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Stress Management
The Stress of Pregnancy
The Stress of Pregnancy
It may be the most important moment of your life the moment that
you learn that you are pregnant, or you find out that your wife is pregnant.
It is a moment of infinite possibilities. You wonder whether your
child will grow up to be the next Mozart or the next Marie Curie.
You go through baby name books endlessly, wondering what to call
your bundle of joy. You go to the paint store, hoping to pick out just the right shade for
your childs nursery.
You register at a baby merchandise store, hoping to get just what
you need for your baby shower.
However, while it can be a time of unbridled joy, pregnancy may
also be a period of intense stress.
You may be worried about the weight gain associated with
pregnancy.
Or you may be wondering whether your baby will be
healthy.
You may be anxious about your finances, especially if they were
not good before the news of your baby arrival.
You may also be wondering how your relationship with your spouse
will change as a result of the pregnancy.
You may even be wondering how your relationship with your parents
will be altered as a result of your new baby.
You may also be worried about the experience of childbirth and the
amount of pain involved.
Most importantly, you might be stressed out about the
responsibilities of parenthood. You may be wondering how good a mother or a father you will
make.
You may be wondering whether you will be a good provider, a good
comforter, a good disciplinarian. You might be wondering about feeding schedules and
middle-of-the-night diaper changes.
All of these worries are natural.
However, it is important that your worries do not cause you
intolerable anxiety.
There are specific steps you can take to lessen the stress of
pregnancy. If you hope to make the transition to parenthood as smooth as possible, it is
critical that you follow these simple relaxation techniques.
To begin with, it can be helpful to take a childbirth class. Even
if you are not contemplating natural childbirth, such classes provide a wealth of information
that can help put your mind at ease.
You will receive information about how to have a healthy
pregnancy, about proper diet for the prospective mother, about the process of childbirth, and
about the care and feeding of your baby.
In addition, childbirth classes often provide you with information
about relaxation techniques.
These include not only breathing exercises, but imagery exercises
that can help soothe your nerves.
The good thing is that you will be going through the relaxation
exercises with your partner, so you can both receive the benefit of them.
Many childbirth educators encourage practicing these relaxation
exercises right before you go to bed at night, so you can learn how to relax your muscles
right before you try to go to sleep.
It may also be a good idea to attend La Leche League meetings
during your pregnancy if you intend to breast-feed.
Breast-feeding can be a daunting experience for a new mother, so
you will want to get all the information you can about the process.
The La Leche League meetings also put you in touch with
experienced breast-feeding mothers who can help to coach you through the rough times. Some
groups also provide a phone list that you can consult whenever you need advice anytime of the
day or night.
The stress of pregnancy If you are experiencing a great deal of
pregnancy-related stress, it is also important that you discuss it with your
obstetrician.
He or she might have additional recommendations for you, as far as
coping techniques are concerned. He or she can also let you know whether your stress is
affecting your baby, which can be critically important in putting your mind at
ease.
Pregnancy can and should be a joyous time.
However, there is little doubt that there is a great deal of
stress involved in the process. The more informed you are about pregnancy and childbirth, the
better able you will be to cope.
Seeking out other mothers and fathers during this critical time
can also be important for your emotional well being.
By relying on other people for support, you can reduce your stress
level significantly and truly enjoy the latter stages of your pregnancy.
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