Spring can be a stressful time for women, and even more so for moms and expectant moms. From preparing your home for summer activities to end-of-school activities for your children to thinking ahead to beach vacations, there is a lot to balance. Add pregnancy to the mix and it can be extremely challenging for women to keep nutrition and exercise up and stress down.
Yet these are important factors for any woman because of the affect stress has on emotional and physical well-being. Symptoms such as anxiety and depression are magnified during pregnancy and can have a negative effect on the unborn child, including premature birth, low birth weight, and behavioral problems later in life.
What’s a woman to do? First, understand yourself and what bothers you. Avoid those things that trigger anxiety in you and be sure you are getting enough sleep and eating healthy foods. Then consider activities that can reduce stress.
Yoga and meditation have been proven to be extremely beneficial in reducing stress, especially in pregnant women, and what better time to take up this practice than during spring—a time of renewal?
The fact is, attending just one yoga class a week can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Combined with meditation, many people have reported improvement in depression, anxiety and pain.
Yoga is a great choice for exercise because it can done at any time during and after pregnancy. Its focus on relaxation and breathing are perfect for stress relief and various postures are easily adapted for woman at any point during their pregnancy. Regular practice has shown a reduction in postpartum depression as well—significant because women who struggle with high anxiety during pregnancy have generally reported a higher incidence of postpartum depression.
For women juggling home life and career, in early or late pregnancy, new motherhood, or simply with a lot on their plates, yoga has numerous benefits in addition to stress relief.
Improved strength, balance and flexibility, which can be especially beneficial during pregnancy when body shape changes can take their toll on the back, knees and feet.
- Better breathing techniques, which will improve your lung function and feelings of well-being, as well as being beneficial during labor.
- Relief of muscle and joint pain that may be related to pregnancy, day time activities or chronic conditions.
- Better weight management, since the practice of yoga also encourages healthy eating habits.
- Improved circulation and cardiovascular health, a benefit at any time in life, but especially during pregnancy when swelling and stress on the cardiovascular system can peak.
- Better understanding of focus and meditation, which encourages feelings of peace and low anxiety.
Many women who have attended yoga sessions during pregnancy have also reported less discomfort in later months and less need for pain relief during labor and delivery. It’s also worth noting that pregnancies considered higher risk benefit greatly from lower stress levels in the mother.
At Stark Women’s Center, staff is always available to counsel patients who are experiencing stress, anxiety or depression for any reason, including pregnancy and post-partum. Sometimes yoga sessions—with others or on your own—can be the answer. Call for an appointment or click here for more information. A team of professionals is on hand help you find the answer to reducing your stress level as you get through your spring routine.