Here is a piece by a MamaYe Ghana Champion, Abigail Esi Otabil, on dealing with stress during pregnancy. Read and share.Stress is an emotional means by which the body responds to a demand on it. The situations or pressures that cause stress are called stressors and can be caused by both good and bad experiences. Managing stress can be unbearable, depending on the circumstances of an individual such as for example, the work you do, your age, your health, either single or married amid others. The vital question to answer is: “how do you handle or manage stress” when it happens?Pregnant women, like everybody else, can experience stress which could be prevalent in any of the three (3) trimesters of pregnancy due to different stressors. However, high levels of stress may affect you and your baby if not properly managed and controlled. It is therefore highly recommended to seek expert advice from midwives or doctors immediately any level of stress is experienced.There are different ways of combating stress in pregnancy but not limited to the following;Do Not Overwork Yourself – Take it EasyAll through pregnancy the body undergoes many changes and works at a faster rate because of the ‘little one’ growing inside you. Some pregnant women become frustrated when they are incapable of doing things like bathing their feet or squatting to pick items from the ground. This is perfectly normal; do not hesitate to ask for help rather than worrying about the situation and in so doing, causing undue stress. It is very important to make conscious effort to relax and take care of your body and bump when the need arises. You should never feel guilty or bad to rest, especially when your body is giving the signals to do so. There is absolutely no need to overwork your body to impress anyone when pregnant. Do Not Stress With WorkEat WellWhat you eat or drink in the course of pregnancy is very essential. There are several recipe books available with different varieties of food for pregnant women and how to prepare them. However it is always advisable to ask questions at antenatal visits if you are in doubts concerning healthy diet. It is perfectly normal to crave for certain foods or drinks when pregnant but if you are unclear about anything just ask theprofessionals for advice. This is because what may be appropriate for someone may not necessarily be for you especially in pregnancy, as we are all different people.Seek Expert or Medical Advice Whenever RequiredEvery now and then, pregnant women ask other mums questions such as: “did you puke after the first three months”? “Did you have abdominal pains”? “Were you extremely tired in your first trimester”? “Were you having stomach aches in your third trimester”? The simple answer is, seek expert advice whenever you are in doubt of your condition. There is nothing wrong in asking other mothers about their experiences, but, for medical reasons, you are better off seeking a professional opinion when in doubt or experiencing anything unfamiliar. At all times remember that, we are all different people and even though we may be having similar experiences yet medically, we may require different approaches; for instance, carrying multiple pregnancies would require you take extra care in doing certain things based on my experience.Click here to read a longer version of the piece by Abigail Esi Otabil.
Stress is an emotional means by which the body responds to a demand on it. The situations or pressures that cause stress are called stressors and can be caused by both good and bad experiences. Managing stress can be unbearable, depending on the circumstances of an individual such as for example, the work you do, your age, your health, either single or married amid others.