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Managing Anxiety While Pregnant

December 12, 2021

Pregnant women deep breathing on couch
With the influx of hormones and changes to their bodies, it’s common for women to feel anxious during pregnancy. Harvard Medical School recommends a handful of treatments and activities to help combat anxiety while pregnant. 1 Here are the highlights.

Prescription Medicines

For many women who are pregnant, anti-anxiety medication is not an option. For those with severe anxiety, however, it may be. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common antidepressants prescribed to women who are pregnant or postpartum. SSRIs are not known to be associated with an increased risk of major birth defects.

Non-Prescription Medical Treatments

The good news is that there are several ways to help reduce pregnancy-related anxiety without taking prescription medicine. You may find that these options help you manage anxiety so that you can spend your days looking forward to the arrival of your bundle of joy instead of worrying.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Some pregnant women find it helpful to seek therapy to help treat anxiety during pregnancy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) practitioners use psychotherapy to help patients understand where negative thinking patterns come from and challenge them with better ways of coping with those unhelpful patterns.

Outside of therapy, there are several other ways to treat anxiety during pregnancy.

Engage in regular physical activity

Exercising during pregnancy is a great way to release natural endorphins that can enhance your sense of physical and mental well-being. Exercising is generally safe during pregnancy, and finding an activity you can do and enjoy may help reduce your anxiety.

Get adequate sleep

Difficulty sleeping during pregnancy is understandable with a growing belly and pressure on the diaphragm. However, there are some things you can try to help you get a better night’s rest, such as developing a relaxing bedtime routine, maintaining a consistent bed and wake time, using a maternity pillow if you sleep on your side, and elevating your head while you sleep to alleviate breathing problems.

Practice mindfulness and relaxation

Practicing mindfulness can help women reduce worries during pregnancy. Put simply, mindfulness is the act of being aware of each moment, your surroundings, your breath, and your thoughts. It’s the practice of slowing down and noticing your thoughts without judgment.

Similarly, relaxation techniques can help you physically and emotionally connect and recharge. Your idea of relaxation may be reading a book, getting a massage, practicing yoga, or listening to music. Find what works for you and make sure you can engage in that activity at some point every day. Your growing baby will thank you!

Record worries in a journal

Journaling is a great way to “get it all out” on paper. When you can see your worries written down, it helps you reflect on your concerns more clearly and brainstorm positive solutions.

 

Prenate® Vitamin Family
This post is brought to you by the Prenate® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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