7 ways to manage your anxiety during pregnancy—from moms who have been there

Trigger warning: Some of these responses describe a women’s experiences with child loss.

Anxiety is one of those concepts you can never truly grasp until you face it yourself. And, each person’s anxiety can announce itself in different ways—for some, it’s postpartum anger, while for others, it’s an overwhelming feeling of worry about a pregnancy. This can be especially prevalent if you’re at high risk, concerned about telling your boss or undergoing medical issues. If you suffer from anxiety, know you’re not alone in this mama. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder than men.

These mamas shared how they manage and cope with their anxiety on Chairman Mom:

1. Hypnobirthing class

“I took a hynobirthing class at a nearby parents resource center—it was phenomenal. The class changed my emotional forecast for both the pregnancy and delivery. I uncovered a calm existence that lived dormant inside a very anxious body. For quick help at my fingertips, I love the Headspace app. My favorite quote pops up on the screen before I tap to complete a meditation ‘Rather than the mind leading the breath, allow the breath to lead the mind. Keep glowing!'” —Jenny

2. Journaling

“It took my husband and I three years to have our IVF miracle baby after a devastating miscarriage last summer. I was wracked with anxiety for the entire duration of my pregnancy and it got worse as I got closer to his due date. The one thing that helped me was to journal. I wrote to the baby constantly about every step of the process and was very raw and real about the emotions I was experiencing each step of the way.”—Anonymous

3. Set some ground rules

“[While I was on strict bedrest for 10 weeks] I tried to set ground rules for myself—I ‘indulged’ in worst case scenario/message board/Googling for exactly 30 minutes each day, and had to fill the rest of the bedrest time with other positive activities. I controlled for the factors I could, and just tried to chill out about everything else. Easier said than done, but I forced myself to breath deeply and try to limit the physical effects of my anxiety.”—Milo

4. Therapy

“I feel like this could be my answer for many questions, but I say get to therapy. Anxiety can be a normal part of parenthood and it’s a good idea to take the time before baby comes to build your tool kit and to feel like, even though it is full of unknowns, you have prepared your heart for the wild ride that is motherhood. I am an anxious person by nature, a worrier, a big feeler— learning that this is okay and that I can use it to my advantage has been empowering beyond measure. You are not alone and you will get through this. Hugs to you. If you are an “action person” and can’t/won’t get into therapy right now, this workbook has a lot of good, practical exercises.”—Stratton

5. Reading this book

“I found a book called Finding Calm for the Expectant Mom useful. The major anxiety reducer for me during pregnancy was walking, because it was the only time I didn’t feel sick early on and then later it was the only time the baby wasn’t kicking me (which is supremely comforting and yet not). I found going with a mid-wife rather than a doctor helped alleviate a lot of anxiety. In Ontario (Canada) this is covered by OHIP (provincial health insurance). Midwives have way more time and patience. All appointments are booked for 30 minutes, so you never feel rushed.”—Sian

6. Find a super knowledgeable OB

“I’m currently pregnant (second trimester) with two complications one of which can cause stillbirth. I found the best way to reduce anxiety was finding a super knowledgeable OB that I could talk to about treatments and milestones. Ask them about what kind of monitoring they’ll do for you in the third trimester (NST/BPPs). Talk about contingency plans. I also found a doula that has been wonderful to talk with about the process of birth and the potential of NICU time and emergency c-sections (both not that uncommon with other women that have the same condition I do.) I whole heartedly recommend finding a therapist that you can talk with about your fears and anxieties. Look for ones who specialize in new moms. If there are any support groups for mamas with your high risk condition I also urge you to seek them out. Setting a limit for how much time you spend there is also extremely wise. And know that there are women who will experience loss in those groups. That doesn’t mean you will.” —Anonymous

7. Yoga, working out & meditation

“[After a miscarriage] what I’ve learned is that all that worrying didn’t make a difference. It didn’t make me feel any more prepared or okay once I lost the baby. And it limited how much I enjoyed those three months that I was pregnant. Next time I’m not going to read anything or Google anything or read any odds. I’m just going to take everyday as a gift. I know that’s easier said than done. Yoga, working out, meditation. Being around people who don’t know because then you can’t talk about it or obsess about it. Warm baths, tea. Just be super super nice to yourself. Don’t worry about what you should be eating or shouldn’t be eating, etc.”—Anonymous

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