Pregnancy can be such an exciting time in a woman’s life. There are so many new and rewarding moments to cherish. Pregnancy can also be scary and unnerving. It’s not uncommon to experience a range of emotions, sometimes all at one time! Caring for your mind and body during pregnancy can be done in simple ways to help you through this truly unique period of your life.
Fuel Your Body During Pregnancy
Feeding your body nutrient rich foods is important for both your body and mind during pregnancy. When our bodies are nourished, we feel stronger and more energized. Pregnancy can make fueling our bodies a bit more challenging due to food and smell sensitivities and aversions. In addition, as your baby grows, you have less room to eat those nutrient dense foods.
Talk to your obstetrician about recommended foods and those to avoid. Try to eat a range of fruits and vegetables, carbs, proteins and fats.
If the smell, look, texture, or thought of certain foods makes you sick, stay away! This isn’t the time to punish your mind or body by forcing down something because it’s available. If watching spinach grind to a pulp in a smoothie has you running to the toilet, skip it! Find the foods that you can tolerate and enjoy, and stick to those.
Make sure to drink/sip water. Staying hydrated will help keep you going even when making your 1000th trip to the bathroom.
Move Your Body
Whether you exercised religiously prior to being pregnant or not, now is the time to move. You don’t have to “exercise” in the official sense. Now isn’t the time to start a gym membership! While you’re pregnant, get your body moving. Go for a walk, take a yoga class (or find one online), go for a swim. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get outside and enjoy some sun for a daily walk.
Moving your body during pregnancy will improve both your body and mind.
Listen to Your Body
Now is the time to let your body be your guide. Before pregnancy, maybe you pushed yourself a little further on your exercise, stayed up a little later to get the work done, or woke up a little earlier to get a jump start on your project, no matter how you felt. Now is the time to listen to the signals your body is giving you.
If you feel tired, rest! If you feel like the walking dead, lay down. Take a break. Stop what you’re doing. If you’re at work and your eyes are drooping, step away from your desk. Get some water, grab a snack, sit in sunshine for 5 minutes. If you’re at home, take a nap! If ever there is an excuse for a morning, mid-day, afternoon, or anytime of day nap, it’s pregnancy!
If you feel hungry, eat! If you finished your packed lunch and want more, go ahead and eat more. Listen to your body. It’s changing. What worked 5 months ago may not work now. That’s okay. Listen to what your pregnant body is saying.
Listen to Your Mind During Pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones are a very real thing. Your moods may shift from happy to sad in the blink of an eye. If you’re worried about something, talk to someone you trust. Depression during pregnancy is more common than you may think and talking to someone can help. If you feel as though your friends and family are dismissing your feelings as “typical pregnancy” and you feel it may be something more, reach out to your doctor or a therapist for help.
Pregnancy blues, pregnancy depression, pregnancy brain and postpartum depression are all very real and can feel scary. Talking to someone can help you feel like you again.
If you previously experienced postpartum depression and are worried that it may happen again, this may be a great time to contact a therapist and seek treatment before having the baby.
Therapy for Pregnancy in Washington, PA
As a therapist who specializes in helping pregnant women and mothers, and as a mother who experienced postpartum depression, I understand what you are going through. It can feel scary to not recognize yourself. If can feel overwhelming when no one else around you seems to understand just how you feel. You are not wrong for how you feel. And you are not alone.
If you are experiencing any problems or concerns during your pregnancy, please don’t hesitate to call me at (724) 503-6670 or email me at admin@inthenowcounseling.org. Talk therapy is very effective and you can feel better. You can have the pregnancy you thought you would have.
You can also reach me on Facebook and Instagram, too. Or, leave me a comment here and I’ll be sure to get back to you!
