Stress can be very harmful during pregnancy, but cannot be completely avoided in everyday life. As a pregnant woman, high levels of stress can be a major problem that affects every area of your life, which in turn affects the growth and development of your unborn child. You may worry about what your labor will be like, how you’re going to handle the pain, how your partner is going to handle it, and all the rest. Knowing the sources of your stress is powerful information, which means you can take action can to make it less intense.
Negative effects of stress during pregnancy
There are many negative side effects of stress during pregnancy. Studies show that high levels of stress can lead to chronic anxiety, increase your heart rate and blood pressure, and also contribute to an increased risk of preterm or low-birth-weight babies. Remember that your high levels of stress and emotional health not only impact your unborn child, but your unborn child as well. It is important to minimize your stress and anxiety during pregnancy to improve your baby’s growth and development.
Here are 5 easy ways to start managing stress during pregnancy. You can even use many of these ways post-pregnancy to ensure your stress levels remain manageable.
1. Share your feelings
The idea that “no one is an island” is so true that when you talk less about your stressful situations, the stress builds up and can cause devastating health issues during your pregnancy. Sharing your own feelings with your partner, mother, sister, friend, or doctor for the right advice and support is a great way to deal with stress. Talking about your fears and worries with the people who care deeply about you will help you gain more peace of mind and feel more confident.
2. Eat well
Eating a healthy diet that includes vitamins and minerals can help manage stress by suppressing stress hormones. You should eat foods rich in vitamin B, whole grain bread, oatmeal, wheat germ, lean meat, nuts, fruits and vegetables, etc. Eating a balanced diet during pregnancy is good for your health and for your baby’s normal growth and development, as well as helping to conserve energy and eliminate stress.
3. Get proper rest
One of the most common reasons for stressful behavior and feelings is lack of sleep. You should follow a specific sleep pattern to get enough sleep to give your body time to recover from the day’s activities and make you feel better. Don’t wait until you’re too exhausted before going to sleep.
4. Exercise regularly
Safe pregnancy workouts are a great way to relieve feelings of stress while looking and feeling better. If you don’t have a specific hobby that interests you, find one. You will reduce stress when you distract yourself from your everyday activities and responsibilities. A hobby could be journaling, painting, reading funny stories, etc. Or you can also go for a 10-15 minute walk in the fresh air every day.
5. Relaxation
Keeping fit during pregnancy is very important; Relaxation is a natural technique for reducing stress and should be a daily routine. You should not only focus on your responsibilities, but try to relax and think logically about every situation you are faced with. If something goes wrong, treat it as a learning experience so it doesn’t happen again.
Having fun and laughing is one of the body’s best ways to relax, watch a funny movie with your partner or go to the cinema.
As you can see, dealing with stress is not impossible. All you should know is that stress is an everyday problem and it’s not going away anytime soon. Therefore, knowing how to manage your stress will make big changes in your health and lifestyle. This way you will have a healthier pregnancy.
Thanks to Comfort N Akaehie
