Maintaining good emotional health during pregnancy is more important than ever. Our tips will help alleviate anxiety during this uncertain time.
A soon-to-be-mom may feel overjoyed about her upcoming baby one moment and scared and unsure the next. To add to these unpredictable emotions, a woman still has to deal with her day-to-day stressors like her job, her family, and her changing body, just to name a few. And if that’s not enough, enter COVID-19.
Pregnant During a Pandemic
The thought of dealing with a pandemic is as foreign to us as being pregnant is to new moms. And it can be especially scary for a woman who is pregnant since she not only has to worry about her own safety, but also that of her unborn baby.
With all the unknowns around COVID-19 and what our futures look like, our way of living has become riddled with uncertainty and confusion. We’re met with unanswered questions, constantly changing advice, and of course, we now have to social distance, which means we can’t simply meet our best friend for a cup of coffee or go visit mom when we need a shoulder to cry on.
Emotional Health Tips for Pregnant Women During COVID-19
Just because we’re in a ‘new normal’ doesn’t mean we’re in this alone. There are many ways to protect your emotional health and get support during your pregnancy.
Keep Your OB/GYN Appointments
Many OBs and Nurse Midwives offer Telemedicine, a digital service that can be used when in-person appointments aren’t possible, or aren’t preferable. A standard appointment often requires just a telephone call. Other times, it may require a video chat, but either way, Telemedicine is a great option and it helps ensure patients still receive the ongoing care they need throughout their pregnancy.
Seek Emotional Support
With anxiety and depression on the rise due to the stress of dealing with a pandemic, more emotionalhealth professionals are also offering digital appointments to help address issues brought on by feelings of isolation, lack of control, economic concerns, feelings of uncertainty and feelings of isolation.
Claim Your Own Space
It’s important to have time to yourself so you can decompress and clear your mind. Turn the news off and simply be. Use this time to meditate, read a book or simply do nothing at all.
Exercise
Being isolated and indoors means many of us no longer have an outlet for our stress. But there are other things that you can do to positively affect your emotional health during pregnancy. Get outside for a long walk, turn to YouTube for exercise and yoga videos that you can safely do in your living room.
Eat Well
Eating a well-balanced diet full of natural, organic foods will not only help you maintain a healthy weight during your pregnancy, but it will help alleviate mood swings brought on by sugar spikes as a result of packaged foods and foods with little to no nutritional value.
Get Answers Ahead of Time
Having a bunch of questions rolling around in your head is a surefire way to create anxiety. While not all questions about the pandemic can be answered, having answers to other questions ahead of time will help ease your mind and reduce anxiety.
The uncertainty of the unknown amidst a pandemic can cause anxiety and worse, depression. You can help stave these off and improve your emotional health by being as informed as you possible.
Questions you may want to ask your OB/GYN:
- How will you keep yourself and your baby safe during this time?
- What’s it going to be like when you arrive at the hospital to deliver?
- How’s your doctor going to be able to fully support your throughout your pregnancy?
Questions you may want to ask family and friends:
- Who is going to drive you to the hospital? Where will they wait while you are in delivery?
- How are you going to be supported after you bring your baby home?
- Who is going to relieve you from time to time so you can get some alone time?
Online Childbirth Education Classes and Support Groups
Connecting with online classes and support groups can help pregnant moms feel more connected and not so alone. Learning how others are coping and dealing with the same anxieties can be reassuring and we can learn from one another, so it’s important to reach out during this time.
Emotional Health Help is Available
If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, you are not alone. Help is available. Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255 provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
If you have questions for us or would like to schedule an in-person appointment, or a Telemedicine appointment with one of our physicians and advanced practice providers, please schedule an appointment or call us today at 770.720.7733.
Together, we’ll get through this.
