Pregnancy and Mental Health: Striking a Balance

If you've been anxiously waiting to be a mother, no words in the world can describe the joy you feel when a pregnancy test shows two clear lines. Though you may experience unimaginable joy in your heart, your fears, questions, and doubts can also overwhelm you.

You wonder whether your baby will reach full term and be healthy, whether you'll be prepared psychologically and financially, and whether you'll be a good mom. If these questions aren't properly addressed, they can negatively affect your mental health.

This article will explore how being expectant affects your mental health and how to differentiate between pregnancy symptoms and mental health concerns. It will also share five ways that you can take care of your mental health during that period.

How Pregnancy Affects Mental Health

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Let’s be honest: being pregnant is a big deal. Once you deliver the baby, your body and life will change forever. You will now be responsible for a whole human being until they can care for themselves. Some questions you will have to grapple with include: Will your health insurance provider cover the maternity bill?

Will you have enough maternity leave days? Will you have enough finances to buy baby essentials? Do you have enough social support? Will you now become a stay-at-home mom?

In addition, pregnancy hormones trigger significant changes in your body. Estrogen and progesterone levels increase, which affects your mood, appetite, and sleeping patterns. Even the smell or taste of certain foods might suddenly cause nausea and irritation. These physical changes and responsibilities significantly impact your mental health.

Differentiating Between Pregnancy Symptoms and Mental Health Concerns

Some pregnancy symptoms and mental health challenges can overlap, making it a bit hard to tell them apart. These include fatigue, loss of or increase in appetite, mood swings, too little or too much sleep, and irritability.

There are other symptoms that more readily signal that you're facing mental health difficulties, including thoughts of self-harm or harm to the baby, a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, severe panic attacks, prolonged sadness, or an increased consumption of alcohol or dependence on prescription drugs.

Even during the journey, your personality remains roughly the same, so being self-aware will enable you to distinguish between these two types of symptoms. In addition, you should consult a healthcare professional in the event you have concerns during your journey.

5 Ways to Protect Your Mental Health When Pregnant

1. Sit Down and Do a Life Analysis

After processing the news that you're pregnant, it is key to take time, sit down with a notebook and pen, and write about where you are in life and what you need to achieve in the next 40 weeks. Writing everything down will help you process your emotions, do a financial analysis, and identify areas that you need to work on before the baby arrives. This exercise will reduce anxiety and help keep your worried thoughts in check.

2. Prioritize Self-Care

Despite life’s demands and pregnancy pressures, you need to make time for self-care. Continue doing the activities that help you relax, such as watching a movie with your spouse, reading a good book, cooking, baking, dancing, or chilling out in the bathtub. Remember, self-care is not a luxury but rather a necessity in life.

3. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Pregnancy cravings are crazy. They can make you drive over 10 miles in the middle of the night. You should be careful about what you eat, though. Natural foods are always better options when cravings strike. Ensure you eat a balanced diet to provide much-needed nutrients for the baby and your well-being.

4. Attend Prenatal Clinics

Prenatal check-ups are not just medical routine check-ups; they’re a source of reassurance. Hearing from your doctor that your baby is growing fine, seeing them on the ultrasound monitor, and getting answers to concerns you have will give you the much-needed support to help your mental health flourish.

5. Seek Support

Your spouse might be there for you in the way they know, but if you do not open up to them and share your concerns, worries, or needs, they might not know how well to support you. Therefore, while you're pregnant, reach out for help when you feel overwhelmed or uncertain. You can talk to your friends and family and seek professional help from a therapist who can assist you in navigating any challenges you may have while you're pregnant.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is an incredible journey filled with happiness and challenges in equal measure that can impact your mental health. You should understand how being pregnant affects your mental health and how to differentiate between symptoms of pregnancy and mental health concerns.

Taking proactive steps such as doing a life analysis, prioritizing self-care, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, attending prenatal clinics, and seeking support can help ensure you have a fulfilling and peaceful pregnancy.

Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician or other medical professional. Please speak with your doctor or therapist if you have any questions or concerns.

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Article originally written by Joan Roberts