INTELLIGENT PARENTING This covers a much overlooked part of pregnancy, viz parenting during pregnancy ... yes, parenting begins during pregnancy and you will find some interesting ideas here on getting a headstart with parenting.

Stress in Pregnancy

Stress in life is unavoidable.

WHAT IS AVOIDABLE IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS.

Stress can be external like traffic jam, your work atmosphere, managing your house, looking after the members of the house, arranging a party and all the things that govern your normal life.

It can be internal too, triggered by the thought process inside you as a reaction to everything that happens outside.

In toto, THE ONLY THING THAT AFFECTS YOUR BODY IS YOUR RESPONSE BY THOUGHTS AND ACTION.

All these things cause release of stress hormones in your body which crosses the placenta to cause the same response in him, and that little baby is caught totally unawares and his body reacts for the ‘fight or flight ‘ response by increasing the heart rate, increasing the breathing frequency and intensity, perspiration, increased blood sugars etc.

Any kind of stress elicits a response from your child and he starts kicking and shows increased movements.

Studies have shown that children born to stressed mothers show behavioral changes later in life.

So what can we do about it?

1. The first step is to be aware that you are stressed and take a decision to control it for the benefit of your baby. The most difficult thing to do at the time of stress, especially if it is triggering anger in you is wanting to control it.
2. Once you are sure, you want to control it, take deep breaths slowly and deliberately, before you even open your mouth to say something.
3. Try to sit as standing gives your body an added advantage to react to the stress.
4. Go and take a warm shower or listen to your favourite music or do some form of exercise.
5. Take a short massage and confide your feeling to somebody or a book. YES, TO JOURNA L DOWN YOUR ANGER IS THE BEST WAY TO KILL IT…maybe by buying some time for you.
6. DO MEDITATION DAILY. It is the best form of attacking any kind of stress in your body acutely or for control on a long term basis.
7. Involve yourself in practicing yoga.

Meditation and Yoga, is mentioned last but comes under the first preference because these are the only means by which you may achieve a permanent benefit.

If practiced daily, they will shift you to a state of awareness and physical agility, which will empower your body, mind and soul to respond to any kind of situation in life.

It can teach you to proact and not react and to be a bystander in the process of life rather than a trapped soul in it.