ways to relieve stress while pregnant

brendasduke · January 2012

Hey guys,

I've been pretty stressed out lately and I am trying to find ways to calm myself down without resorting to alcohol and intense exercise (my nonpregnant coping mechanisms)

I think I've discovered the new wine.. Since I can't have wine while pregnant. Apparently, apples contain quercetin which lowers cortisol and dark chocolate is really good for relieving stress too. Black tea opens up your blood vessels too. I drank one cup of black tea (not enough caffeine to be harmful), 3 squares of chocolate, and an apple and I feel soo calm. Also sprayed vanilla perfume and lit a lavender-scented candle. I've been under intense family stress lately and my bp is up, so I am suprised these things actually worked.

Let me know if you have anything to add.

other things ive read that help:

eat quercetin- apples, green tea, brocolli

be more assertive

drink black tea

write your feelings down- release them in a note then get rid of the note

avoiding people who make you feel stressed if possible

bergamot, chamomile, lavender, jasmine, rose, sage, sandalwood and vanilla

dark chocolate

singing

walking in a forest

potassium - spinach, romaine lettuce, bananas, oranges

learning- read/go to the library

milk and cereal both

religion/spirituality

soothing music (eg. classical)

positivity/ positive people

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa · January 2012

How about sex???

bingham101 · January 2012

icoelho:

How about sex???

This!

salt78 · January 2012

Yoga.

brendasduke · January 2012

good point! shouldn't have left that one off..

jessicazoey1113 · January 2012

My favorite!

avoiding people who make you feel stressed if possible Geeked

jessicazoey1113 · January 2012

My favorite!

avoiding people who make you feel stressed if possible Geeked

jessicazoey1113 · January 2012

My favorite!

avoiding people who make you feel stressed if possible Geeked

sarahsunshinebride · January 2012

You've probably already been told this, but a prenatal massage is an amazing stress reliever. I had one a few weeks ago and it felt incredible. I hear you on the stress thing - I was driving out of the Safeway parking lot this morning and a woman in a Mercedes pulled right in front of me, ignoring a stop sign. It totally infuriated me and I imagined myself hitting the gas and ramming into the back of her car, on purpose and repeatedly (I have an 11-year-old Ford truck so the damage would really have been on her end). Needless to say, I restrained myself, pulled out of the parking lot and drove home like a normal person. I guess I need some of those stress relievers myself...

frostnoel · January 2012

I agree with PP about prenatal massage. However, you have to find the massage therapist. I'm "breaking up" with mine because she turned out to be more stressful (always late and then ran long to compensate, which made life difficult because I have 2 older kids that I needed to arrange care for).