Anxiety During Pregnancy: A Guide for Expectant Moms

Pregnancy comes with different physical, emotional and psychological changes. Being pregnant is not only an exciting moment but can be overwhelming and anxiety-provoking at times. About 8 to 10% of pregnant women experience anxiety during pregnancy, and this rate might be higher now due to the current pandemic. The good news is that anxiety during pregnancy can be managed. This guide will help you understand anxiety during pregnancy and what you can do to reduce it.

How anxiety can affect your pregnancy

As an expectant mother, anxiety during pregnancy can affect your pregnancy in several ways. It can result in:

– Preterm delivery: Anxiety during pregnancy can cause you to have preterm labor, where you give birth too early. Generally, babies born too early have problems with their organs, such as lungs, brain, and eyes.

– Low birth weight: Infants born too early due to anxiety during pregnancy or before their time in the womb have a higher chance of low birth weight, which can trigger behavioral and mental problems in infants.

– Preeclampsia: Anxiety could trigger this disorder during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is when you suddenly develop high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, leading to complications during birth.

– Untreated fear and anxiety could increase the risk of postpartum anxiety and depression

Why pregnancy-organised anxiety differs from regular anxiety disorder

It is essential to point out the differences between pregnancy-related anxiety and regular anxiety. Pregnancy anxiety exhibits symptoms that are of the same standard as regular anxiety. Pregnancy anxiety symptoms come along with dark and intrusive thoughts related to maternal role identity, body sensations, birth, infant health, and overall health, but regular anxiety does not. Anxiety disorder during pregnancy could undoubtedly affect your cognitive processes on physical activity levels and limit your function more.

Tips for managing anxiety during pregnancy

– Tell someone: A problem shared is a problem half solved. Talk to your partner, medical professionals, or someone you trust about your anxiety.

– Step up self-care regimens: Journaling, meditation, indoor exercises, and healthy sleeping measures are essential self-care measures. Incorporate these activities into your daily routine consistently and watch triggers dissipate gradually.

– Consult with medical professionals: Talking to medical professionals with specialties in handling anxiety during pregnancy enlightens you on things to do, things to avoid and treatments to adopt. They can also create a treatment plan that tends towards treating anxiety and maintaining healthy pregnancy progress.

– Attend therapy sessions or support groups. Such groups focus on creating healthy pregnancies and provide conversation/drawing hybrids that open room for mutual concerns about similar issues with assigned psychological care providers.

Conclusion

Anxiety during pregnancy is genuinely a widespread condition, and it might affect the peace you’d instead cling to throughout your delicate miracle-producing stage. Fortunately, talking to professionals about rising concerns could drastically prevent manifesting anything contrary to what you aim for – a healthy pregnancy! Don’t hesitate – Every expectant mother seeks comfort, as you can thrive while beating anxiety soon enough.