Does anyone have any solutions for dealing with stress during a first pregnancy?

Question

I am in the 24th week of my first pregnancy and I feel as if I am about to go crazy! I stress over everything that could be thought of. I fear that I am going to unknowingly do something that may harm my unborn child. Please give me any remedies for coping with the stress of producing life.

Answer 1

Congrats. Try to focus on you. Get a manicure; go to a spa and get a gentle shoulder massage, have you started working on the babies room yet? Buy a new maternity outfit and have some pictures taken to remember this blessed moment; By now your "maternal" instincts will keep you from hurting you or the baby. Have you chosen names yet? God Bless

Answer 2

First, try to enroll in lamaze if you have not already. My daughter is 11 years old now and I still use some forms of lamaze each and every day. Also, you should take comfort in knowing that if you are already 24 weeks along, your fetus is now 2 weeks away from actually having a great chance of surviving even if you delivered then. Also, your baby is strong and has a will to live that you would not even believe. If there were major things wrong with the baby, they abort themselves before this gestational period. The best thing you can do to take care of the un-born little one is to take care of yourself. Even if you do not take a lamaze course, look into what it's all about and you cannot go wrong. I learned so much about myself and my stress then, like I said, it still helps me today. If it makes you feel better, because you said you were in "fear of unknowingly" harming your unborn child, educate your self on your specific fears. Be careful when you are doing that tho because then you also are educated on what CAN go wrong and it could add to your fears. Here are some basic rules I remember.

AVOID THESE THINGS:
caffiene
fresh water fish
smoking
Alcohol
Second hand smoke
Tight/restrictive clothes
DIET drinks (this includes that SPLENDA stuff, which contains sucralose and is a lot like bleach)
Cat litter boxes & cat feces
Certain percription drugs.

and on and on..

My geuss is that since you are this worried, you have been being careful already with things. Exposure to environmental things is harsh, but so is you being all stressed out. Light a candle, take a bath and do some lamaze, soon you will be a parent and these times to yourself will be very limited. Rejoice in this while you have it. Soon your whole entire world will change when you get to stare into the face you created. Good Luck to you!!!

Answer 3

first off calm down it is natural to have some stress your hormones are changing at an incredible rate which means you are going to have some mood swings cry for no reason etc. start walking if ok with the doc that will help get some of that stress out
if you are crafty start working on projects for the baby another suggestion check and see if there are classes in your town where people who are expecting meet you'll find they are experiencing similar issues. try to relax and rest as once the babies here you are going to be busy!!! and congradulations!!

Answer 4

in dealing with your stress... is suggest you to look for activities that will keep your mind off your issues...can i suggest - reading to your unborn and start bonding with your baby, listen to music that makes you feel relax. In my own experience i remember my baby reacting differently to different music...get to know your baby right at this point introducing your partner (or husband) their voices as well. My husband was talking to my tummy ever so often that when she came out and they had a time of their own-our newborn listens to my husband's voice -as if recognizing him!!! (priceless)

also make a mental note on how you feel or write a journal...the way your baby moves inside you....your baby is there for only 9months so remember the wonderful feeling of being a mom. and enjoy the inner glow it brings to expecting moms.

enjoy shopping for you little one. pick a name and make sure you'll get the best. This is the first decision you need to do for your child so make sure you pick the right one. research and listen it over and over to your head if it sounds good with the surname in tow.

There's so much to do without harming your baby...so relax and enjoy the experience. :)

Answer 5

Take a close look at your lifestyle. Make yourself do this on paper. Look at your work activities, home and family responsibilities, other obligations (church, community activities, clubs and organizations to which you belong). Then look to see how "doable" it is. Make sure you include in your calculations time for yourself for such activities as exercise, down time, and socializing. Once you have done this, be honest with yourself as you ask the following: Is this schedule achievable? Sustainable? Satisfying? If not, accept the reality that you have to change the schedule.

Accept the fact that even if you currently can thrive on your busy and demanding lifestyle, you likely will not be able to sustain it as pregnancy progresses and makes more physical demands on you. Therefore prepare yourself to cut back on what you're doing and to allow yourself more time for rest and relaxation. You will need to sleep more. You will need to change the time you a lot for meals to make sure that you are able to eat a balanced diet. You will feel better if you allow time to engage in a reasonable exercise program. Finally you will need to allow yourself some "mental growth" time. This is time for reading, thinking, and planning for the new, incredibly important role of mother you will soon assume.

Be prepared to give up some control over the life-style you have worked so hard to attain. Many things about pregnancy are not in your control. You may experience severe morning sickness. You may have overwhelming fatigue. You may develop a pregnancy complication requiring hospitalization or home bed rest. For many women, especially those who have demanding jobs, the thought that biology might interfere with their responsibilities borders on the intolerable. But it happens. Be prepared to accept this.
Techniques for dealing with stress

Make up your mind that you, and not your husband or your mother or your boss or your friends, are going to determine how you feel about your pregnancy and how you cope with it. Other than your medical care providers, you are the best person to determine what your needs are, how hard you should work, how much you should rest, what you should eat, and all other aspects of your behavior during pregnancy. Certainly listen to the advice of both medical professionals and friends and family members that you trust. But don't allow yourself to be made to feel bad by the well-intentioned but often incorrect comments and claims of others.

Keep lines of communication open with those you love, especially your spouse. Your spouse, parents, and friends--unless they are currently pregnant themselves--will not know exactly what you are experiencing and cannot anticipate what your wants and needs will be. Let them know. Tell them how you are feeling and how they can help. At the same time you must also be sensitive to the concerns and anxieties your spouse might have, especially if this is your first pregnancy.

Don't be a hero. This is especially important if your work environment is in a traditionally "macho" field. Such professions as law, medicine, and corporate life often make demands that are simply impossible for a pregnant woman to fulfill if they are to remain in good health and reasonably sane. Discuss with your spouse and your boss what you can and cannot reasonably do and make adjustments accordingly. Your employer certainly wants you to work as long as you can into your pregnancy. By adjusting your work environment in minor ways you often will be able to contribute much more to your organization than by following your former rigid schedule.

Answer 6

Check out (http://www.reducingstress.net ) there is a lot of great articles and expert advice on the subject there.

Answer 7

im positive you wont do anything to hurt the child! being that protective over him/her i mean,,, oh and when you are delivering him/her just think of the miricle coming into your life!!

Answer 8

take an other 24 week.