Easier said than done, right? Some of us are natural worriers. We keep a mental list of all the things that could go wrong and spend far too much time playing and replaying that list in our heads and that can spiral in all sorts of unpleasant ways. Pregnancy should be a time of happy anticipation, not worry and dread. There are no guarantees in life or pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean we should dwell on the worst case scenarios. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
-Enjoy this day of pregnancy. Many of us have experienced pregnancy loss; it can make it difficult to feel excited about a subsequent pregnancy. The fear that it may end tomorrow is real, and the loss will be painful either way. It may help to tell yourself that you will enjoy this pregnancy for as long as it lasts and love this baby for as long as you have him/her.
-Remind yourself that worrying won’t solve anything. As hard as it may be to admit, envisioning all the things that may go wrong can’t change whether they will. We can eat the right foods, take care of our bodies and do all the right things, but we can’t control every aspect of pregnancy, so do what you can and try to let the rest of it go.
-Meditate, relax, pray, etc. Do whatever clears your mind and calms your soul. It might be yoga, knitting, long showers, or zoning out while watching a cheesy rom-com on Netflix, but whatever soothes you, be sure to do that often.
-Practice releasing the tension in your muscles. Right now, pregnant or not, pay attention to your body. Are your shoulders up? Forehead scrunched? How is your back? Actively, purposely, soften any tense muscles. Doing this in pregnancy will help you practice to do so during labor and remind you to keep your body loose. Blood pressure may rise during pregnancy and tightening muscles increases blood pressure as well.
-Find the funny. Did you have to use your ponytail holder to fasten your pants at work when you suddenly couldn’t fit into non-maternity pants one day? Pull over three times to pee on a 15 minute drive? Sneak your favorite snack into a wedding because you can’t go an hour without a nibble? Laughing is good for you emotionally and physically, and let’s face it, pregnancy can lead to some funny moments. Learn to laugh at those little surprises and you’ll find the entire pregnancy goes a little better.
- Talk to other people who are excited about your pregnancy! If you have a friend or relative who is always the optimist, let some of their positive attitude rub off on you.
- Give yourself a set time to worry every day and if concerns try to pop up during other times, remind yourself that you can deal with them tomorrow in your 5 minute worry-time. Imagine putting them away in a file cabinet, folder, or box, or whatever helps you remember that you don't have to ponder each worry as it arrives. Some women find that knowing they will think about it later makes it easier to relax in the moment.
Enjoy your pregnancy!
-JLHC
-Enjoy this day of pregnancy. Many of us have experienced pregnancy loss; it can make it difficult to feel excited about a subsequent pregnancy. The fear that it may end tomorrow is real, and the loss will be painful either way. It may help to tell yourself that you will enjoy this pregnancy for as long as it lasts and love this baby for as long as you have him/her.
-Remind yourself that worrying won’t solve anything. As hard as it may be to admit, envisioning all the things that may go wrong can’t change whether they will. We can eat the right foods, take care of our bodies and do all the right things, but we can’t control every aspect of pregnancy, so do what you can and try to let the rest of it go.
-Meditate, relax, pray, etc. Do whatever clears your mind and calms your soul. It might be yoga, knitting, long showers, or zoning out while watching a cheesy rom-com on Netflix, but whatever soothes you, be sure to do that often.
-Practice releasing the tension in your muscles. Right now, pregnant or not, pay attention to your body. Are your shoulders up? Forehead scrunched? How is your back? Actively, purposely, soften any tense muscles. Doing this in pregnancy will help you practice to do so during labor and remind you to keep your body loose. Blood pressure may rise during pregnancy and tightening muscles increases blood pressure as well.
-Find the funny. Did you have to use your ponytail holder to fasten your pants at work when you suddenly couldn’t fit into non-maternity pants one day? Pull over three times to pee on a 15 minute drive? Sneak your favorite snack into a wedding because you can’t go an hour without a nibble? Laughing is good for you emotionally and physically, and let’s face it, pregnancy can lead to some funny moments. Learn to laugh at those little surprises and you’ll find the entire pregnancy goes a little better.
- Talk to other people who are excited about your pregnancy! If you have a friend or relative who is always the optimist, let some of their positive attitude rub off on you.
- Give yourself a set time to worry every day and if concerns try to pop up during other times, remind yourself that you can deal with them tomorrow in your 5 minute worry-time. Imagine putting them away in a file cabinet, folder, or box, or whatever helps you remember that you don't have to ponder each worry as it arrives. Some women find that knowing they will think about it later makes it easier to relax in the moment.
Enjoy your pregnancy!
-JLHC
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