by Millicent Feraux

During pregnancy it is not uncommon for women to experience anxiety and panic attacks for the first time. This is not without reason

While pregnant, the woman’s body is full of hormones in overdrive. Sometimes the changes in hormones trigger the anxiety and panic attacks to occur. Remember every part of the mother’s body is affected by pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a naturally stressful time for many women, particularly where the pregnancy is unexpected or unplanned, or where there are health concerns surrounding the pregnancy. When combined with these hormonal changes, pregnancy becomes a common time for panic and worry.

Women can feel anxious over the actual birth process. They may be afraid that they will not know what to do once the baby is here. Pregnancy is a life-changing event. It is natural for woman to feel anxious. Sometimes these feelings turn into a full-blown anxiety or panic attack.

Anxiety and panic attacks are more common in the last months of pregnancy. Some women find however that if they had attacks before pregnancy that they lessen while they are pregnant. No one knows why this occurs. They think it is due to the fluctuating hormones.

There are treatments for women who are anxiety or who have panic attacks during pregnancy. There are some medications which will help with anxiety. But because any medication you take can affect your unborn child, it is important you talk to your doctor. You and your doctor may decide on one of the natural treatment methods which can have little or no effect on your baby.

* Relaxation- whenever you feel yourself getting stressed or anxious take time to relax. Find somewhere quiet and cool to lie down and just relax. Do not spend this time worrying or feeling anxious. Just allow yourself to think of something or somewhere calm and enjoyable to you.

* Relaxation – When you feel yourself getting stressed or anxious, you need to relax. Lie down in a place you think is quiet and cool and try to just relax. You should try to forget about the anxiety or worrying about other things – concentrate only on relaxing. You will find that once you totally relax that the feeling of stress and anxiety can go away.

* Deep breathing- using deep breathing techniques can help you to let go of the stress and anxiety you may be feeling. Lie down and take several deep breaths through your nose. Blow them out through your mouth. Do this until you feel the attack going away.

It is very important that you seek help if you are having anxiety and panic attacks during your pregnancy. With the proper help, you will be able to control your levels of anxiety and stress. This is extremely important to yours and the health of your growing baby.

Women are not the only ones who can have anxiety and panic attacks during pregnancy. Expecting fathers normally have a lot of worry about financial issues, how their life will change and how they will perform as a father.

These stresses can be just as serious as those of a mother, and men are often unwilling to share or discuss these issues. The outcome can often be anxiety or panic attacks.

Pregnancy is a wonderful and magical thing, and it’s something best shared rather than stressed over. Talk to your partner about your worries and fears, and you might find that your anxiety is less overwhelming when it is shared. However, if this advice has not improved your condition, seek professional treatment.

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