Emotions of a pregnant woman. Emotional background during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a magical state for a woman, when she realizes her true purpose in this world, when colossal changes occur in her body. And all this, of course, cannot but affect emotional state women at the beginning of pregnancy.

Women's emotions at the beginning of pregnancy

The beginning of pregnancy is the most difficult period for a woman both physiologically and emotionally. It is during this period that women suffer early toxicosis and it is at the beginning of pregnancy that it begins hormonal changes throughout the body, which also affects emotional background. What explains the special emotional tension of a woman at the beginning of pregnancy?

The thing is that a woman at the beginning of pregnancy is accompanied not only by a surge of hormones that affects her emotional state. The beginning of pregnancy is the time of realizing oneself not just as a social unit (employee, wife, girlfriend, etc.), but also as a future mother. In addition, at the beginning of pregnancy, a woman is accompanied by various types of worries and fears: how to tell your husband, he will be happy too, what to do with work and how will relatives react? And if we also remember that very soon family expenses will increase significantly, and income will decrease - and therefore it is necessary to learn to plan differently family budget? Even if the child is desired and planned, these thoughts will torment future parents. What if the baby was a pleasant surprise? Then there will only be more thoughts and fears. How can one remain calm and not worry?

Features of a woman’s emotional state at the beginning of pregnancy

Once a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she may begin to experience what is called "pregnancy syndrome". Depending on their social status, it occurs differently for all women. If before pregnancy you were a successful businesswoman or at least just worked in a good position, the news of pregnancy can unsettle you for a while, even if you wanted and planned this child. After all, after giving birth, one way or another, you will have to give up work for a while and devote yourself to your family. And it is quite difficult to adapt to such a polar opposite way of life. In addition, it is unknown how the maternity leave will affect your work and how your superiors will receive this news.

If before pregnancy you did not work or held an ordinary position, then the news of pregnancy will be perceived more calmly by you. After all, if your lifestyle changes, it is not so radically, and, if something happens, you can find new job in the same position after maternity leave it will be easier.

The emotional state of a woman at the beginning of pregnancy is also affected by fears about the upcoming 9 months of waiting, childbirth, recovery period. You may be surprised to notice that sometimes the pregnancy you have been looking forward to causes you to have a negative reaction, uncertainty and reluctance to have this pregnancy. You may be tormented by questions: “Will I be able to bear a child?”, “Will I or my child die?”, “Will I be a good mother?”, “Will I be able to bear childbirth?”, “How much worse will it get?” financial situation our family? etc. These issues may be mixed with fears about loss of sexual attractiveness, personal freedom, and being a stay-at-home mom. In addition, some doctors also say that fears of the upcoming (even in a little over 8 months) childbirth may be mixed with fears expectant mother, emerging from the subconscious, regarding childhood or even the characteristics of one’s own birth.

Of course, all these fears and worries cannot but influence emotional background of a woman at the beginning of pregnancy. You may become whiny, anxious, sometimes nervous and even aggressive - especially in cases where your husband does not understand you or does not pay enough attention to you. Therefore, throughout your pregnancy - and especially at the beginning - you need the support, care and participation of your husband, even if, at first glance, you cry and worry about nonsense.

Hormonal changes in the body also have a direct role in shaping your emotional state at the beginning of pregnancy. Even if before the birth of your new life you could be called an “iron lady”, at the beginning of pregnancy the slightest irritant can cause a violent emotional reaction in the form of tears, resentment or irritation. Vulnerability, heightened perception, pessimism- expectant and established mothers know about all this first-hand.

Often women early stages Pregnant women are surprised to say that any romantic or even more or less sad scene from a film, a sad song or a pitiful story simply causes streams of tears from them, which can be extremely difficult to stop. Of course, from the outside it may look strange, but in essence it is sentimentality in early pregnancy – normal phenomenon. And those who know about your situation will support and understand you.

At the beginning of pregnancy sensory perception changes women. 90% of pregnant women, starting from the second week of pregnancy, complain of altered perception of smells, tastes, colors, and visual images. Of course, such “oddities” of the body are also a kind of irritant and leave an imprint on the emotional state of a woman at the beginning of pregnancy.

If we talk about the origins of these manifestations, scientists believe that in this way the expectant mother is preparing to protect her child from external negative factors. After all, you will agree that with a heightened “sense” it is much easier to notice danger in time.

Hormonal changes are also to blame for the fact that at the beginning of pregnancy women inhibited, is experiencing drowsiness And memory problems, A logical thinking she gradually fades into the background, giving way to sensory perception. The expectant mother begins to engage in those activities that she may not have tolerated before: knitting, embroidery, drawing, playing music, etc. She is more focused on her feelings, and sometimes resembles a child in her reasoning. Such "childhood effect"- the normal emotional state of a woman at the beginning of pregnancy.

The beginning of pregnancy greatly changes the emotional state of the woman and the expectant mother as a whole. After all, now she lives not for herself, but for her baby - and it depends on her how happy her child’s childhood will be. And this is a huge responsibility! Therefore the main function loving husband and other family members - to help the expectant mother survive the difficult period of pregnancy and childbirth, to show sensitivity and understanding. Only in this case will the woman’s emotional state at the beginning of pregnancy not negatively affect either the baby or the expectant mother, and very soon she will be able to give all her family the most best gift in the world!

Anxiety, depressed mood and obsessive thoughts - all this periodically happens to every pregnant woman.

No matter how the pregnancy progresses, almost every woman from time to time has “difficult” thoughts, doubts, fears, and may experience depression. Here you need to understand that this is due to hormonal changes, the vulnerability of the pregnant woman’s psyche and the fact that natural fear and anxiety, to a certain extent, prepare a woman for the role of a mother.

Pregnancy is a wonderful and at the same time very exciting period in the life of every woman. And that's okay. After all, this is a natural state of the female body, during which a lot of changes occur: physiological, hormonal, psychological.
The entire body is rebuilt to fulfill a super mission: to bear and give birth to a child. During this period, a woman requires a special attitude towards herself; she needs the support and attention of loved ones.

A woman physiologically and psychologically participates in the creation of a new personality. A lot of information and interesting studies have already been collected about the prenatal period. We know that the child feels the mother's emotions. And it is mom and dad who create a space of love for the development and growth of the child.

A harmonious state for a woman and a family is when two people are pregnant. Only a woman carries a child, and a man carries a woman. This waiting period brings the family closer and minimizes the woman’s anxiety. But we are not talking about overprotection over a woman, when she is literally smothered with attention and pitied from all sides, interfering with the natural rhythm of her life.

Every person needs a feeling of fear in order to assess and avoid dangers. And the fear of a pregnant woman prepares her for the responsible process of giving birth and raising a child in the future. This is how the instinct to protect yourself and your child from possible threats.

If you feel that you cannot cope with your fears and experiences on your own and they do not give you peace day or night; Perhaps this is why relationships with family begin to deteriorate or you become depressed - seek professional help from a psychologist. Your psychological state affects the course of pregnancy and childbirth.

I wish you an easy pregnancy and a positive mood during this period. In Russian there is a very poetic expression about a pregnant woman - “a woman in pregnancy.” Hope for the best and it will definitely come.

Many will probably agree that the period of pregnancy has its own incomparable aura, when life takes on new meaning, new shades. Your existence is filled with some special inner light, a feeling of a high mission entrusted to you. Indeed, most expectant mothers, trying to convey their new condition, describe a feeling of limitless responsibility that they simply never had to deal with before. It seems that she would do everything to ensure that the child was born healthy and strong. Finally, you are freed from vague guesses and nagging doubts, now you know for sure - THIS is Pregnancy. Long-awaited or unexpected, planned or accidental, first or next. At the very beginning, as if early spring. You dream that the coming nine months will bring peace and joy to your soul. What if a wonderful dream does not come true? And the persistent reminder of others “it’s bad for you to worry” does not help get rid of contradictory, anxious thoughts and feelings.

The first months of pregnancy are a time of revolutionary changes not only in a woman’s physiology, but also in her psychology. In the inner, hidden space of her Self, the space of another person appeared, whose existence must not only be taken into account, but perhaps the whole life must be rebuilt, all plans must be changed. Not everyone can accept these changes unconditionally. Even if the child is desired and long-awaited, the enormity of the accomplished event captures all the woman’s thoughts, making her worry: “How will my life develop next? How will the pregnancy proceed? What will happen to my career? Will I be able to provide my baby with a decent future? Will I be a good mother? Familiar questions, aren't they? Such mental anguish can cause not only a feeling of fatigue and irritability, but even cause toxicosis or the threat of miscarriage.

First, don't try to solve all problems at once. Postpone them indefinitely, and perhaps some of them will be resolved without your participation. And in general, pregnancy is a unique time when you can rightfully allow yourself not to react to life’s problems. And not feel guilty for such irresponsible behavior. Remember that more than all the material benefits in the world, a child needs your attention, understanding and love.

Secondly, the most important thing now is to realize and accept your new state. Give yourself permission to be pregnant. Accepting your new state means accepting the appearance of a child in your life and learning to understand his needs. Indulge your little weaknesses - be it the desire to lie down in the middle of the day or buy yourself some delicacy. Let pregnancy enter your life not as a time of prohibitions, but as a time of new opportunities. A statement like “I won’t be able to wear my favorite skinny jeans” can be replaced with: “Finally, I’ll update my wardrobe!” It is enough to change your point of view to get a taste for change.

Pregnancy makes a woman emotionally vulnerable, prone to anxiety, and more sensitive to negative experiences. It seems that the reason for frustration is insignificant, but the eyes are “wet” and nothing makes you happy. Many women are haunted by the feeling that you are “trapped” by incessant nausea, fatigue that has come from somewhere, and constant irritability. Doctors explain this unstable emotional state by rapid hormonal changes occurring in the body. Only the understanding that such a state is natural and completely physiological does not make this difficult period easier for a woman.

Psychologists believe that increased irritability is a signal to the expectant mother that she needs to learn to relax. This valuable skill will come to the rescue not only during pregnancy or at the time of childbirth, but will also have a positive impact on your life in general. The easiest way to relax is to turn on calm music, lie down, get comfortable, and focus on your breathing. Take a deep, calm breath and slowly, relaxed exhale. Imagine that with each exhalation comes relaxation and peace.

By the way, moderate physical activity - excellent remedy from the blues.

Even if a woman had a calm disposition before pregnancy, she can now easily panic from her doctor’s abstract reasoning about the complications of pregnancy or from an eccentric friend’s story about her childbirth. Scenes from certain films or television news, a harsh remark from a boss or a fellow passenger on the subway can bring you to tears. Don’t be afraid to give vent to your emotions - cry, complain to someone, the main thing is not to drive dark thoughts and resentment into the depths of your soul. Such increased impressionability is simply a reminder that it’s time to change your impressions. Remember that your impressionability has another side - it is an opportunity to take a fresh look at the world. It’s as if during pregnancy a woman becomes a little like a child who looks at the world with interest and surprise. Take this opportunity to enjoy the finer aspects of life. Through your impressions, you convey information about the world around you to your baby. Your impressions tell him that good world or angry, colorful or sad, cheerful or sad. So try to get out into nature more often, visit concert halls or museums.

There are so many changes taking place in the soul of a pregnant woman that she may begin to feel very lonely in the whirlpool of new experiences. All the people around her have remained the same, only she is at the mercy of “pregnant feelings.” But at the same time, the experience of loneliness allows you to look deeper into your own soul, understand yourself, analyze your life experience, and perhaps re-evaluate your life values. Use loneliness for self-knowledge, but do not become too isolated, share your experiences with loved ones, consult with a psychologist, talk with other pregnant women. Now there are many opportunities to communicate with “your own kind” - these are courses in psychological preparation for childbirth, and special groups for pregnant women in a swimming pool or sports complex, and even specialized stores organize lectures for pregnant women. And most importantly, start communicating with your child, because he is the closest person to you.

The pregnancy period can give a new positive impetus to family relationships, or it can give rise to misunderstanding. But the most important thing for a woman is to receive support from her loved one. However, it is much more difficult for a man to get involved in the process of his wife’s pregnancy and become a “pregnant” dad. He has a hard time imagining that there is a little man growing inside your belly (by the way, not a stranger to him). A man is more likely to be concerned about your new quirks than about the peculiarities of your pregnancy. It is a rare representative of the stronger sex who talks with inspiration to the “tummy” or is touched by the shocks from its depths. But this does not mean that men are completely indifferent to the upcoming changes. They just experience “pregnancy” in their own way.

Take the trouble to unobtrusively educate your loved one about pregnancy. He needs simple, concrete information about what is happening at the moment. Ask him to go with you to the ultrasound. Some men, having seen with their own eyes their baby inside their tummy, completely change their attitude towards their wife’s pregnancy, as if convinced of the real existence of the baby. Use the pronoun “we” more often, this will be another sign that you are no longer alone. Unobtrusively tell your husband about how the baby behaved throughout the day. If at first there is no expected reaction, do not be upset and do not blame your husband for misunderstanding. It's just that many men don't express their emotions openly.

If you have a joint desire for your husband to be present at the birth, then he simply needs to undergo the appropriate training courses. And not at all so that he would not fall at the most inopportune moment. And so that from an uncertain witness your husband becomes an active participant in events (which he, in fact, was at the dawn of your pregnancy). Not only will he be able to gently hold your hand, but he will also be able to give you a relaxing massage and remind you of breathing correctly, will help you change positions. Such active participation in childbirth helps a man realize his paternity, and for a woman it is an indispensable support.

Sometimes a pregnant woman begins with fear to go through all the risk factors that she has been exposed to since the beginning of pregnancy, and think about how they will affect the child. Memories of drinking a glass of wine or taking aspirin when you were not yet aware of pregnancy, thoughts about the polluted air of your hometown or radiation exposure from the computer monitor on your desktop are used. You never know what else can affect the baby’s health. There are dangers here and there. Do not exaggerate the degree of risk. Congenital defects are very rare. Think that unnecessary worry is much more harmful to your child than the mistakes you made. Don’t indulge in feelings of guilt, it’s better to find a way that can compensate for your “misses” - be it active walks in the park, or balanced diet, or listening to classical music. Also, try to imagine more often how healthy, strong and beautiful your baby will be. Such fantasies have a very beneficial effect on the development of the baby.

HOW TO AVOID STRESS DURING PREGNANCY

When a woman finds out about her pregnancy, she is overcome by different feelings. If pregnancy is desired, then a feeling of joy and happiness fills her soul. For several days she simply flies on wings, and she wants to tell the whole world about this happiness... The feeling of the holiday does not leave you. Gradually, the emotional outburst subsides, and you begin to think about how to make your pregnancy and the development of your baby the happiest and most prosperous. Many pregnant mothers take a very responsible approach to bearing a child: they are seen by doctors, follow a routine and diet, and attend courses to prepare for childbirth. And everything seems to be fine, but real life, as a rule, often upsets a woman who is so vulnerable and impressionable at the time of pregnancy.

Trouble Everyday life, even if these are just annoying little things, often upset you, sometimes causing a very violent reaction. You notice that before you hardly paid attention to the same situations, but now you may even break into a scream or cry. Analyzing your behavior, you come to disappointing conclusions, and this only complicates the situation. You begin to worry about your state of mind. As a rule, the expectant mother begins to scold herself for being so unrestrained and feels a great sense of guilt in front of the child for scaring him with her behavior.

A woman wants her baby not to experience any discomfort during pregnancy. She feels that this could greatly harm his development. And very often she asks the question: how can you avoid stress and negative emotions during pregnancy?

Experts dealing with problems of psychology and pregnancy look at this issue from a completely different angle: how to make sure that the baby does not suffer from mother’s mood swings? The thing is that even the most diligent mother will not be able to avoid “wrong” behavior.

The psyche of a pregnant woman is very different from her state before pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman experiences unexpected mood swings, and various anxieties and fears associated with pregnancy begin to overcome her. She may become very upset over a trifle or unexpectedly yell at her beloved husband. For her, this is also inexplicable and alarming. And most importantly, after the incident, the expectant mother begins to suffer from a feeling of guilt in front of the child and in front of her family members. Naturally, it is very difficult to control yourself at this moment, and it is not necessary. This is the ancient mechanism of the pregnancy condition. But you can learn how to avoid unpleasant feelings of guilt and bad mood.

Actually, this is the most main secret stress management: we do not exclude the reasons (this is impossible), but we try to get out of the situation with dignity, without causing great harm baby.

In fact, everything is simple: you should talk about your emotional state with the future dad at a time when the atmosphere in the family is prosperous and calm. The future dad needs to try to explain that you need care, guardianship, understanding and sometimes you want to be pitied, like small child. After another “wrong” outburst of mood, the expectant mother gradually calms down and begins an internal (possibly voiced) dialogue with the baby. She talks through the situation, explaining that everything happens in life and nothing terrible happened. If it was a quarrel with dad, a promise is made to make peace as soon as possible: “Dad is smart and kind and will understand everything.”

When a woman enters into this dialogue, she herself gradually calms down and feels that the baby is calming down as well. There is liberation from an unpleasant situation, bad mood and feelings of guilt do not arise. And this is the very result we strive for: we cannot leave ourselves feeling guilty. After all, under the influence of your feelings, the foundation of your child’s psyche is laid. The more confident you feel, the more confident your baby will be.

“Maximalist” mothers often ask why it is not necessary to completely protect the baby from stressful situations.

Firstly, as already mentioned, this is impossible or costs incredible effort for a woman, during which she experiences great tension and discomfort. And this can have a much worse effect on the course of pregnancy than an outburst of emotions.

Secondly, it is not necessary. Let's assume that the baby does not experience any negative or negative emotions during pregnancy. And so he is born and finds himself in our world with its problems and anxieties. How hard it will be for him if he didn’t experience anything like this while he was growing up in his mother’s tummy! This can have a bad impact on the emerging character of your son or daughter. Moderate stress in the mother’s tummy prepares the baby for future difficulties. He learns to resist them before he is even born.

Therefore, this is my advice to you: do not scold yourself for unexpected actions, for mood swings. Just explain your behavior to your baby, reassure your loved ones, switch to something more pleasant and enjoy your pregnancy!

An effective method of getting out of an unpleasant situation is as follows: you prepare a warm, relaxing bath, add to the water essential oil(it should be safe for your baby), turn on your favorite melody, light the candles. Having created such a pleasant environment for yourself, you plunge into the water, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply and smoothly to the music.

Breathing should be deep, wave-like, without pauses between inhalation and exhalation. The body is as relaxed as possible. In a few minutes you will feel light. Don't stop breathing, allow yourself to figuratively dissolve in this dizziness - in a few minutes it will pass. Get maximum pleasure from an unusual state.

Without opening your eyes, you “dive” to your baby (as if plunging into your tummy) and begin to communicate with him. Having explained your behavior to him, you calm him down and be sure to tell him how much you love him and are waiting for him and that everything will be fine with him. After this, you will not be tormented by the feeling of guilt that you stressed your child with your stress, and you will be left in a bad mood.

Increased anxiety in a woman during pregnancy indicates a lack of trust. First of all, to yourself. Find within yourself those qualities that allow you to think of yourself with love and respect as a strong, kind, wonderful person. Don't judge yourself for your worries. Many women, knowing about the dangers of negative emotions during pregnancy, experience strong feeling guilt towards the baby for being tormented by anxious thoughts. Negative emotions are not harmful to the baby if you know how to throw them out and part with them. It’s worse if you carry your worries inside, trying to look calm on the outside. Learn to trust yourself, your feelings.

Love yourself in any manifestation, forgive for your weaknesses, respect for giving life to a little man.

Remember that you contain the whole world for your child. The richer the palette of your feelings, the more information the baby receives for his development. Let there be storms and calms in this world, life is life. The main thing to remember is that better world what you are simply does not exist for your child. Respect the individuality of your unborn baby. Learn to feel and understand each other during pregnancy. Mentally contact your baby, tell him about your thoughts and impressions, trust him. Fear will subside faster if you feel that it is close to you close person. Communication with a child enriches a woman’s life, gives her the opportunity to look at the world differently, and brings a huge number of new bright emotional experiences. Open your soul to these changes, do not become isolated in fears, do not rob yourself and your baby during this amazing period of life.

Features of the psychological state of a woman in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy

The inner world of a pregnant woman is mysterious and amazing, and her mood is changeable. In a short period of time, it can change several times: one moment she is happy, cheerful, cheerful, then the very next moment she is upset, upset, saddened. A pregnant woman is sensitive and irritable, she reacts much more sharply than before to the world. For some women, their appearance changes during pregnancy, for others everything remains unchanged. But all expectant mothers have their own special psychology, which changes from month to month.

Pregnancy from a psychological point of view, as well as in physiology, can be divided into three periods (trimesters):

First trimester– months of uncertainty and adaptation to a new state. The beginning of pregnancy is a period of emotional ups and downs. The woman’s feelings have not yet been determined; she moves from awareness of happiness to regret. Changes in mood are strong and difficult to understand. This is not yet a fear of childbirth, but an indefinite fear, which includes the joy of not knowing what is happening, and the fear of the unknown, and anxiety about the future of the child, and fears that her husband will move away from her during pregnancy.

Nausea, insomnia, lack of appetite as a cause or consequence of these mixed feelings make the first weeks of pregnancy tiresome.

Fear of the unknown can lead to a state of depression and dependence on loved ones.

A woman becomes more impressionable, feels more fragile physically and psychologically, she wants to be the object of attention and care. Cries often and a lot, becomes sentimental; It seems to her that no one loves her, and that she doesn’t want anything at all. Responsibility for these changes in feelings lies with hormonal changes in the body, as a result of which a woman’s state of mind in the first months approaches that of a child. In this state, the woman begins to feel like a child, which will help her in the future when communicating with the baby. However, being in this state, a woman feels that she is growing up.

Just as at first the expectant mother hesitated between joy and fear, so now infantility and maturation are struggling within her. This duality causes her anxiety and is often the reason for changes in mood, which are not always clear to others.

During this period, the woman feels unusually tired and needs more sleep due to increased energy consumption. The body adapts and adapts to the new state.

In the first trimester, depression may occur, the causes of which may be family disagreements, social and everyday problems, lack of emotional support from the child’s father, complications and illnesses.

Second trimester– months of balance. The energy balance in the body is restored. The woman gains calm and stability, her mood improves, and normal sleep returns. The expectant mother has the first sensations of a new life - fetal movement. Mothers who previously did not dare to show their joy give themselves entirely to it. Now they are confident in their motherhood.

The presence of a child has a beneficial effect not only on the thoughts and imagination of the expectant mother, but also on her body, since these are interconnected.

Third trimester - months of retreat. In the first trimester, the baby was a hope, a certainty, but not a reality; in the second trimester his presence became noticeable; in the third, it becomes the center of the thoughts, interests and activities of the expectant mother.

Gradually, the events of everyday life recede into the background, occupying the woman less and less, her thoughts concentrate on the child she is carrying. Immersion in the child is the main feature of the third trimester.

Changes in mood begin again, irritability, anxiety, fear of childbirth and pain appear.

A woman not only changes emotionally, her priorities also change: she finds it difficult to force herself to be interested in work, and devotes more time to home and her unborn child.

The last week seems longer than the nine months that preceded it. The feelings and emotions of a pregnant woman are very fragmented: on the one hand, she is looking forward to the onset of her due date, on the other, the approach of birth causes even more doubts, anxiety, and uncertainty. These sensations have their own advantage: they seem to weaken the fear of childbirth, if it arises.

The pregnancy condition is unique. All women who have gone through this period always mark it as a completely different period, very strong in terms of the level of experiences, and a specific period in terms of the complex of sensations. Some highlight the positive power of this period of life, while others highlight the power of negative sensations, pain, and illness. But it is always a very significant, unique, unlike other period of life.

Anxieties and fears of a pregnant woman

During this stressful period there appears fear of change associated with getting used to a new state. Indeed, now there will be changes in life regarding work or study, family relations and plans for the future. Even if the pregnancy was planned, it will still take time to readjust.

The most important thing at the beginning of pregnancy is to understand your condition. To realize pregnancy means to accept the appearance of a child in your life and begin to live together with him. And over the course of nine months, communicating with the baby, learn to understand his needs and desires.

Already at the very beginning of pregnancy, the expectant mother may experience worries about child health . What will he be like: healthy, weak, strong, will he have any developmental disabilities, will the analgin tablet he took last week have an effect, what to do with the computer monitor... They are going through their memories. different situations, and the imagination draws a lot of dangers for the child.

In the second third of pregnancy, the cause of unfounded fears can be various superstitions and updated previously heard opinions and comments (do not eat a lot of meat so that the child does not have hair; do not look at the fire, otherwise the child will develop a fiery nevus, etc.)

The best way to get rid of such fears is to realize that they are natural during pregnancy. But if fears begin to interfere, then you need to consult a psychologist, and also regularly receive professional advice from a doctor, and undergo all the necessary examinations scheduled on time.

Towards the end of pregnancy, a woman is overcome by fear of childbirth . Childbirth is a powerful physical and psychological experience and is associated with a whole series of fears. A woman may be afraid of the unknown, various complications, labor pain, and death. The source of this fear does not lie in fear for own life, but in anticipation of the experiences of a child who, during the birth process, goes through the stage of psychological “dying.” Birth is one of the most powerful human experiences, comparable in strength only to the experience of death.

Life in a mother’s belly is a paradise for a child: it is always warm, calm, comfortable, satisfying, all needs are satisfied by themselves, without the need to make any effort. But suddenly, at one moment, everything will change: it will become cramped, stuffy and hungry. To cope with the situation, the child will go on a journey without knowing how it will end. After all the hardships of a dangerous path, a child from a cozy, perfect world will find himself in a cold and indifferent world, where he must do everything himself. Such impressions can only be compared with a real life catastrophe. The horror that a child experiences during birth is not retained in his consciousness, since it has not yet been formed. But he experiences everything that happens around him with his whole being - body and soul.

Childbirth is quite hard, but rewarding physical and mental work.

To relieve the psychological stress associated with the anticipation of childbirth, you need to prepare for it in advance: attend “childbirth preparation schools”, take care of the organization of childbirth (choose a maternity hospital, find out about the rules, meet the doctor).

Fear of pain in childbirth is often formed in youth from various “scary” stories that arise in the memory when the time comes to give birth, from the age-old belief that giving birth is in pain.

Many women experience pain during childbirth only because they were too frightened by the anticipation of the upcoming pain, ignorance and misunderstanding of what would happen to them. Women who feel fear give birth much more difficult than those who are properly tuned to the birth process. It is fear that creates excessive muscle tension. Instead of relaxing and allowing the baby to be born calmly, the woman is afraid, nervous and tense. And this makes the pain even worse.

Therefore, in order to overcome pain, it is necessary to overcome fear. To do this, a woman needs to know what happens to her during pregnancy, how the child lives and develops, how the birth will proceed, and whether she can help herself learn to breathe correctly, relax and relieve tension.

The influence of a woman’s emotional state on the course of pregnancy and childbirth

Many researchers emphasize the adverse impact of maternal emotional stress on pregnancy and childbirth.

The anxiety experienced by a woman during pregnancy is the baby's first experience of anxiety.

In the second half of pregnancy, the fetal circulatory system develops intensively, and it receives a hormonally mediated portion of anxiety through the placenta and umbilical cord whenever the mother is in a state of anxiety. Certain functional disturbances in the body’s activity are also possible in response to prolonged anxiety or irritation of the mother. The mother's anxiety also causes a corresponding motor reaction of the fetus.

With emotional stress in the mother during pregnancy, the likelihood of premature birth and disorders labor activity, if the birth occurred on time. In the latter case, weakness of labor, signs of intrauterine fetal hypoxia, and impaired placental blood supply are more common.

A woman with a positive attitude towards her unborn child tolerates pregnancy easily, she always has great mood, she is confident in the successful course of pregnancy and childbirth, and in the unborn child she sees the joy and happiness of her life. This instills in the soul of an unborn person a sense of confidence, self-worth and security. Positive maternal emotions cause increased growth of the fetus and an increase in the level of its sensory perception.