Pregnancy is a time of heightened emotions when changing hormones and the prospect of giving birth can cause you to feel a great deal of stress. While it is normal to feel a sense of panic at the first sign of a positive pregnancy test or missed period, staying calm is important in staying healthy and for making sure you deliver the baby safely. Now that you know about your pregnancy, use these tips to reduce your stress and prepare safely for labor and delivery.
Take Time to Pamper Yourself
Over the next few months, you will undergo many physical changes that impact your emotional health. For example, you may discover that you feel exhausted at the end of a work or school day. Be sure to make taking care of yourself a priority. Whether you kick your feet up and watch a movie before bed or pick out a new maternity dress, doing things for yourself helps to ease those pregnancy worries and helps you stay positive.
Start a Simple Exercise Routine
When you work out, endorphin chemicals are released in your brain that help to promote a calmer mindset. Exercise also prepares your body for childbirth by helping to keep your core muscles flexible and strong. If you are new to working out, try not to overdo it in the beginning. Instead, work with your physician to create an exercise plan that fits your current level of health. Often, just a 30-minute walk around the block is all it takes to clear your head and improve your physical well-being.
Explore Your Options
A positive pregnancy test can generate a wide range of emotions, and you may find yourself worried about how you could ever manage the responsibilities of parenting with everything else going on in your life. While you don’t have to make the decision today, having a plan in place for after your delivery helps you relax throughout the pregnancy. Start by visiting an adoption service that helps with unplanned pregnancies to find out about all your options from someone who understands. This way, you can ease your anxieties about who will take care of the baby and if you want to continue with parenthood.
Form a Relationship with Your Doctor
During pregnancy, your doctor is one of your greatest sources of support. For a normal pregnancy, you can expect to go to the doctor about once or twice a month until the final stages when you may go weekly. Be sure to choose a doctor that makes you feel comfortable, and remember that you can talk to them about your emotional health as well. Let your doctor know if you experience any physical or emotional discomfort so they can help.
Take Childbirth Classes
Fear of the unknown can have you feeling extra stressed with the approach of your due date. You can ease this fear by taking childbirth classes that teach you what to expect during each stage of delivery. These courses also tend to provide you with tools and techniques that can ease your discomfort. Even if you do decide to use pain medications or need a cesarean delivery, knowing how to recognize and breathe through contractions allows you to bring the baby into the world safely.
Choose Your Birthing Partner
Today, most hospitals allow you to choose one or more people to stay by your side throughout the delivery. Whether you choose a family member, your spouse, or your baby’s adoptive parents, knowing that someone will be there to support you helps relieve anxiety. Once you pick a partner, make sure to include them in special moments during the pregnancy such as seeing the ultrasound so that you form a stronger bond.
While the next several months are bound to be a rollercoaster of emotions, you can keep your stress in check by making your health a priority. From starting an exercise plan to surrounding yourself with support, you will make it through this pregnancy and welcome your baby to the world safely.