posted 27th February 2023
Anxiety in Pregnancy
I just thought I would write a little blog to try and help pregnant women and their families through this amazing, transforming, roller-coaster ride of emotion and feelings.
Daisyscan has seen an increase in the number of women, from all backgrounds, suffering from pregnancy induced anxiety and it is very scary for these women, their partners and their families.
Firstly, let’s talk about what it is?
It’s known as antenatal anxiety and is an emotion of feeling uneasy, worried or fearful. It has the capacity to increase and decrease on a daily basis and grow over time if these emotions are not supported.
How common is anxiety in pregnancy
Anxiety is very common in pregnancy, more than 10% of women and their partners show signs of added anxiety throughout pregnancy.
What could be the cause of this anxiety?
Anyone can develop anxiety. However, it is more common or exacerbated through family history, experience of trauma, history of depression or perfectionism.
Could Anxiety affect my baby and pregnancy?
On a daily basis we are put under stress and our anxiety levels grow - this is all very normal. We should take into account that the more we worry about the levels of anxiety or stress the worse they will be. The levels of anxiety and stress are unlikely to cause any problems for you or your baby, but gaining support, help and advice will certainly reduce the levels and make your pregnancy a more enjoyable experience.
What can we do to make it better?
1. Regular physical activities: walks, activity classes, swimming, etc.
2. Visit a friend or family member you can openly talk to.
3. Regular and adequate sleep.
4. Practicing mindfulness, taking time to slow down, so you can concentrate on the specific factors that are concerning you.
5. Communicating with your obstetric team, off-loading and understanding the care pathways and making informed choices that work for you all. Writing down questions so that you have them to hand for your consultation.
6. Alternative therapies such as yoga, meditation, massage and acupuncture.
Make sure what you are reading is from a reliable source. Tommy’s charity has some great advice: Tommy's
These are all ways of gaining control. The more control you have, the more positive you will feel about the pregnancy and the less anxious you will be.