quick clicks

pregnancy today articles

pregnancy today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Being a Laid-back Mama

Beating Stress Is Good for Expectant Moms

By Katerie Prior

Another way to beat stress is to make time to baby yourself. Even if you have a lot of work to do, putting aside a few moments for yourself is an excellent way to beat stress. Knowing that in a few months she wouldn't be getting any sleep, Werner supplemented her day with naps. "I pretty much slept the rest of the time," she says. "Seriously, I slept every possible moment."

Getting a prenatal massage can also beat stress. Not only can it relieve aching back muscles, legs and other extremities but massage therapists claim it improves circulation and may help you sleep better. If you can't find a massage therapist in your area, a warm (not hot) bath is another way to ease sore leg and back muscles.

And don't forget to support your support network, too. You should also make time for your partner, family and friends. With your partner, do something you both love to do, such as having a romantic dinner or going to see a movie.

If you're still busy, have your family or friends go shopping with you to pick out things for the baby or join you on a walk. Though she was confined to bed rest, Weaver took an evening to go over to a friend's house to spend time with her old co-workers. "We all sat in chairs around a table and talked," she says. "It was really nice to get out of the house and see them all again."

Want to see more?

• Yoga: An Ancient Practice for Pregnancy in the Modern World
• Easing Expectant Fears: How to Relax and Enjoy Your Pregancy
• Write from the Beginning
• Talk about it!