Deciding whether or not to place your baby for adoption is never an easy choice. It can bring added stress to the already stressful situation of discovering you are pregnant. Stress can affect your body, health, and behavior in multiple ways. It can lead to issues of high blood pressure or heart disease. In some cases, it can even affect your mental health leading to issues surrounding anxiety and depression. That is why it is crucial that you take time to care for yourself.
Although life is busy and some days you just cannot predict, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is take time to relax.
Ways to Relieve Stress When You’re Pregnant
Plan time into your day to be alone, to breathe, and to reflect on life. One way you could even do this is through meditation. Taking even ten minutes out of your day to breathe deeply and be present should do the trick of relieving stress and bring a sense of calm. Sometimes soothing music or nature sounds can help during meditation. They can aid in calming nerves and put your mind in a more relaxing state. If you find that you have too many stressful thoughts bouncing around your mind and it is hard to relax, take a minute to write those thoughts down. This is a good way to have an outlet for those stressful thoughts.
Another way to relieve stress is to eat well. Try to keep a balanced diet and refrain from eating out as much as you can. Processed foods will not make you feel as good as a freshly cooked meal, and it is cheaper to cook for yourself. Make sure to plan your meals accordingly to be sure you are getting the nutrients you need. You can even print off a meal planner and decide which meals to make each week to stay prepared and organized. With healthier foods, you will feel more energized and ready to take on the day.
Another way to feel more energized is to get enough sleep every night. Everyone needs about seven or eight hours of sleep to feel well rested and have the energy they need to make it through each day. By sleeping enough every night you are helping to build up your immune system and putting less stress on your body as it carries you throughout the day. If you have a hard time falling asleep at night, try taking a bath with some candles or essential oils to relax your body before climbing into bed.
Last but not least, get out and have fun!
Hang out with your friends and family and enjoy some time together. Be social. It may help to talk about why you are stressed with others; your life has had many changes and stress is a normal response. Spend some time outdoors, talking in a coffee shop or enjoying a movie at home.
Only when you’re in the right mindset can you really think about, and act on, the important decisions in your life. Decisions like whether or not you want to keep your child or place your child for adoption. Take the time to de-stress and make sure you’re healthy. If you take time to de-stress, you will know you took the time to make a well thought out decision.