Try these exercises to stay stress-free during pregnancy

Topic: Try these exercises to stay stress-free during pregnancy

Hey! You were thrilled to see the second line that showed your positive pregnancy test, a few days ago. Now are you feeling worried at every twist and turn that something might be wrong? It’s a feeling you just can’t separate, and it’s starting to affect your everyday life? Isn’t pregnancy supposed to be a time of joy? If you suffer from stress and anxiety, it can have some complications. Here’s more about stress during pregnancy and some ways you can cope. Pregnancy is a time of enormous change. Some of the feelings and sensations are welcomed, while others are downright uncomfortable and scary. Hormonal changes during pregnancy may affect the chemicals in your brain which in turn can cause stress and anxiety.

*Speak out: If you’re feeling very anxious during your pregnancy, it’s important to tell someone about your fears. It can be anyone, your partner, a close friend, or family member whom you trust the most as they may offer you support. Simply sharing your thoughts and feelings may be enough to keep yourself free from stress in your everyday life. You may also ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist who is trained to help with anxiety if you find it difficult to cope by yourself.

*Deep breathing exercises: Deep and conscious breathing plays a vital role during pregnancy. It ensures efficient removal of waste products as well as an ample supply of oxygen for both the mother and baby. Effective breathing purifies and calms the nervous system and induces a feeling of pleasant well-being. Practice doing deep breathing by keeping your hand on your abdomen as you lie relaxed on the floor. Focus on the hand and on moving it up and down as you inhale and exhale. Count a number in your head, as you bring it up and the same number as you bring it down. This breathing is excellent for pregnancy since it can result in one-third more oxygen being inhaled.

*Exercises: Engaging yourself in various physical activities that help to reduce your stress and anxiety may be a good choice for you. Exercise is considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. When the brain along with its many nerve connections is affected by stress, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. So it stands to reason that if your body feels better with exercises, so does your mind. Physical activity helps your body in releasing endorphins which are the chemicals produced by the body to relieve pain and stress in your brain naturally and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Moving your body is one of the most recommended ways to manage stress.

Topic Discussed: Try these exercises to stay stress-free during pregnancy

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