Getting enough rest, exercising, eating healthy meals and reducing stress will all help you maintain your mental wellbeing during pregnancy.
And while frustrating, there are actions you can take to feel more in control of these changes, like getting more exercise, improving sleep hygiene and taking prenatal vitamins to boost brain health.
Meditate Or Practice Mindfulness
It means taking the time to pay full attention to yourself just for relaxation. Practicing mindfulness regularly through meditation has been proven to have significant benefits on mental health. It helps in easing stress, anxiety, worry, depression, and negative thoughts in pregnancy.
Chronic stress could also cause problems for your baby. These can include effects on your unborn baby's growth and the length of your pregnancy (gestation). They can also increase the risk of problems in your baby's future physical and mental development, as well as behavioural issues in childhood.
Pregnancy-specific anxieties and phobias
You may feel a bit anxious about or afraid of giving birth. This is very common. Pregnancy and childbirth are major life events, so don't be hard on yourself for having these feelings. Talking to your midwife and doing some positive things to prepare for labour may help.
Factors such as poor nutrition, stress and infection during pregnancy have all been associated with adverse effects on fetal neurodevelopment. One important consideration is that the long-term risks associated with exposure to an adverse intra-uterine environment are not evenly distributed across society.
Pregnancy brain, aka early pregnancy brain fog and “mommy brain,” starts in the first trimester when hormones begin to fluctuate.
Although there is no scientific evidence to back it up, most people start to develop a noticeable pregnancy glow when they enter their second trimester. If you're unfamiliar with the stages of pregnancy, the second trimester begins at week 13 (three months and one week) and goes through week 28 (seven months).
Although experience with fatigue tends to vary, most women will feel more tired than usual during their pregnancy. Fatigue during pregnancy is most common during the first trimester. It tends to go away during the second trimester, but will usually return in the third trimester.
Fruits. Certain fruits such as oranges, bell peppers, guava, kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries, contain high amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps prevent brain cells from becoming damaged and supports overall brain health. In fact, a study found that vitamin C can potentially prevent Alzheimer's.
Avocado is a nutrient-dense fruit with plant-based fat, vitamins and minerals. Not only is it nutritious, as fats contribute to brain cell development, but the texture is soft and easy for baby to tolerate.
"Although 'pregnancy nose' is not a medical term, many women's noses do appear to be bigger toward the end of pregnancy, and they may also experience more frequent nasal drainage than prior to pregnancy," says Jessica Madden, M.D., IBCLC, a board-certified neonatologist, pediatrician, lactation consultant, and the ...
Pregnancy glow refers to skin that looks luminous or rosy cheeks that give you a radiant, slightly flushed look. During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases by about 50 percent, making your skin look brighter.
The first trimester is the most crucial to your baby's development. During this period, your baby's body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester.
While the cause is not always known, congenital brain malformations may result from inherited genetic defects, spontaneous mutations within the embryo's genes, or damage to the fetus caused by the mother's exposure to toxins, infection, trauma or drug use.
There are no set guidelines for how much stress is too much during pregnancy. People should talk with a healthcare professional if they: feel anxious, low, or depressed most of the time for longer than two weeks.
Can I squish my baby when bending over? You might wonder whether bending over when pregnant can squish your baby. The chances of something happening to your baby as a result of you bending over are next to none. Your baby is protected by amniotic fluid during pregnancy.
Depression isn't the only mental health factor that can influence pregnancy outcomes. High levels of stress during pregnancy may also be connected to autism in children. This connection appears to have the most impact when the parent experiences stress between weeks 25 and 28 of pregnancy.
It is normal to feel some stress during pregnancy. Your body is going through many changes, and as your hormones change, so do your moods. Too much stress can cause you to have trouble sleeping, headaches, loss of appetite, or a tendency to overeat—all of which can be harmful to you and your developing baby.