Why doesn’t pregnancy seem to agree with me?
Despite the magazines that show rosy mums-to-be glowing happily on their covers, not everyone has a fun time during pregnancy. Your body’s going through big changes and you may feel sick or tired too. Although they are genuinely looking forward to meeting their beautiful new baby, quite a number of women say pregnancy is something they endure rather than enjoy.
It might be a small consolation at the moment but even if you’re feeling a bit low now – we can promise you that things will get easier. And if you’re in your first trimester, you’ll be relieved to hear that some of the more unwanted physical effects like sickness and fatigue often wear off in the second trimester.
Remember that you’re coming to terms with big emotional as well as physical changes during pregnancy and your hormones might also be making your feelings seem more intense. If you are having concerns about your pregnancy or are finding it hard to manage all your emotions, try identifying your main worry. (It can help to write it down.) Once you’ve realised what’s causing you so much upset, you can start trying to think of ways to work around it.
What can I do to make myself feel better?
Firstly, get talking. Open up to someone you feel comfortable talking to and who might be able to help you resolve some of your worries. It could be your partner, a friend who’s been through it already, your mum, your midwife or your doctor. Talking through your feelings isn’t just a big release – it’ll help you get things in perspective too.
Listen to your body and rest whenever you need to. Make sure you have some indulgent ‘me-time’ and do things that make you feel happy – whether that’s having a candlelit soak in the tub or going to the cinema with your best friend.
Finally, think of what’s to come. When you hold your baby for the first time and say ‘hello’ to the brand new little person in your arms, all these feelings will probably fade into the background. Pregnancy’s not always easy but most mums agree that it’s worth it in the end!