Why is it important to take care of your mental health during pregnancy

Pregnancy and motherhood is an exciting phase in a woman's life. Though it is a known fact that many pregnant women go through an emotional roller coaster during their pregnancy, only a few know the importance of mental health during pregnancy. An estimated 10-35% of pregnant women worldwide experience depression owing to different factors such as:

• Mental stress of working women
• Physical stress like morning sickness
• Uncertainty on coping with childbirth and care.
• The family support they get.

It is important to know that these are natural phenomena, and women have been extremely good at coping with these emotions since old ages. However, with proper help and family support, one can overcome some emotional aspects that trigger mood swings. In this article, we will discuss the importance of mental health during pregnancy and how to take care of different types of emotions through different techniques.

Table of Content

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

1. Different Emotions you might feel during pregnancy
2. How to take care of mental health during pregnancy?
3. FAQs

Take Away

1. Different emotions you might feel during pregnancy

The hormonal changes play a key role in preparing a mother’s body for pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. At the same time, they cause many physiological changes that produce mood swings, tiredness, and forgetfulness. A pregnant woman deals with a range of emotions during all the trimester and sometimes even after childbirth.

Sadness is one of the most common emotions pregnant women feel, especially in an unplanned pregnancy. According to several review studies, pregnant women experience depressive symptoms at some point in their pregnancy. An estimated 13% of pregnant women meet the diagnostic criteria for depression due to the external factors added to existing physiological changes.

As hormones ramp up during the first trimester, it is common for pregnant women to feel like crying for no necessary reason. Though there is no conclusive evidence on its impact on the child. However, enough evidence shows how a mother’s overall activity influences the child’s growth and development. Hence, pregnant women must try to be happy most of the time by refraining from situations that create emotional distress. Several physical and emotional causes make pregnant women feel like crying more often than the normal times, such as stretching marks, being uncomfortable, watching emotional movies, comments on your pregnancy, and being in stressful situations.

Being impatient and irritable for no apparent reason is associated with oestrogen changes. Oestrogen is associated with serotonin which is the happy hormone. However, dysfunction and imbalance in their interactions cause crabbiness or irritability during pregnancy.

Another very common issue during pregnancy is feeling restless and anxious. Anxiety comes in different ways, most of which is due to the uncertainty of how their pregnancy will be. Anxiety about test results, body changes, and frequent throwing-up add to the emotional distress.

As months and trimesters pass by, women feel guilty or overwhelmed, especially first-time mothers who do not understand what they are going through. Remember that nobody is perfect, so they mustn’t hold themselves to high standards. A motherly instinct will always be there to keep you and your little ones safe.

2. How to take care of mental health during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a major life change where high levels of oestrogen and progesterone play a vital role in creating mood swings. However, for some, this stays throughout pregnancy but for many, these usually wear off once the body is used to the high levels of hormones.

The first thing expectant mothers need to understand is that they are not alone on this ride. Every woman as well as men go through hormonal changes and hence mood swings, especially during puberty. However, these changes are elevated in women during pregnancy and, to some extent, after delivery.

There are many effective ways to improve mental health during pregnancy. The following techniques help in a great way to reduce all emotional distress related to pregnancy.

• Through meditation, pregnant women can focus their concentration which helps them relax and cope with physical and emotional stresses. They can do breathing meditation in a comfortable position on any day. It is a crucial wellness practice.
• Prenatal yoga is specifically designed for pregnancy to improve sleep, reduce anxiety and stress, and decrease back pains. Gentle stretching and breathing exercises will prepare pregnant women for childbirth.
• A healthy diet is always recommended by your doctors for easy digestion and avoiding constipation which is a common occurrence during pregnancy. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free dairy products, and proteins is a great way to give your body and the developing fetus the required nutrients.
• Emotional support from your partners is equally important at all stages of pregnancy. Calming and reassuring the expectant mother will reduce the mental stress.
• Getting refreshed by going out for a walk or taking small trips to your favourite location are some of the great ways for strong mental health during pregnancy.
• If you are away from your family or need a social factor, join a prenatal group where other pregnant women share their experiences towards pregnancy and let you know what to expect when you're pregnant.

3. FAQ's

• Why is mental health important during pregnancy?

While pregnancy may take a toll on your emotions, it is equally important to have sane mental health for safe and happy motherhood. It is scientifically proven that babies in the womb feel their mother's emotions, which they perceive through chemical signals from the placenta. The environment in which the foetus grows up is vital in the long run for the baby’s health. It is already proven that smoking and drinking severely affect the fetus' health. Hence, a significant amount of stress will cause long-term child development and growth issues.

• How important is emotional support during pregnancy?

During the emotional phase of a woman's pregnancy, the support of family members will provide the required deviation from unwanted thoughts. Sharing sweet memories and positive experiences of one’s pregnancy will help pregnant women feel happy and less stressed. Partners play a significant role in providing emotional support to their pregnant wives, such as encouraging, reassuring, and showing affection.

Take Away

In this short discussion, we have provided valuable information on how to take care of the mental health of pregnant women. Daksh Clinic, led by Dr. Puja’s Sharma, the best gynaecologist in south Delhi provides the most updated and upgraded services in screening and diagnosis of women’s health during pregnancy and offers futuristic treatment for all kinds of women’s health issues.