Mama You've Got This...

What! You mean the thought of bringing a new life into this world

is causing you stress? This is no small feat you’ve signed up for

and it’s totally fine to feel a little overwhelmed by the whole thing.

Becoming a mama is amazingly life changing, but change has

an evil twin called stress. No matter how many friends or relatives

you know that have gone through it, there’s no real preparation

for pregnancy when it’s your own.

Firstly the barrage of tests you undergo during every doctor’s visit

is enough to put you on edge. I felt similar to a pin cushion during

pregnancy, getting stuck with needles on an ongoing basis. While

feeling stressed out during pregnancy is normal, too much of it is

not good for you or your baby. Research shows that some forms

of stress can contribute to lower birth weight and pre-term birt

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While you’re likely going to have a healthy baby, it does pay to

learn how to manage your stress. Instead of feeling guilty, which

will only stress you out further, find ways to alleviate it. Here are

some proven stress-reducers to try during pregnancy:

•

Talking to other mama friends is a great way to relieve stress.

If you don’t have anyone in your circle who’s pregnant or

recently had a baby, there are loads of mama-to-be groups

in your area—there are even apps out there that help local

mamas find each other.

Pregnancy is stressing me out.

How can I relax?

•

Exercise is another great stress-reducer. Any pregnancy-friendly

exercise can help. Even just 15 minutes of yoga stretches or an

easy stroll outside can help you take some moments to unwind.

Better yet, find an area with lots of trees. The Japanese practice

something called “forest bathing” as a viable form of stress

management. They spend time in the woods to lower levels of

adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormone

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•

Just breathe! Deep breathing techniques can help to calm

you. Sit with a straight back, breathe in through your nose and

hold for a few seconds. Exhale by pushing out as much air as

you can though your mouth while contracting your abdominal

muscles. Or try holding your right thumb over your right nostril,

fully plugging it. Slowly inhale through your left nostril. When

your lungs are full, pause for a few seconds then close off the

left nostril with your pinky and breathe out through the right

nostril. Next breathe in through your right nostril, pause, close

it off with your thumb, and breathe out through your left nostril.

Continue for about four rounds.

•

Massage is one of the most luxurious ways to de-stress. Granted

regular massage can get pricey, but pampering yourself is

encouraged during pregnancy. Find a prenatal massage

therapist and relax while their hands do the work.

•

Focus on only one item on your to-do list at a time. There are

a zillion things you want to get done before the baby arrives,

but the truth is that most of them can probably wait. Edit your

to-do list down to what actually needs to happen pre-baby and

move the other items to a ‘deal with it later’.