also, check out this concise, articulate video about stress and pregnancy to be better informed. Knowledge is strength!
