This week I’ve talked with a few pregnant mommies and it seems as though their overwhelming concern has been the emotional stress that they feel. Our body is designed to cope with stress, but too much stress can become debilitating and overwhelm both you and have an affect on the little one inside of you. Often times, pregnancy can amplify stress that already exists and make anxiety seem worse and more distressing. If you let your mind run away with itself, there are endless possibilities of things to be anxious and worried about. If you are feeling stressed, pregnant or not, it is always good to learn ways to cope so that stress hormones won’t overwhelm your mind and body.
When the body is stressed the hormones both cortisol and adrenaline are released. Cortisol is released in order to give you a burst of energy, a burst of immunity, a lower sensitivity to pain and increase your immune response. And, adrenaline is a hormone that binds to receptors in the heart and the vessels around the heart causing increased heart rate and breathing. Adrenaline and cortisol are the same hormones released when the “fight or flight” response kicks in.
Although, these hormones can be very useful during a stressful event when you may be in danger and need to act quickly, the problem arises when the body is in a constant state of stress and release of both hormones. Problems that prolonged or chronic stress can create in your body can include impaired brain function, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, decreased immune function, high blood pressure, and the increased accumulation of body fat. It can also caused adrenal fatigue where you are constantly exhausted. It is obviously why would not want these things to continually take place in your body.
So, what do you do when you are stressed-out, over-anxious, and continually tense? Here are some great, natural ways to cope with overwhelming stress in your life to make things more relaxed for you and your baby.
1. Get a prenatal massage – It might be a bit of an investment for you like it is for me, but it is well worth it! Massage therapy can calm and relax you. Make sure you seek out a massage therapist that is qualified to do prenatal work. When I give my clients a list of referrals I have a wonderful massage therapist that I send people to. Massage therapy is a double dose of goodness, great for both the body and the mind.
2. Spiritual Meditation – Since I am a Christian, I have found power in meditating on the inerrant word of God. Scripture has such wonderful truths to meditate on. Having a positive mindset is very important. It should always be a high priority to fill your mind with positive things so that the negative things can’t over take it. One of my favorite scriptures is, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
3. Try Calming Herbs – Herbal remedies have been around since the beginning of time and there are many herbs that are proven save medicinally during pregnancy. Some of the best calming herbs are Chamomile, Catnip, Lavender, or Oatstraw. Many of these herbs can be consumed in a tea form that can be a nightly ritual that can be both relaxing and calming. Lavender is also fabulous used by aromatherapy methods in an essential oil. Try putting lavender on your wrists, pillow, or in candle form. Whenever I am experiencing overwhelming stressful situations this always helps to calm me!
4. Take Time For Yourself – We live in an fast-paced stressful society. We often work hard and don’t take much time to play hard. If you like me you are always scrambling on to the next thing and rarely taking time for yourself to relax. Ask your hubby to take your other children if you have them and go spend an hour or two at your favorite coffee shop reading a book. Maybe, go out for a girl time breakfast without the kids, or just do whatever relaxes and calms you. Don’t forget that it is never bad to have “me” time. Without it we over exhaust ourselves and end up in stressful places where we’d rather not be.
5. Exercise – Go on walks, stretch, and get an emotional release by exercising. Exercising can actually decrease levels of adrenaline and cortisol so it is a perfect natural remedy in order to relief stress. Just make sure you check with your doctor about how much exercise is appropriate for you and your pregnancy.
6. Get Plenty of Rest – If you are a mom of other children rest when they take a nap. If you are a mom-to-be don’t feel guilty about taking a nap during the day. If you have trouble sleeping like I always have there are some wonderful herbal tea blends to help with sleep (most contain the calming herbs above). Just drink a cup of tea a 1/2 hour before bed time and allow your mind to calm. Don’t watch TV and don’t use the computer since both activities stimulate both the conscious and unconscious brain. Instead read a book, listen to music or just visualize beautiful scenes.
7. Listen to Calming Music – I don’t know about you, but music speaks to my soul. If I listen to instrumental calming music or praise and worship music it helps to rid me of stress. I continually wonder why I am not always playing some of my favorite calming music in my home.
Do have any other great suggestions for coping with stress?