Stress can be very damaging during pregnancy, although it cannot be completely avoided in everyday life. As a pregnant woman, high stress can be a major issue that affects every area of your life, which in turn will affect the growth and development of your unborn baby. You may be worried about what her labor will be like, how she will handle the pain, how her partner will cope, and so on. Knowing the causes of her stressful feeling is powerful information, which means she can take steps 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 heart rate, blood pressure, and also contribute to an increased risk of preterm birth or low birth weight babies. Remember that just as what you eat affects your unborn baby, so does your high stress level and your emotional health. It’s important to minimize your stress and anxiety during pregnancy to enhance your baby’s growth and development.
Here are 5 simple ways to start managing stress during pregnancy. You can even take many of these ways after pregnancy to ensure your stress level remains manageable.
1. Share your feelings
The idea that “no man is an island” is so true that if you talk less about your stressful situations, the stress will accumulate and can cause devastating health problems during the period of pregnancy. Sharing your own feelings with your partner, mother, sister, friend, or your doctor to get the right advice and support is a great way to deal with stress. When you talk about your fears and concerns with people who care a lot about you, it will help you calm down and feel more confident.
2. Eat well
A healthy diet that includes vitamins and minerals can help keep stress in check by suppressing stress hormones. You should eat foods rich in vitamin B, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, wheat germ, lean meat, nuts, fruits and vegetables, etc. Eating a well-balanced diet during pregnancy is good for your health and your baby’s normal growth and development, and it also helps store energy and ward off stress.
3. Get adequate rest
One of the most common reasons for stressful behaviors and feelings is lack of sleep. You must follow a defined sleep pattern to get the right amount of sleep, so that your body has time to recover from the day’s activities and allow you to feel better. Don’t wait until you are too exhausted before going to sleep.
4. Exercise regularly
Safe pregnancy exercise is a great way to release stressful feelings while making you look and feel better. If you don’t have a special hobby that interests you, find one. You’ll reduce stress when you take your mind off your daily activities and responsibilities. A hobby could be writing journals, painting, reading funny stories, etc. or you can also practice daily 10-15 minutes of walking outdoors.
5. Relaxation
Staying fit during pregnancy is very important; relaxation is a natural technique to reduce stress and should be a daily routine. Don’t just focus on your responsibilities, try to relax and think logically about whatever situation you’re facing. If something goes wrong, look at it as a learning experience so it doesn’t happen again.
Having fun and laughing is one of the best ways for the body to relax, watch a funny movie with your partner or go to the movies.
As you can see, it is not impossible to manage stress, all you need to know is that stress is an everyday problem and it will not go away any time soon, therefore knowing how to manage your stress will make big changes in your health and lifestyle. By doing so, you will have a healthier pregnancy.