Pregnancy is a period in which both physical and psychological changes occur for the expectant mother. A mother-to-be enters a different mood when she learns through a pregnancy test that she will be a mother. During this period, there are various changes in social and emotional areas, as well as anxiety due to changes in areas such as physical appearance, self-perception, and social roles. The most important factor in these emotional fluctuations is the changing hormone levels during pregnancy.
While pregnancy is felt as a happiness by the expectant mother, on the other hand, anxiety may begin due to the uncertainties about the pregnancy. These concerns are more intense, especially in first pregnancies, as there is no previous experience. Questions such as how the pregnancy will go, will I be able to give birth to a healthy baby, what kind of a mother will I be, may occupy the minds of expectant mothers throughout the pregnancy. In fact, in the first days when the baby is millimetric in size and cannot eat due to nausea, one may worry about whether the baby is not feeding. Feelings of fear and guilt about making mistakes may occur. During this process, social support, especially the support she receives from her husband, will strengthen the expectant mother's coping skills with the process and enable her to have a happier and more peaceful pregnancy. Of course, the approach of the obstetrician who monitors the pregnancy is also very important in this process. For this reason, as obstetricians and gynecologists, we can often be both doctors and psychologists.
How Does Psychology During Pregnancy Change According to Months?
1-3 MONTHS
First Due to the increases in progesterone hormone and pregnancy hormone (beta-hCG) for three months, nausea, weakness and drowsiness are intense. Even the slightest smell can cause a feeling of nausea. During this period, the expectant mother feels extremely emotional and sensitive. Even the slightest reason can cause intense crying spells. Even the expectant mother cannot make sense of this situation. This situation is quite normal.
Situations such as the risk of miscarriage in the first three months may also be a cause of anxiety and stress. For this reason, there may be a state of irritability towards the people around them.
In these cases, social support is very important, especially spouse support. It is certain that these situations will be temporary and there will be relief after a while. The expectant mother should be reminded. Especially during the corona pandemic we are currently experiencing, the expectant mothers I see have concerns about whether they should not get pregnant during this period, or if I become infected, will my baby be infected? Our duty in this process is to inform our pregnant women and help them get rid of these concerns with routine checks and videos.
3-6 MONTHS
This period is a calmer period, because some pregnancy psychology is used to it. Nausea, dizziness and drowsiness disappeared. When the baby's movements begin to be felt, the expectant mother fully feels and accepts the baby's existence. Since gender is learned during this period, expectant mothers focus on the baby's name and baby clothes. It is the most comfortable period of pregnancy and should be enjoyed.
6-9 MONTHS
As pregnancy approaches its end, feelings of stress and anxiety begin to appear again. There is a big change in the physical appearance of the expectant mother. Weight gain and physical changes can negatively affect the expectant mother. In this case, the comforting words of the people around reduce the anxiety.
Most importantly, birth anxiety is high. If it is the first birth of the mother-to-be, questions such as how I will give birth and whether I will have any problems during birth are constantly floating around in her mind. She can see herself giving birth in her dreams every night. The best way to get rid of these concerns is birth education and prenatal exercises for pregnant women. Meditations and psychological preparation of the pregnant woman for birth are also very useful in this process. Determining the birth center in advance reduces anxiety.
Pregnancy Depression
But there are some situations that may be signs of depression and may require psychologist or psychiatrist support. These are:
Sleeping too much or too little
Extreme forgetfulness and inability to concentrate
Constant negative thinking
The constant desire to cry suddenly
Feeling worthless
Extreme irritability
Isolating oneself from society
Disruption of eating habits
There are also some factors that trigger depression during pregnancy. There may be situations. These are:
Stressful lifestyle or working in a stressful job
Domestic problems
Unexpected pregnancy
Possibility of miscarriage or previous miscarriages
Experiencing trauma
Loss of a family member
Possibility of the future child being born disabled
Socioeconomic inadequacies
Previous history of depression of the expectant mother
Depression experienced during pregnancy can also be experienced after birth. However, pregnancy can be quite normal and there may be some psychological situations that occur after birth. Postpartum puerperal syndrome and postpartum depression may occur.
Maternity blues (puerperal syndrome)
Maternity blues begin in the first few days after birth and resolve spontaneously within 7-10 days; It is a process that manifests itself with anxiety, distress, irritability, crying and forgetfulness. However, sometimes this process may take longer and turn into postpartum depression. There may be a feeling of inexperience after the first birth, or a feeling of not being able to cope with other older children after the second or third birth. In this case, family support is very important. Especially the help of first-degree relatives may be helpful.
Postpartum depression
It is estimated that physical, emotional and social changes play a role in the development of postpartum depression. is done. In addition to the effect of birth on the female body, irregular and insufficient sleep and physical fatigue can also be effective in the development of depression. Coping with a newborn child and postpartum may be different for each mother. In this case, support from every aspect, both emotional and physical, is of great importance, especially from the spouse. As a result, familial support plays a big role and our fathers have a great responsibility in this regard.
Recommendations for the Pregnancy Period and After
Ask for support from your spouse, family and social circle. During this period, it is natural for expectant mothers to experience emotional ups and downs and to feel tired, helpless and anxious from time to time. At such moments, receiving support from a person's close circle will make it easier for him to cope with these emotional reactions.
Do not hide your feelings. In this process, you may sometimes experience feelings of anxiety, unhappiness and anger as well as happiness. Remember that you will die and do not hide your feelings.
Be flexible. During this period when you are taking your first steps into motherhood, remind yourself that you are trying to get to know your baby and your baby is trying to get to know you, and that you are in the process of getting used to each other.
Do not try to be the 'perfect mother'. Being a “good enough mother” is enough.
Try to make time for yourself, too. Do not keep yourself away from your circle of friends and the activities you enjoy doing.
Sleep or rest as much as possible when the baby sleeps.
Do breathing and relaxation exercises at home.
>You can meditate
You can divide tasks into parts.
Do one task at a time and focus fully on it. Live in the moment, stay in the moment
Make unprejudiced evaluations, realize that emotions and thoughts are just emotions and thoughts, that they cannot harm us concretely, and that not every thought may reflect the truth
Live in the moment, do something Live as if you were discovering something for the first time, like a curious child seeing it for the first time or a scientist
When you get bored, change your focus and engage in something you love
Imagine yourself and all the living and non-living things around you. love something
Do positive thinking therapy. Don't let negative thoughts enter your mind.
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