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Are pregnancy and anxiety-related? The women and the baby have been related from the beginning. It is a natural phenomenon and there is nothing unusual about it. All young women want to have a child or, in other words, to become mothers. These days, even for a professional woman, the desire to give birth to a child becoming a mother is bound to catch up and no other joy can replace the joy of becoming a mother in the busyness of everyday life. About depression during pregnancy, there are several pregnant women who suffer from severe stress and emotional turmoil and now the question arises as to whether pregnancy and mother-related anxiety can bring you equal joy and satisfaction.
The answer to this question varies from woman to woman. A part of the future mother’s past life should always come to light, especially when she is about to give birth to a new life.
What is the relationship between Pregnancy and anxiety?
During pregnancy, a woman spends most of her time thinking and drowning in her thoughts most of the time. Common thoughts during this time are: will your newborn be normal? Will you fail as a mother? Will your baby have to go through the same problems that he went through in his teens? etc etc, this is quite expected as this is a preparatory stage for the mother to love the baby that is growing inside her uterus, and also her body is preparing to adapt to the changes to meet the demand of the new life that is growing.
In most cases, it is observed that anxiety during pregnancy triggers stress in women. The other factors that can lead to severe stress during pregnancy are:
- A current miscarriage: This shakes the woman’s confidence and the woman tends to wonder if she will ever experience the joy of being a mother and see her baby cry for the first time.
- An uncertain income during pregnancy.
- An inconsistent relationship with the baby’s father, without emotional and moral support. • Unexpected and unwanted pregnancy that could ruin other plans in your life.It is very important to be mentally stable during pregnancy and to resolve all concerns and doubts with your close friends, family, and doctors. It is not impossible to deal with anxiety and pregnancy. Like other life crises, pregnancy and anxiety can be dealt with very easily. The pregnant woman is the right person to determine what is best for her baby. No matter what all pregnant mothers want to emerge as the best mother and they will always want to do their best for the well-being of their child.
However, keep in mind that pregnancy and anxiety do not work well for the child. Several studies reveal the fact that if the mother is stressed and overly anxious during pregnancy, her baby is likely to develop stressful behavior later in life. Between weeks 12 and 23, the baby in the mother’s womb is more likely to be affected by the mother’s stress and anxiety.
How well can you get out of it?
In addition to harboring some negative thoughts, the expectant mother makes preparations to deal with anxiety and pregnancy. During pregnancy, several body changes occur.
One of the main concerns during this time is whether their anxiety disorders will affect the fetus and worsen the conditions of the pregnancy and also after the baby is born whether or not they will be able to take proper care of it. Obviously, a big concern is whether or not your anxiety disorder symptoms will worsen during pregnancy and whether you will be able to care for the baby after it is born. It is also a matter of concern whether the intake of different medications will affect the baby or not. However, all these thoughts can raise stress levels in the expectant mother.
The following facts may offer some hope for anxiety and pregnancy:
- During pregnancy and while breastfeeding, medications for anxiety disorders are quite safe for the baby.
- Approximately 40% of women experience a precise decrease in anxiety patterns during pregnancy. However, the set of anxiety symptoms may reappear postpartum.
- Taking medication for anxiety disorders by the expectant mother can help prevent the development of anxiety disorders in the baby later in life. However, if the mother’s symptoms are not properly treated, it can result in a lower birth weight of the baby.
- About 10% of women develop anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.
What can be done during pregnancy to deal with anxiety?
Following the steps below will definitely help you to deal with the situation in a better way:
1. Seek your doctor’s advice about your plans to get pregnant or if you already are. Your doctor’s instructions and medications will help you strategically deal with your anxiety and pregnancy.
2. Develop a bond with your partner in a stronger and more intimate way. This would ensure the support and love that would help you deal with situations in a better way.
3. Relax, pursue hobbies according to your tastes, talk to your friends, go for a walk, do gardening. All of these activities will distract her and keep her stress under control.
4. Hug your husband or partner and close friends and discuss your causes of stress. This will definitely help!