“I’m pregnant, but not feeling as happy and excited as I thought I’d be”

Pregnancy brings a rollercoaster of emotions, from excitement and gratitude, to fear and worry.  It is so very normal to have highs and lows, and sometimes the changing hormones, the change in shape and size, and variances in sleep mean these highs and lows can be quite extreme.

Having challenging days, feeling fed up and being anxious that everything is ok, baby is healthy, fears of managing on one income is very normal.  Some days though, those feelings of anxiety are stronger than others, and if you think that you’re experiencing them more and more, then maybe it’s time to stop and consider if there is more to this.  Continued anxiety isn’t ideal for you or baby.

Some research has shown links between antenatal anxiety and postnatal depression.  So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and anxious and it’s a regular thing, talk to your midwife and access resources from the weblinks below now.  The more you can learn about this, find ways of managing and tools to support you during pregnancy, the easier it will be if you have similar feelings once baby arrives. 

As with anything like this, society often expects us to carry on as we did pre-pregnancy, and sadly there’s little tolerance for pregnancy being an excuse not to soldier on.  However, we are moving in leaps and bounds in this arena, and there are so many more places for support.  The best thing to do if you’re feeling this way, is talk! Talk to your partner, talk to your midwife, talk to your friends.  Share the load, give yourself a break, say no sometimes, sleep when you’re tired, exercise and eat well, and ask for help if you need it.  Afterall, you’re growing a human being, and it’s a big job.  Go easy on yourself and be real with your feelings.

References:

Antenatal anxiety

www.pada.nz