Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your partner and your child.
-Tina Brown
How was your road to pregnancy? For the lucky few, it’s easy and they get pregnant on the first try. For the rest of us, it tends to not be so easy. Sometimes it’s waiting month after month for the positive pregnancy test to show up. For others, it involves visits to a specialist and invasive treatments in order to get pregnant. Know that you’re not alone with your struggles on your road to pregnancy. I’ve been there too, and it’s not easy.
Read on for some short, quick information on things you may be grieving from your road to pregnancy, deeper issues that may show up during pregnancy, and calming self-care ideas to use during pregnancy.
Things you may be grieving from your road to pregnancy:
- Not getting pregnant on the first try
- Getting pregnant right away
- Wanting kids closer together
- Waiting for your partner to be ready for a baby
- Getting pregnant unexpectedly
- Wanting kids farther apart
- Needing fertility treatments
- Previous chemical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage for pregnancy loss
What else would you add here?
Deeper issues that may show up during pregnancy:
- Being too hard on yourself
- Grief and loss
- Lack of self-confidence
- Not feeling worthy
- Perfectionism
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Depression
- Trauma from your past
- Not feeling good enough
What else would you add to this list?
Calming self-care ideas to use during pregnancy:
- Rest your body
- Focus on nutrition
- Hydrate
- Meditate
- Connect emotionally with loved ones
- Find a great mantra like “Be here now” or “Be still”
- Do gentle stretches
- Journal
What other self-care ideas would you add to this list?
Struggling to get pregnant (and stay pregnant) are some of the hardest things to deal with in life. If you’re currently struggling on the road to pregnancy and motherhood, know that you’re not alone. Please reach out to your doctor or a therapist in your area if you’re needing more help in your life right now. I’m thinking of you and sending lots of support and compassion your way.
