How To Beat Pregnancy Anxiety

Whether you are pregnant with your first baby or fifth, it is highly likely you will suffer with pregnancy anxiety at some point throughout the course of the next nine months. You should not think you are alone during anxious times like this, as a majority of pregnant women will be feeling the same way you are, and all this is for a good reason: you are growing a life inside of you.

It is perfectly natural to over think things when you are pregnant; this includes worrying about what you are going to eat and drink to what you are going to do and how you feel. However, when that anxiety gets to the point that it is interfering with your day to day functions, it is time to find a way to deal with it.

A Problem Shared…

You are not going through this on your own, trust me. You should start sharing your fears and anxieties with your partner or another family member. The chances are the people you console with have the exact same concerns and worries as you have. Communicating about what you are anxious about will immediately make you feel better, it will allow you to understand that you are working yourself up to worry about something that isn’t actually a problem or issue.

If you are unable to share your worries with someone close to you, you should make an appointment with your GP or midwife to explain what is on your mind. You should be aware that extra stress and worries can make you go into labour earlier than expected so it is important you do everything you can to stay as calm as possible.

Tips on How to Calm Down…

• Learn to say no once in a while. It is likely that you are the type of person that just does not know how to say no every now and then. Learn to slow down a little and make some time for yourself.
• Put your feet up, literally. I know it is stressful to think you will have a little baby here in a short few months, but everything does not need to be completed right now. It is likely you will have family and friends all around you waiting to help out whenever possible – take them up on the offer.
• The same rule applies to you prior to your pregnancy – exercise is key to relieving stress. Plan to go walking or swimming on a regularly basis, it will release happy endorphins making you feel much better.
• The bigger your bump gets, the less sleep you will be probably getting, however it is important to get as much sleep as possible. Try and go to bed earlier on the evenings to make up for the extra sleep you are going to need.
• When you feel yourself getting extremely worked up or stressed, take a little time out to try some deep breathing. Deep breathing will give you the time to calm down, reduce your heart rate and think rationally about the things you are getting stressed about.
• If your answer to everything is ‘I’ll Google it’ – you are probably suffering with information overload. Stop looking for problems as this is only going to make you panic more. Your body and your baby are much stronger than you think.

Kerry works in the healthcare industry with a focus on women’s medicine. She understands how stressful pregnancy can be, but it is important to relieve that stress to stay healthy.