Being stressed out during pregnancy is not an uncommon experience. After all, the pregnancy discomforts, physical and emotional changes, as well as planning the upcoming responsibilities around raising a newborn take a lot of energy. Therefore, self-care should be a priority during pregnancy and postpartum. In this article, we will discuss three self-care reminders for your pregnancy.
1. Do not compare your pregnancy to others’.
Just like every baby is unique, every pregnancy experience is too. Your thoughts and reactions around your pregnancy are valid, even though it may feel like you are alone. Not comparing yourself to others is especially important postpartum, when women often feel the pressure to return to their pre-baby bodies. Why wouldn’t they when social media overflows with before and after pictures of new mums and everyone wants to give unwarranted advice about losing the pregnancy weight? While we all need some encouragement sometimes, it is important to be kind to your body. It is unrealistic to expect your body to bounce back to its previous version as if the pregnancy never happened.
2. Set boundaries.
Again, pregnancy comes with a lot of unsolicited advice. This can get overwhelming quickly. Remember that it is YOUR body and YOUR baby. Do what feels natural and follow advice that you think is best for yourself and your baby.
3. Seek help when needed and develop a strong support system.
Did you know that CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System reports that 1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression?
Besides depression, many women may also experience anxiety or feelings of helplessness while pregnant or during postpartum. Do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Chances are that you are not the first woman to experience your thoughts and feelings. Here is a link to CDC’s resource list for new moms and dads:
References:
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/index.htm
Images:
https://unsplash.com/photos/NcU4Y2j0FT0
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