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The Stress of Pregnancy:
It may be the most
important moment of your life—the moment that you learn that
you’re 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 child’s 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
weren’t good before the news of your baby’s 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’ll make.
You may be wondering whether you’ll 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’s critical that you
follow these simple relaxation techniques.
To begin with, it
can be helpful to take a childbirth class. Even if you aren’t
contemplating natural childbirth, such classes provide a wealth of
information—information that can help put your mind at ease.
You’ll 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’ll
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’ll 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.
If you’re 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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