Psychology of pregnancy and motherhood - psychological hygiene of the expectant mother

How hormones affect the expectant mother's body

To understand the emotions of a pregnant woman, it is important to understand what they depend on.

Chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, hCG) is a hormone that begins to be produced immediately after implantation of the embryo, that is, on the 6th – 8th day after fertilization of the egg. Its sharp surge indicates the fact of conception, and an increase in the level over time indicates that the pregnancy is developing safely. This hormone seems to tell the body that it now needs to take care of the unborn baby, and thereby changes the functioning of many of its systems: the monthly cycle of egg ripening stops, and resistance to stress increases. And although the exact mechanism of morning sickness is not known to doctors, some associate it with this hormone.
The second important hormone for a pregnant woman is progesterone. Its production allows the muscles of the uterus to remain in a relaxed state, and the body not to reject the DNA of the new organism. However, this hormone also relaxes other muscles, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure, possible dizziness, as well as heartburn, reflux, increased gas formation, nausea and other symptoms. Progesterone can also cause excess body hair growth.
Estrogen levels also increase. It is important for fetal development and helps the uterus respond to the influence of oxytocin, another important hormone. An increased level of estrogen leads to the appearance of spider veins and age spots, nausea, increases appetite, and it is also responsible for the delicate beauty of pregnant women - when they are said to be glowing.
As pregnancy progresses, oxytocin helps the nipples produce milk and dilate the cervix.
Prolactin helps the body secrete milk and has a calming effect on the expectant mother.
Relaxin prepares the body for childbirth, helping the necessary tissues to stretch, which leads to the fact that all joints of the body become more mobile during pregnancy; pain and burning sensations may also appear, and the woman often begins to feel clumsy.

Now that you understand how complex the hormonal cocktail in the blood of an expectant mother is, it is easy to realize that fluctuations in your mood are a natural manifestation of the coordinated work of all systems of your body. So there is no need to blame yourself for them.

Behavior of a pregnant woman in the early stages

In the first period of pregnancy, increased sensitivity to various odors, drowsiness, and fatigue occupy a large place. A woman's behavior changes as the embryo develops. The child does not yet make himself known, he is still only in the imagination; A woman-mother can imagine in her dreams what this baby will be like. From that moment on, she understands that her body has been given a purpose that connects her with immortality.

Day after day, the child grows inside her, and she finds herself increasingly at the mercy of nature, dictating its mysterious laws to her. Sometimes it's scary. Often the result of these fears is vomiting. Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy have many causes. Vomiting is partly caused by restructuring of internal organs. There is no such reaction in females of other mammals, but in women it can be very pronounced, and often the reasons for this are psychological. Depression in early pregnancy occurs quite often.

Constipation, diarrhea, vomiting - all this can be a sign of an unbalanced state, a desire to keep the child and anxiety for oneself. All ailments associated with pregnancy intensify as the woman focuses on them; the more unbearable they are, the more the woman “listens” to her body. Often a woman is tuned in to the fact that she must have special desires, she waits for them, she invents them.

How to stop striving for the “perfect” pregnancy

Whether we like it or not, society has a strong idea of what pregnancy should be like. According to him, a smiling, full of energy expectant mother carefully monitors her health, eats right, has time to breathe fresh air every day, goes to childbirth preparation courses, to the pool and to yoga for pregnant women. At the same time, she actively works until her maternity leave, achieving success. Such a mother’s home is always perfectly clean, healthy, balanced meals are prepared on the stove, and in her purse there is a plan for future births.

But reality doesn't look like that. Even if everything is in order, a pregnant woman may be bothered by gas, shortness of breath, skin problems, aching joints, back pain and disgust at the mere thought of gymnastics, a swimming pool or a walk in the park... And now the expectant mother feels “wrong”, not capable of coping with what is considered by everyone around to be the most natural state of a woman, her purpose and the main meaning of life. Thoughts about a pregnancy that does not fit into the “ideal” are the road to self-disappointment and depression.

There is another extreme. Ignoring their own desires, needs and body signals, some expectant mothers try to do everything to make their pregnancy seem prosperous. At this time, when her main desire should be the desire to relax and feel harmony, the woman brings herself to stress.

She thoroughly studies all reference materials, spends a lot of time searching for the best, most modern bandage, tirelessly analyzes her own diet, weighs herself and controls her nutrition, takes tests strictly on time, argues with doctors about brands of different vitamins, studies all the obstetricians in the city, prescribes a birth plan with a scientific basis for each stage, attends classes in two schools at once to prepare for childbirth (so as not to miss anything), listens to classical music on a schedule, and researches various early development methods in advance. Is it worth doing this? Sooner or later your strength will run out, and just at the very moment when you really need it.

Prenatal phobias

One of the psychological features of the first pregnancy is fear caused by the unknown. A woman who knows about the perinatal period only in theory does not know what to expect, how to behave correctly, or prepare for childbirth. For women with children, fears are more specific: problems that accompanied the first pregnancy cause concern during subsequent ones.

Common fears:

painful, long labor;
birth injuries;
congenital pathologies;
death of a child during childbirth;
postpartum complications.

Problems of prenatal phobias are solved by eliminating the causes of fear. To dispel doubts, it is useful for a woman to communicate with young mothers who have had a positive pregnancy experience. Communication with your own mother and older relatives who have already gone through all the stages of motherhood can help. In order not to aggravate the situation, the expectant mother should be surrounded with a positive emotional background, protected, supported, and prevented from nervous shock.

How to overcome excessive demands on yourself

Pregnancy is a time to deal with anxiety and learn to relieve yourself of the burden of personal responsibility.

Looking for peace of mind

Pregnancy is a difficult process. The main metamorphoses are hidden in the depths and are not visible to us. In trying to control everything, a woman spends a lot of effort and wastes a lot of energy instead of calming down, finding balance and leaning on it. Now you need to find and maintain a state in which you are balanced, calm, feeling yourself, attentive and friendly to yourself.

Preserving individuality

There is no standard pregnancy, but there are varied and unique ones. Each of them reflects the life story behind the woman. Trying to fit your own, one-of-a-kind story into an image imposed by someone means not truly living your pregnancy, limiting yourself to a fake that imitates it. Listen to how your personality, with the accumulated experience of everything you have experienced, reveals itself in a new state for you. Pregnancy is more about self-absorption than social activity.

Learning to be flexible

Pregnancy and childbirth, no matter how carefully you prepare for them, still rarely turn out the way you planned. Here everything will happen by itself, and it is impossible to control this process. Therefore, you should relieve yourself of unnecessary responsibility and simply live, waiting for the happy moment of meeting your baby.

Look for simple and proven options in everything. Agusha dairy products, some of which expectant mothers receive free of charge at dairy kitchens, will allow you not to worry about how to provide yourself with food with a sufficient amount of calcium. You can be confident in the safety, high quality and beneficial properties of Agusha dairy products.

How to create a trusting relationship with an obstetrician-gynecologist

In order for you to feel psychological comfort, your pregnancy should be led by a person you trust. If you have a doctor, ask yourself:

Do you enjoy communicating with your doctor? How do you feel when you leave the office?
Does the doctor answer all your questions in detail and clearly?
is your doctor ready to be in touch with you, does he give you his mobile phone number? Of course, he is not obliged to do so. But responsible doctors still always care about patients and are ready, in exceptional cases, to briefly communicate even outside of working hours;
Does the doctor respect you?
Will he listen carefully to your questions? Will he be careful and careful with your feelings?

Trust in a doctor can consist of several aspects.

Perhaps the first and most important thing is that he must have a professional history of pregnancy management and successful childbirth. Perhaps someone recommended it to you.
He takes the time to answer all your questions.
He carefully collects anamnesis to exclude possible complications.
If problems arise, he honestly discusses with you the pros and cons of each way to overcome them, but he makes the final decision himself. A good doctor will not allow himself to leave you without tests if you do not want to take them, and will not prescribe a cheaper medicine if it is ineffective. And vice versa, he will not advertise something more complex and expensive if you do not have sufficient indications for it.
He collaborates with other doctors at the clinic who cover for him on weekends, vacations and sick days. Cooperates - it means he knows who and how he will give your card to during his absence.
He is confident in himself and his methods.
He doesn't blame you if you do something wrong.
He does everything to keep you positive.

The doctor must protect, comfort and support us. Since you expect honesty from a doctor, in order to build a trusting relationship with the doctor, it is important that you also be as frank as possible on your part. If there is something that causes shame and embarrassment, it is still important to voice it - past illnesses, abortions and other circumstances of your life that you would like to forget.

In addition, it is important to speak up immediately if something in the doctor’s behavior confuses or offends you. For example: “Could you please call me by name when you give instructions to the nurse?” If you see that the doctor adjusts his behavior for you without inappropriate reaction, this is a good sign. If not, then you shouldn’t stay in this office for a long time.

Features of the psychology of the third trimester

Shortly before giving birth, a woman is immersed in emotional contact with her child. It’s as if she exists with him in a separate world, exchanging experiences, emotions, sensations. The world around us is perceived indirectly: the woman becomes withdrawn, detached, and absent-minded. The ability to think logically is often impaired.

The only priority before childbirth is the well-being of the baby. The woman communicates with him, constantly touches his stomach, and can determine his emotional state by the movements of the fetus. Often a strong connection allows you to feel changes in development and the danger of premature birth.

Rules of psychological hygiene

While expecting a baby, the expectant mother hears a lot of advice around her, she is told stories about pregnancy and childbirth, often imposing her own opinion. When communicating with friends, relatives, in line for a consultation, on the Internet, she listens to different points of view. This communication sometimes causes anxiety, the expectant mother thinks too much about pregnancy, but the number of fears does not decrease at all. What can be done to deal with this?

Accept your fears and anxieties as a given. Any feeling will go away if you don’t fight it, but just calmly experience it. The more you worry, the worse: chronic stress negatively affects your condition and the well-being of your baby.
Find a physical activity that really suits you, is enjoyable, enjoyable and distracting.
Realize yourself in creativity and hobbies. Look at the beautiful, think about the beautiful.
Limit communication with those who spoil your mood and scare you with unpleasant stories. Let there be people around you who support you.
Meet a calm, confident mother who, from the perspective of personal experience, can sometimes suggest, encourage, and support something.
Make an appointment with a psychologist, preferably on the recommendation of a person you trust.

Be happy and relaxed, enjoy your pregnancy and the changes that are happening to you.

How to cope with depression during pregnancy

The psychology of a pregnant woman should be studied by both close relatives and the expectant mother herself. This will help avoid many conflicts in relationships. The expectant mother should drive away all negative thoughts. And the role of the future father is to instill confidence in a successful pregnancy and an easy delivery. In general, the couple should lead a normal lifestyle. Walking, going to the cinema or visiting guests will help distract the pregnant woman from unnecessary worries. And if you want to pamper and please your pregnant mother, then in any maternity clothing store you will find a wide range of products for expectant mothers. High-quality maternity clothes will help expectant mothers become even more beautiful and charming, and feel comfortable while expecting a baby.

How to overcome the fear of childbirth

Childbirth is a natural part of life. Everyone passes through them when they are born. A woman passes through them, giving birth to her baby. Why does this natural, normal act cause fear? Because the expectant mother does not have enough information, but has a lot of worries, anxiety and fear of change. Let's look at what can be opposed to each of these conditions.

Raising awareness

Try to find out everything that interests you from reliable sources, which include trusted websites, high-quality books about pregnancy and childbirth, consultations with specialists, and childbirth preparation courses. You should not read stories on the Internet or trust the stories of your girlfriends.

Helplessness will be replaced by readiness and calm.

Increasing frequency of contractions is a signal that the process is going as it should. A contraction is just a muscle tension. Knowledge is power, and during childbirth, strength is very, very necessary.

Being aware of modern anesthesia techniques will help you. Talk to your doctor, ask him all the questions, share your doubts.

We realize the joint efforts during childbirth

Many women worry that they will have to go through the very moment of childbirth without the support of loved ones. But it is worth remembering that in this process there is another full participant who performs a very important and difficult part of the work. These efforts are given to him with great difficulty, he gets very tired and does everything to help you. This is your child. Moving along the birth canal, he changes position twice, adapting to the features of his first route. So you go through this process together with the person closest to you.

We take responsibility

To stop being afraid of childbirth, you need to admit that life will really change. This will bring you relief: now, instead of being afraid of change, you recognize it as a given.

Motherhood is a new life, and it begins with childbirth. At this moment you become a mother - responsible and caring. And then there will be fewer complications during childbirth, tension will subside, energy will be spent not on worries, but on pushing and helping the baby in the birth process.

A woman's acceptance of a new life

The main syndrome of normal pregnancy is the woman’s acceptance of the fact of the development of a new life inside her. She not only accepts the pregnancy, but begins to imagine the child, fantasize about his appearance, worry about his fate, and plan for future motherhood.

Under the influence of a changed attitude towards one’s condition, one’s attitude towards the world around us changes. In the second half of the perinatal period, a woman is prone to:

Behave infantilely, partially adopting the features of a child’s perception of the world.
Be offended, angry, and blame family members for lack of attention for no reason.
Show increased interest in home improvement and strive to improve it.

Full fusion with the child is manifested in the awareness of his needs as one’s main interest. The woman becomes one with the developing fetus, assessing all phenomena of the world as suitable or unsuitable for the child’s life.

Psychological balance in every trimester

The first trimester is a period of getting used to the changes growing within you. Your usual way of perceiving the world and yourself in it is rapidly changing. Tastes, sensations, well-being, mood - it seems that nothing familiar remains, and you have to rediscover ways to feel good.

The main task of the first trimester is to find a balance point, to explore a state in which you will be comfortable, calm, and secure.
During this time, it makes sense to slow down your pace a little and become more involved in processes that bring you joy.
But constantly listening to yourself, on the contrary, is a dangerous tactic, because in the first 3 months of pregnancy anxiety flares up for any reason, and coping with fear against the backdrop of hormonal surges and poor health can be difficult.

So, the first trimester is a search for balance against the background of changes. The second trimester is a time when the stomach is not yet very disturbing, the first inconveniences have already passed and, in principle, there is quite a lot of strength.

You can start some small project: traveling, rearranging furniture (with the hands of loved ones, of course) or anything else that will be interesting to you. During this time, it becomes easier to enjoy your pregnancy.
This is also a time of anticipation for joyful changes and a period in which observing oneself can be more interesting than being involved in something external.
The baby's first movements bring great joy and open up the opportunity to build a special relationship with him - stroking him, singing him songs, telling him fairy tales, going to symphony music concerts with him and giving him long walks.
The second trimester is the time of recognizing yourself in the new incarnation of the expectant mother, and safety precautions during this period are associated with ensuring that the pregnancy is psychologically accepted and supported by your environment. If there is a person among your loved ones who doubts your ability and willingness to be the best mother in the world to your baby, you should stop communicating with him.

The third trimester is a time of patience. Pregnancy has been going on long enough for it to stop surprising and start to tire. This is especially evident in the last 5 weeks, when it becomes not very comfortable to sit or lie down, and serious restrictions in mobility appear.

It's time to start taking care of your comfort for the remaining period of pregnancy and the first time after childbirth. Is everything conveniently located in the kitchen? Is ironing clothes so important? Should I change the vacuum cleaner? Is the air in the rooms sufficiently humidified? Right now we need to finally solve the problem with dripping taps, crookedly hanging cabinets, etc.
In addition, it is time to organize a circle of support and establish harmonious interaction with those who will help you with your baby after birth. You can redistribute responsibilities around the house and shift the work schedules of your “support” loved ones so that you have the opportunity to ask for help and receive it.
The third trimester is the time of final nesting, and by the end of it everything should be as expected. Safety precautions at this stage are associated with creating a comfortable space, with caring about who is about to come into your life.

Features of the psychology of the first trimester

The first three months of pregnancy cause severe aggravation of all senses. Tastes and smells are felt more strongly, many pregnant women suffer from toxicosis. Deep fears hidden before the onset of the perinatal period become stronger. The expectant mother worries about every dangerous action that could harm the fetus. Many people experience problems with sleep, systematic fainting, and pressure surges. To reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms, a pregnant woman should rest more, distancing herself from negative emotions.

Let's focus on the positive aspects of pregnancy

Pregnancy is associated with toxicosis, edema, queues at antenatal clinics, baggy clothes, inappropriate questions from others and frequent trips to the toilet. Is it possible to live this time somehow differently? Are there any special pleasures in being pregnant? Certainly!

Nowadays, enormous changes are taking place in the body, and in connection with this, special habits and needs appear. Satisfying them can be fun. For example, a nap, watching romantic comedies, or a suddenly awakened passion for baking cupcakes.
Many women develop a special passion for nesting. And in this direction, you can accomplish so much in nine months! Start and finish education (which in normal times seems fantastic), move, learn to knit, paint furniture, oil paint, sew dolls... Pregnancy gives strength and inspiration for creativity, especially if it is of an applied nature and prepares your nest for the arrival of a baby.
During pregnancy, women experience a special smoothness in their movements: the expectant mother, unnoticed by herself, begins to move carefully and smoothly so as not to disturb the jewel for which she is a vessel. The center of gravity and the outline of the body and the manner of movement gradually change. Because of this, pregnancy is a time created for working with the body, for dancing, for songs, for massage, and aromatherapy.

What kind of attitude will help you enjoy the changes 100%? You can strive to earn more money before maternity leave and read all the books on motherhood, but the hardest thing for many expectant mothers is to show self-care and attention to their needs.

Pregnancy is an opportunity to commit a serious act of will: to write down daily pleasures in a notepad or as a reminder in your mobile phone. Moreover, the pleasures are useful: walking, listening to your favorite music, caring for house plants, drawing, embroidery and whatever you like, as long as you enjoy it.
It is important to treat all your desires with trust and joy and follow them. If you want to dance, then turn on the music and dance, or even better, look for classes where you can do it more and more often (unless, of course, there are contraindications and it does not harm the baby’s health).
If you want to draw, then pick up brushes and paint. If you want to go for a walk, go straight to the park and admire nature. During pregnancy, you can learn a new and important skill - to be attentive and sensitive to yourself and your desires.

We wish you an easy pregnancy!

What is required from your immediate environment?

In attitudes towards pregnant women, two extremes are often observed. Some people believe that they need to be fiddled with, blow off specks of dust from them and not let them do anything. Others prefer not to notice their condition (for some reason there are especially many of them on public transport).

Of course, there is no need to treat the expectant mother like a crystal vase: pregnancy is not a disease, but a normal physiological state that allows you to live an ordinary life. However, the peculiarities of this condition should not be ignored.

During pregnancy, a woman’s psyche is more sensitive, and her immune system is weakened, so it is better to protect her from unnecessary stress - both physical and emotional. However, when a woman is more or less attentive to herself, she herself intuitively shows the necessary caution. This listening to yourself is the most important thing for a pregnant woman. Those close to her must understand that her attention is now directed inward and, to put it mildly, she is a little uninterested in them.

This is especially difficult for children to understand (if this is not the first pregnancy). They need increased attention in this situation. Therefore, expecting another child in the family is the best time for them to get closer to their father and other relatives who are ready to take on part of the mother’s load.