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Stress Management During Pregnancy
At the end of the day, as I and other Australians say, if you are not stressed, you are probably not alive. We all suffer from stress, and within reasonable amounts, and with the correct reaction to it, we’re fine. The problems arise when we are unable to cope due to too much stress, or worse, it is affecting our health. For some people, it is not the fact that they are stressed, but rather the way they deal with it. I hope to enlighten you on ways to manage stress, and also to recognize the symptoms better. Many people are aware of, and agree that it is important not to overdo things like physical exertion when you are pregnant. It is only recently being recognized, however, that stress reduction is very important for the pregnant woman, as excessive stress, in extreme cases, can cause the loss of the baby, or health problems, for both mother and baby. It is also important to note that many more hormones are flowing in the body during pregnancy, and this can have a negative affect on emotional status, and cause depression, in severe cases too. Some of the things to consider for yourself to better manage stress are listed below: Particularly with work, don’t over do it. Yes, you are capable, but your body will react differently as your pregnancy progresses. I realize you may have had every intention to work till the 8th month, but your body may simply say no! Listen to your body. Ways to manage this include discussing the issues with your team mates and boss. It is still possible to contribute, but you may need to adjust your work schedule a little. Relax when you can. This is important, as ‘me’ time will help your boy re energize as well as your mind to remain calm and centred. Some people would call this being sane. You need to again, listen to your body. There is information on stress management and control available by clicking this link.
Yoga, tai chi, and other forms of relaxation are discussed. Pick the option that suits you best, and remember to take it easy.
It is also important to remember that you can make decisions for your self. It is natural that your spouse and family, as well as friends will mean well, but make it clear to them that you can still think and judge your body for yourself. May I suggest that you go easy on your spouse, as he most likely wants to help, but needs communication from you. Finally, may I suggest that it is normal to have to compromise at some stages of pregnancy. A common example is simply that you may suffer from morning sickness for three months. If this happens, you need to adjust your lifestyle for this. There isn’t any point in being ‘brave and strong’ when all you feel like doing is spending half an hour in the bathroom! I realize this may seem a little exaggerated, but would like to make the point that adapting to your changing body will make the pregnancy a little easier to manage.
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