One of the most important phases of your life is pregnancy. You will bring a child into the world at the end of nine months, when your lifestyle, habits and diet will change. You will open your baby’s eyes to the world and you will be a mother, doing whatever it takes to make him/her happy and healthy. However, you should prepare yourself for motherhood during pregnancy, including hormonal balance and psychological factors. To help you do this, we will share some information in Mum’s Land about your psychological status during pregnancy.
It is natural to observe emotional changes in mums-to-be during pregnancy. While these emotions may entail positive changes such as happiness and optimism, there may also be unhappiness, pessimism and worry from time to time.
You may worry about the health of your baby, especially during your first pregnancy. It is normal to have such concerns in the early days. However, it is important to try not to worry, and try to enjoy your pregnancy. The early stages of pregnancy are a period of intense physiological changes as well as psychological changes. As a mother-to-be, you are not able to fully communicate with your baby; for that reason, some women develop guilt feelings, which can affect her mental health as well as affecting physiological health.
You may be concerned about the first months of motherhood: this is only natural. Mothers-to-be worry about having a straightforward birth, and whether the baby will be healthy, and staying safe before the birth. You may also wonder whether you will be a good mother, and whether you can care for your baby properly. This is all part of the process.
Hormones affect pregnant women both physically and psychologically. Some women may experience depression caused by hormonal and physical changes, or external stress. For example, weight gain during pregnancy may cause anxiety and affect self-esteem. For that reason, previous mental health conditions should be taken into account by her partner and close social circle to help ease any problems during pregnancy.
It is extremely important for mums-to-be to motivated and shown interest by her partner and other family members, to maintain her self confidence. The dad-to-be should support his partner and share the burden during this sensitive period, when concerns and emotional changes can happen frequently.
Finally, mental health during pregnancy does not end with the birth but changes shape. Research shows that new mothers are more prone to depression during the postnatal period when compared with pregnancy. New mothers may find it difficult to adapt to life after the birth, even if they do not experience serious problems psychologically. However, mental health problems can affect physical health, and vice versa. Her partner and close circle should give her the support she needs. However, if her mental health issues become worse, she should seek professional support.
