Anxiety during pregnancy – how to actually enjoy your 1st trimester

I’ve written about anxiety during pregnancy many times here on the blog. So today I thought I’d share five different ways you can deal with anxiety during pregnancy to help you actually enjoy your first trimester.

5 unique ways to deal with anxiety during pregnancy

Read fiction

There is nothing more comforting and soothing than fiction (especially those children’s books you loved as a child). Lose yourself in make-believe worlds and forget your current situation for a while. I used this strategy for dealing with anxiety during my pregnancy with Luca, especially when waiting the two weeks for the results of our harmony test.

Visit the beach, a lake or river

I feel like the lyrics of one of my favourite songs will sum up this point better than I can.

When you feel life coming down on you,
Like a heavy weight
When you feel this crazy society,
Adding to the strain
Take a stroll to the nearest water’s edge
And remember your place
Many moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came
So which way is the wind blowin’,
And what does your heart say?

Xavier Rudd, Follow the Sun.

Use herbal medicine to reduce anxiety

I highly recommend you speak to a professional before taking any sort of supplements, especially during pregnancy. But in my experience Valerian root is great for reducing anxiety and helping to promote sleep. Visit your doctor or naturopath to get a recommendation that’s right for you.

Quit caffeine entirely

You might think your morning coffee isn’t affecting you, but if you’re experiencing anxiety it might be worth quitting it (even just for a little while). Caffeine spikes cortisol in the body and might be one of the things fueling your anxiety.

Get outside

There is nothing like the vastness of a forest or mountains to help you put your worries in perspective. While I’m in no way trying to diminish your fears (anxiety during pregnancy is definitely a real thing and can be debilitating). I do think that staying inside, connected to the internet and going round and round with our own thoughts just makes anxiety worse.

Instead, get outside, breathe deeply, move your body and you’ll feel some of your anxiety shift.

If a nature walk isn’t an option for you right at this minute, I’ve created this yoga class for you below. We gently flow to help shift anxious feelings in the body.

If you’re brand new to pregnancy yoga you might like to download my free yoga guide for pregnancy and birth first.

Have you got other ways to manage anxiety? Share them with us in the comments below.