Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be extremely daunting. If you have a solid support system, this season will be easier.
Open communication with your partner is an excellent method to show your support. They may have questions or fears about the birth and postpartum that you can listen to and support them through.
Your Partner
Pregnancy can be exciting, emotional and exhausting at the same time. Having someone to go for walks, play games or run errands, make meals and help with other chores can be helpful.
It’s also important for the father or partner to feel supported and included throughout pregnancy. A recent study by UCLA life scientists suggests that social support “gets under the skin” during pregnancy, dampening a mother’s spike in a certain stress hormone and thus lowering her risk for postpartum depression.
Women who reported low emotional and affectionate support from their partner were twice as likely to report high anxiety levels in early pregnancy and three times as likely to be depressed in mid-pregnancy compared with partnered women who received high support. The anxiety about becoming a mother is quite common, and discussing this with your partner is a healthier approach.
Your Maternity Team
Having the right support system during pregnancy can offer a sense of connection and belonging, as well as emotional comfort and reassurance. This support can come from various sources, including family and friends and healthcare professionals such as midwives and obstetricians.
These professionals can give pregnant individuals the care and information they need. They may also be able to refer them to abortion clinics Texas for mental health support, though the stigma attached to mental illness can sometimes prevent people from seeking help.
Your Friends
Pregnancy can be a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress. Friends of pregnant women can offer emotional comfort and reassurance and help them make healthy choices.
Research shows that pregnant women with a supportive network tend to have lower stress levels. They are also less likely to suffer from depression after giving birth.
Supporting your friends can be as simple as lending them a baby carrier, offering to pick up the groceries on their way home, or running out and buying whatever weird food they crave. Keeping open communication is key to being a good friend. Your partner will appreciate your willingness to listen to what’s on their mind – even the difficult stuff!
Your Family
Whether it’s borrowing a baby monitor or asking for someone to run an errand while you nap, having support from family members is important. It can also help you feel like your pregnancy is a shared experience and that you aren’t alone in this big life change.
Research shows low social support is a major risk factor for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. It’s particularly important for women who are non-partnered or living alone.
We know that providing access to group prenatal care is a key way to provide social support and increase birth outcomes. Our program combines high-quality clinical care with education and community engagement, all in an environment where participants can form a support network. It is called Supportive Pregnancy Care.
Your Coworkers
Pregnancy may be an extremely difficult period. If you want to be the best partner you can be during this time, you must learn everything you can about it and participate in the process by being a great listener, running out to get your pregnant friend and whatever strange food they’re craving (pickles and ice cream? why not?) and offering to help in any way you can. Participating in social events is also a great opportunity to meet new individuals who can help you. These might include lessons in art, language, or pregnancy fitness.
