stress
Just a ten-minute walk immersed in nature, a walk along the riverbank, or in among the trees can have a direct effect on our wellbeing, reducing stress and improving our mood
our bodies produce cortisol - ‘the stress hormone’ - which causes the fight or flight response and is part of our human nature. A certain amount of cortisol is needed during pregnancy to pass on the natural instincts that we all have. However, too much stress and too much cortisol raises a risk of health problems in your unborn baby. ‘Tere’s no doubt that we’re seeing a
rising trend of mental health issues in children as young as four through to teenage years, and it’s my belief that increasingly stressful lifestyles when pregnant, over the past decade, are to blame, and that more must be done to raise awareness of this link.’ So how do you reduce the level of stress
that you may be feeling during pregnancy? Here are Angela’s top sensory-based tips…
A sip and a sniff
Aromatherapy can be used safely during pregnancy if products have been developed especially for pregnancy, or if you are using recommended oils in a vapouriser etc. If you have to travel a lot for your work, or use the trains and underground, it can quickly cause you to feel nauseous or faint. Keep a bottle of lemon essential oil in your bag (as well as a bottle of water to sip) so that you can waſt it under your nose to give you an instant mood and energy liſt and fight nausea.
against the wall, practically frozen with fear. Te research is ongoing and the next step
for Davis and her colleagues will be to observe the kids as they enter adolescence, when many mental health disorders, such as depression, normally begin to emerge. Baby wellness and childcare expert
Angela Spencer has spent 20 years working in the child development field. During this time Angela has also identified that an excess of cortisol during pregnancy raises the risk of stress-related health issues, such as anxiety, irritability and insomnia being passed on to babies. ‘Many people are unaware that stress
levels naturally become amplified in pregnancy,’ says Angela, ‘as our bodies are under increasing pressure thanks to an influx of hormones. When we are stressed,
Music is food for the soul
Music is one of my favourite sensory ‘tools’. It can make you happy, it can make you cry, it can help your digestion and it can help you relax. Setting aside a time in the evening each day to play some relaxing music and just sit and absorb it will not only help you to de-stress but, from about 17 weeks, your baby is able to hear through the womb and will recognise familiar tones and rhythms once born, so you are already setting the foundations of a ‘bedtime’ routine.
Just breathe
Meditation or mindfulness is a growing trend in managing stress that I thoroughly recommend trying to pursue. However, when you are busy and already feeling
stressed and pressured, some people find it difficult to find the time. I would suggest that, when feeling stressed and overwhelmed, just take a moment for a few deep breaths. Count to five as you breathe in and count to five as you breathe out. Tis will help to re-balance you.
Crystals are a girl’s best fiend
Move over diamonds, there’s a new rock in town! Rose quartz is the ‘mother’ of all crystals when it comes to pregnancy. It has a loving, protective energy during pregnancy (and childbirth) and is powerful in healing during stressful times. Many underestimate the power of crystals, and this is one of my favourites. Tere are some beautiful, polished crystal bracelets available now that will work to combat your stress levels during pregnancy.
A walk in nature Te biophilia hypothesis is our inbuilt connection with nature and this can nurture wellbeing (and aid development and healing). Just a ten-minute walk immersed in nature, a walk along the riverbank, or in among the trees can have a direct effect on our wellbeing, reducing stress and improving our mood. If the sun is shining you get the added benefit of some much- needed vitamin D as many of us have a deficiency of this essential vitamin. „
Angela’s programme, ‘Babyopathy – baby care the natural way’, aims to help mum’s identify ways to alleviate stress during pregnancy and address the rising trend of post natal depression in mums and dads. For more information visit
www.babyopathy.com
Summer 2016 MODERNMUM 9
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