Chill Out During Pregnancy

by Meredith Ethington | More from this Blogger

08 Feb 2011 02:46 PM

When you are pregnant, there is a lot to worry about. I am THE QUEEN of worry. So, with my first pregnancy, I was a mess. I wish I would have made the effort to have chilled out a little bit during pregnancy. But, I didn't really know how.

You can easily worry yourself into a frenzy. Issues that many women fret over include:

*What to eat and how much?

*What kind of vitamins to take

*Is the baby moving enough, or moving too much?

*What kind of parent will you be?

*Are you gaining enough weight? Not enough?

The list could go on and on. But, you don't want to worry too much. Some studies have shown that the hormone cortisol is released during stress and can be harmful to your baby. Other researchers will argue that there is no harm. Some suggest that too much stress has even been linked to miscarriage. Great, another thing to worry about right? Now, you have to worry if you are worrying too much! But, the bottom line is, worry and stress is not good for YOU, the Mom-to-be. So, try and relax. Here are a few tips.

* Cut back on your to-do list. We all think that we have to be this crazy, amazing, do-it-all sort of woman during pregnancy. I mean, we're going to be that kind of Mom, right? But, seriously, look at your life, see what you can cut back on, and try to make your checklist a little smaller.

* Talk to your spouse. If you are stressed or worried, it always helps to talk. Your spouse (who is not experiencing all the raging hormones) will most likely be able to comfort you, and help convince you that some of your fears may be irrational.

* Do some Yoga. If you are not into that sort of thing, just try and give yourself a few minutes everyday of quiet time. Turn the TV off, put that baby book down, and just try to clean out your mind of the clutter, and think about nothing.

* Try not to surf the Internet too much. This can lead to worry overload. We live in a time where we have mounds of information at our fingertips. Don't "google" every little hiccup you have. Wait until your Dr's appointments (which you will have plenty of) and go in with a worry list. Your doc will understand, and help you see things through realistic eyes.

* Exercise. While, you don't want to go overboard with this, keeping up your exercise routine is a natural way to de-stress. Think through your problems on the treadmill. Try to turn off the music that might be distracting you, and give yourself time to think through your rational and irrational worries.

* Rest. It seems like now, more than ever, women just keep plugging along at life while pregnant, and don't take the time to rest when needed. This may mean, napping, or it may mean putting your feet up for 15 minutes and closing your eyes during your lunch break. Or, maybe it means going to bed at 7pm. That's OK. Rest will only help you feel more energized and happy during the day.

Most importantly, take a deep breath. Before you know it, baby will be here, and your worry list will get even longer. But, wait! Don't worry about that yet.

Related Articles:

Lose Weight Before Getting Pregnant?

A Little Risk is OK in Pregnancy, Right?

Don't Lose Yourself When Baby Arrives

Statistics for Getting Pregnant

Learn more about Meredith Ethington

Meredith is a native Texan who is currently living in Salt Lake City, UT. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2002 with a B.A.

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