State of Motherhood

Pregnancy Blues  

How to handle stress during pregnancy:

Pregnancy induces a lot of change – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially – and in every other way imaginable! It’s natural to get anxious when you’re expecting because you have a lot going on in your mind, and several aspects of your life are bound to change – inevitably. Coping with the anxiety and dealing with the changes as well as your daily life, can be overwhelming but is definitely not unmanageable!

We cannot stress enough on how important it is to take care of yourself – holistically. Feeling emotional, tired, irritable, etc. is absolutely normal during your pregnancy, since your body is going through tumultuous hormonal changes. 

For you, we’ve spoken to a ton of experts, experienced mommies and our community of mommies-to-be and have curated this list that helps you handle the stress and will help you be at ease!

We recommend that you do something you enjoy- that’s just for you, every day!

Take a warm bath, listen to some music, read an easy book, lie down for a nap, go for a walk – whatever you like to do! You can reach out to moms through our supportive and ever growing community and find things you can do together!

Find a confidant and speak to them often!

Keeping your feelings bottled up is the worst thing to do – talk to an understanding and trustworthy friend, about how you’re feeling or what is stressing you or have a healthy gossip session – sure to help!

Remember to be active!

Physical activity is not only recommended for your fitness, but also for your mental health! Exercise releases endorphins, reduces stress and it’s good for your unborn baby, too. If working out on certain days feeling too much, just stretch on your bed or focus on your breathing – deep, slow breaths also make a lot of difference!

Don’t deny yourself some rest!

If you feel like lying down? Lie down. If you feel like taking a day off – do that! It’s important to listen to your body and rest when you can, to be in the best of health and mood! Overexerting will do you no good and that is something you always need to remember!

Eat healthy and well!

It’s important to know what to eat, what to avoid and how much to eat! While there are several do’s and don’ts out there, we recommend you don’t overdo it – follow a balanced diet that you like, and eat in appropriate quantities which will keep you and your baby in the pink of health!

Be informed

Don’t hesitate in seeking information – always relying on Google search results might also not be a great idea – so we recommend that you also reach out to your doctors, other moms who know more than you do, and read up on issues or topics that concern you!

Cut negativity out!

Don’t give into unsolicited, non-professional advice that you don’t agree with and have faith in your own instincts too! Cut out people who are spreading negativity in your life or are being unnecessarily nosey and bothering you!

Feeling Anxious? We have the solutions

Pregnancy can be a stressful time for even the most relaxed moms-to-be. It’s important to not let your stress and anxiety get out of hand and ensure that you take care of it before it affects you and your baby in any real way!Here are some questions we’re asked often from mommies-to-be and they might help you too!

1. How do I take care of myself?

It’s important to keep yourself hydrated, eat well, stress less, go for routine doctor’s appointments, take your supplements, read up relevant text on your pregnancy, etc.

2. What do I do to have a healthy pregnancy?

For a healthy pregnancy and to ensure that you feel the best, you must – get early prenatal care, watch what you eat, take important supplements, remain active and exercise regularly, rest sufficiently, avoid intoxicants, illicit drugs and heavy medication without doctor’s consultation, stop smoking, reduce caffeine intake, etc.

3. Do I leave my job?

Quitting your job is never an easy decision. Your decision to work or stay home with the kids will affect many people, but think hard about what will make you most happy, not what you think should make you happy. Women today are known to balance their professional life with a pregnancy, with ease.  Do remember that pregnancy is only a phase and it shall pass. Don’t take rash decisions which are time bound!

4. Is it normal that I am facing heartburn?

While heartburns usually do not cause any major problems, they can be the reason for a lot of discomfort during pregnancy. They’re caused by hormonal and physical changes that your body undergoes during pregnancy. To avoid heartburn, avoid foods that upset your stomach and eat smaller but more frequent meals with plenty of water in between, try to sleep propped up and have your last meal at least three hours before you go to sleep.

5. How do I deal with Constipation?

Constipation happens to the hormonal changes that make your digestion much slower and, as your baby starts to grow, there is less space for your digestive system to function at its best. Drinking lots of water, adding more fruits, whole grains, vegetables and any other foods that are rich in fibre to your diet really helps!

6. Is it important to get my child vaccinated?

Yes. Immunizations can save your child’s life and your child can be protected against diseases. To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized.

7. Are vaccinations effective and safe for my child?

Yes. Vaccination is very safe and effective. Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Some might involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent.

8. Is regulating blood sugar important during pregnancy?

Yes, you are advised to keep your blood sugar level up by eating whole, healthy foods and plenty of protein, in small, frequent meals throughout the day.

9. Is being hydrated important during pregnancy?

Yes, while plain water is great, sometimes when you are nauseated and can’t keep water down, add a spoonful of sugar and a pinch of salt to it. This will rehydrate you quickly and ease much of your nausea.

10. Is it wise to tell people about my due date?

While that’s completely your decision to make, we recommend that when telling people about your pregnancy, take the official due date and add two weeks to it. Normal, uneventful pregnancy is between 38 and 42 weeks long. First-time moms, on average, go eight days past their “due” dates.