Why is taking care of yourself during pregnancy so important? What impact does the mental wellbeing of the mother-to-be have on pregnancy and what does practising yoga have to do with it?
Table of contents:
- A woman's mental wellbeing - how does anxiety experienced during pregnancy affect childbirth?
- How does high anxiety affect a mum-to-be's mental wellbeing?
- Mental wellbeing in pregnancy - does anxiety alone matter?
- How does chronic stress affect childbirth and the baby?
- Why is it important to practise yoga during pregnancy?
- How does practising yoga during pregnancy affect childbirth?
- What effect does regular yoga practice during pregnancy have on stress?
- What should I do if, despite practising yoga, malaise during pregnancy persists?
Pregnancy is a time that brings with it inevitable change. In everyone's life, change can both excite and frighten. This is a completely natural reaction; however, anxiety that is too intense or persists for too long can realistically affect the mental wellbeing of the mother-to-be and the course of the birth.
A woman's mental wellbeing - how does anxiety experienced during pregnancy affect childbirth?
Feeling intense anxiety can lead to premature labour and make it more difficult. On the day of delivery, there may be an increased need for painkillers, prolonged labour and the risk of a caesarean section.
How does high anxiety affect the mental wellbeing of the mother-to-be?
Anxiety felt too intensely during pregnancy can not only affect the course of the birth, but also the mental wellbeing of the mother-to-be. Anxiety can:
- worsen the psychological state of the pregnant woman,
- cause difficulties in becoming attached to the baby and in bonding with her.
In addition to this, there can be parental stress, as well as an increased risk of postnatal depression.
Feeling unwell during pregnancy, photo: panthermedia
Mental wellbeing in pregnancy - does anxiety alone matter?
It is not only anxiety that is important during pregnancy. Every woman who has become pregnant has surely heard at least once that she should avoid stress, but is this possible?
Stress is an inseparable companion in everyone's life. It is an emotionally important state that informs us about what is important to us and where our limits lie. It cannot be avoided, but if we experience it too often, we may be dealing with chronic stress. This, in turn, has a negative impact not only on a woman's wellbeing, but also on the course of the birth and the health of the baby.
How does chronic stress affect childbirth and the baby?
Chronic stress experienced by the mother during pregnancy can negatively affect the course of the birth and the health of the baby. Stress disrupts the normal regulation of hormonal activity during pregnancy and raises levels of hormones such as cortisol.
Excess cortisol and other hormones can:
- cause preterm birth,
- reduce the baby's birth weight,
- slow down the infant's growth rate.
Too much stress can:
- inhibit the growth of the placenta,
- interfere with the mechanisms responsible for contractions during birth,
- carries a risk of caesarean section.
Preterm birth, photo: panthermedia
Both anxiety and stress have a considerable impact on pregnancy. Unfortunately, neither anxiety nor stress can be avoided in life. However, it is worth keeping a check on their levels and if you notice that you are perhaps stressed too often or overwhelmed by anxiety, then start practising yoga. Why?
Why practice yoga during pregnancy?
Practising yoga is not just about keeping your body flexible. Yoga has a positive effect on both a woman's health and her mental wellbeing. Regular exercise will help to cope with many of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, such as back pain and swelling in the legs. In addition, they will alleviate stress and anxiety. In turn, working on your flexibility will increase your body awareness, which will have its benefits during childbirth.
How does practising yoga during pregnancy affect childbirth?
Increasing your body awareness by practising yoga will help you to choose the most comfortable position during labour.
Furthermore, when practising yoga, in addition to working on stretching your body, you also learn relaxation and conscious breathing. Learning breathing techniques will allow you to better control pain and anxiety.
Yoga during pregnancy, photo by panthermedia
Practising yoga regularly can:
- help you cope with contractions during natural childbirth,
- shorten the delivery time,
- reduce the need for painkillers.
What effect does practising yoga regularly during pregnancy have on stress?
Yoga and the use of relaxation methods make the body calm down, so to speak, and gets the message that it is safe. This reduces the risk of chronic stress-related complications.
Through stretching the body, conscious breathing and relaxation, levels of cortisol, the previously mentioned stress-related hormone, are lowered. As a result, calmness emerges and perceived emotions such as anxiety and stress become manageable.
Lowering cortisol will help to return to hormonal harmony, thus increasing the chance of a successful natural childbirth. This will have a positive effect on a woman's mental wellbeing.
Yoga and the wellbeing of the pregnant woman, photo: panthermedia
What to do if, despite practising yoga, poor wellbeing during pregnancy persists?
Sometimes it is the case that during pregnancy, the psychological wellbeing drops to such a level that the coping methods used so far do not have the desired effect. In such a situation, it is worth considering consulting the gynaecologist in charge, a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a psychotherapist.
Taking care of your mental health is not only important during pregnancy, but also throughout your life. The practice of yoga is a very good support for proper mental functioning. It will have a positive impact on the course of pregnancy, childbirth and the health of the mother and child. However, if the symptoms of unwellness do not go away, yoga is no substitute for visiting a specialist, it is worth bearing this in mind.
