How to calm down during pregnancy? Scientists have proven that lullabies help!

• The dangers of stress for a pregnant woman
• Sedatives
• Phytotherapy
• Vitamin therapy
• Calming activities
• Psychological attitude

Stress can cause irreparable harm to mother and child, but it cannot be avoided. There are many ways to calm your pregnancy nerves.

Lack of stress is an important condition for a successful pregnancy

The easiest way to relieve nervous tension is to take sedatives. It is much more difficult to rebuild your worldview, to learn perseverance and calmness. A positive attitude will help not only to safely bear a child, but also to cope with the role of a mother in the future.

The dangers of stress for a pregnant woman

The body of a pregnant woman is vulnerable to external influences. This is due to hormonal changes and suppression of defense mechanisms.

Pregnant women in the early stages overreact to ordinary everyday troubles. They are frightened by new sensations, they are afraid for the child’s health. Many women have a fear of childbirth.

When stressed, the concentration of glucocorticoid hormones in the blood increases; this is a necessary protective mechanism. If stress is prolonged, the activity of hormones is steadily increased. Why is it dangerous for pregnant women:

1. The synthesis of proteins in growing and dividing fetal cells is inhibited.
2. The load on the liver increases. It activates the synthesis of glucose and glycogen. The liver does not fully cope with filtration, fatigue, pallor or yellowness of the skin are observed, and the symptoms of toxicosis intensify.
3. The excretion of potassium and calcium in the urine increases. The child does not receive enough elements necessary for his healthy development.
4. The activity of immune cells is inhibited. A pregnant woman's body becomes even more vulnerable to infections.

The likelihood of premature birth during a calm pregnancy is significantly reduced. If a woman has been regularly exposed to stress, the child may in the future experience an increased sense of fear, anxiety, hyperactivity, and mental retardation.

Myths about pregnancy

The appearance of a neurotic state is influenced by various stories and myths about pregnancy. These myths are varied, and women with their first pregnancy often fall under their influence and do not know many of the nuances.

There are various myths about pregnancy

These are the myths:

• The first birth is always difficult. No, they often last longer than subsequent births, but this does not mean that they will be difficult. What the birth process will be like depends on the condition of the fetus and the health of the woman.
• If the mother had a difficult, long labor, then everything will be exactly the same for her daughter. Experts in the field of genetics have long proven that childbirth is in no way connected with a hereditary factor.
• Pregnancy with a girl is more difficult than with a boy. It makes no difference who a woman carries. Both sexes develop absolutely equally.
• A pregnant woman should not have contact with cats; there is a risk of infection of the fetus with toxoplasmosis. Yes, some cats carry parasites that lead to toxoplasmosis. But this does not mean that you need to kick your beloved pet out, just take him to the veterinarian for tests; if the results do not show anything bad, then there is no need to worry.
• Childbirth is certainly an unbearable pain. How painful the process will be depends on the woman’s individual sensitivity (pain threshold).

Read: Endometrial ovarian cyst: what is important for every woman to know about it?

The list of myths is long and could go on for a long time. To protect the nervous system during pregnancy and the health of the baby, listen less to “experienced” mothers.

Sedatives

You can combat stress during pregnancy with the help of certain medications. Plant-based sedatives help relieve nervous tension without harm to health.

What sedatives can pregnant women take:

• valerian (tablets);
• motherwort (tablets);
• "Novo-passit" (for one-time use);
• "Persen."

The remedies help you quickly calm down after experiencing a shock. If you suffer from insomnia, there is a feeling of anxiety, or there is a sudden change in mood, you need to consult a specialist. Taking medications on your own, especially in early pregnancy, is not recommended.

Extracts of valerian, motherwort, passionflower, and mint are safe for pregnant women.

The preparation "Novo-Passit" contains St. John's wort and hops. The first caused miscarriages or the birth of weak offspring in experimental animals, and the second affects hormonal levels, so you should not take sedatives regularly during pregnancy.

Motherwort and valerian are allowed to be taken only in tablet form. Alcohol tinctures are contraindicated during pregnancy. Tranquilizers and barbiturates are strictly prohibited: they have a teratogenic effect on the fetus.

The drug "Novo-Passit" contains St. John's wort and hops

Bonus hack: help her put on her shoes

Imagine that a whale has settled in your solar plexus, which envelops your lungs and does not allow you to breathe, and hundreds of fireworks explode in your head at the same time. This is exactly how your wife feels in the last months of pregnancy when she tries to put on her shoes, button up her boots or adjust her socks. Galapagos scientists just invented by us have proven that those men who help their pregnant partners put on their shoes are more likely to receive unexpected bonuses at work, go bald more slowly and easily build muscle mass while lying on the couch.

Phytotherapy

You can calm your nerves during pregnancy with the help of herbs. The main thing is to choose the right plants.

Treatment of increased nervous excitability can be carried out using recipes:

1. Mix one tablespoon of hawthorn fruit, oregano herb and motherwort. Pour the mixture with a glass of hot water, leave in a water bath for 15–20 minutes, and strain after cooling. Drink the infusion twice a day, a few sips.
2. In a teapot, mix a teaspoon of green tea, 10 chamomile flowers, 5 mint leaves and lemon balm. Pour boiling water over the mixture and leave for 15 minutes. Drink tea before bed.
3. In a cup, mix a teaspoon of valerian and motherwort, pour boiling water over it, and leave for 20 minutes. Drink the strained tea throughout the day.

Valerian and motherwort have the strongest calming effect. Mint and lemon balm help you fall asleep easily. Chamomile relieves the symptoms of toxicosis and tones the body.

You should not overuse concentrated herbal infusions. You can add a little herb to regular tea.

Motherwort is a great stress reliever

Why does prenatal depression develop?

There are many factors that trigger the development of prenatal depression. These include illness during pregnancy, stressful life circumstances (for example, relocation), previous lost or complicated pregnancies, past or present violence, financial difficulties and social instability. According to statistics, about eighty percent of prenatal depression is provoked by troubles in the family and discord in relations with the husband. A common cause of the development of prenatal depression is the personal characteristics of women. Young mothers are often afraid of their emotions and get lost in conflicting feelings. This is especially true at the moment when they are faced with the idealized concept of motherhood accepted in society. “Motherhood is a responsibility...”, “a good mother should...”, “a loving mother must...”, etc.

Sometimes prenatal depression is caused by a pregnant woman's worries about her sex life. The husband, concerned about the well-being of the mother and child, tries to disturb them as little as possible and restrains his sexual impulses. As a result, having sex becomes less frequent than before. The woman feels that she has fallen out of love, that her partner has lost interest in her. This leads to signs of depression.

Vitamin therapy

Stress and nervousness in pregnant women are often the result of a lack of vitamins, micro- and macroelements. The problem can be solved with proper nutrition and vitamin-mineral complexes.

The main element is ascorbic acid. All cells and tissues need it for normal functioning. Vitamin C is found in all vegetables and fruits. The leaders are bell pepper, black currant, Brussels sprouts, parsley.

Vitamin E works in tandem with vitamin C: they form an antioxidant complex. It is found in beef liver, spinach leaves, almonds, olive and sunflower oil.

For the normal functioning of the mother’s nervous system and its formation in the child, vitamin B6 and magnesium are needed. The latter is found in bananas, spinach, almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Beans, beef liver, pork, lamb, pistachios, and celery root are rich in vitamin B.

Vitamin and mineral complexes can be taken only after a doctor’s prescription. It is prohibited to drink drugs uncontrollably.

Calming activities

To cope with nervous tension, pregnant women do not have to take pills or herbs; they can change or adjust their lifestyle, or find something they like.

How to calm your nerves during pregnancy without pills:

1. Walks in the open air. You can walk through the forest or park, admire nature, without thinking about problems.
2. Healthy sleep. You need to go to bed and get up at the same time every day (ideal time to fall asleep is 22:00, to wake up 6:00, 7:00). A nap after a light lunch is very beneficial for pregnant women.
3. Physical training. It is best to practice yoga for pregnant women with a professional instructor.

Developing new talents will help you relax and get rid of the blues. You can learn a foreign language, learn how to draw portraits, crochet, embroider with ribbons, etc.

It is useful to start the day by listening to music. She can be calm or cheerful, but not sad or aggressive.

Bring her food

Ice cream cake. Sauerkraut. Waffles with strawberry syrup. Pickled swordfish tails (don't get too carried away with it, by the way). Dumplings with ketchup and mayonnaise. Fresh watermelon in January (even if you are in Syktyvkar). She may want all this at the same time, and your task is to get it, hobble it and drag it home. Even if she doesn’t want anything, still bring home food, and the most varied variety - sooner or later you will definitely guess, and she will devour the shortbread you brought, without even pouring boiling water on it.

Psychological attitude

If you can’t cope with stress with walks and herbal tea, you need to work on yourself. A positive attitude will help you easily cope with any stressful situation.

It is very difficult to get rid of despair, fear, resentment and irritation with one effort of will. You need to program yourself. You can do this yourself or work with a psychologist.

For independent work, psychologists recommend using a set of simple phrases for different life situations. You need to repeat them to yourself every time there is a reason to be nervous. What are these phrases:

1. “My husband (mom, dad, etc.) is the best, he only wants the best for me. I will not quarrel with him, even if he is wrong today. I am calm, wise and balanced." This does not apply to cases of assault.
2. “I’m happy that I live, that I have a home, that I have freedom. I am strong and I can protect myself, I have nothing to fear.” The verbal form helps to drive away unreasonable fears.
3. “There are no perfect mothers, I have the right to make mistakes. I can handle everything." Suitable for cases when strangers begin to give advice on how a pregnant woman should and should not behave.
4. "I won't react to it, I'll remain calm." Suitable for any unpleasant situation.

You should not try to specifically limit yourself from stress. If the situation requires participation, it must be accepted. Yes, you need to react calmer, but a state of complete detachment is also not beneficial.

A healthy lifestyle, vitamins, an interesting hobby and a positive attitude will help a woman calmly get out of any stressful situation and stop being nervous during pregnancy. These methods have a long-term effect. Sedatives help to cope with nerves for a short period.

Give her a massage

Somewhere in the seventh month of pregnancy, it turns out that the back can hurt in eleven different ways in eighty-two different places, and this pain is not relieved by propping up pillows, putting on plantain and eating cakes. And by the evening your legs are so tired that you want to get replacement ones from the mezzanine and throw these ones out of the balcony due to their unsuitability. In both cases, massage helps a lot. Give her a massage every evening - after consulting with her doctor (no need to roll your eyes, go back two steps) and study thematic materials on the Internet.