Understanding Stress During Pregnancy and How Counselling Can Help
Healthy Stress: Part of Everyday Life
A certain level of stress is normal and even helpful. It keeps us motivated, alert, and ready to adapt to new situations like preparing for birth or adjusting routines.
Short periods of stress trigger your pulse to quicken and your hormones to surge, releasing more cortisol and adrenaline. This focuses your energy and enhances your performance. When the stressful moment passes, the body naturally returns to balance.
Healthy stress can look like:
Feeling nervous before an appointment or ultrasound
Worrying about changes in your body
Planning for the baby’s arrival
Learning to balance work, rest, and new responsibilities
These experiences, when temporary and manageable, are part of how we grow and prepare for motherhood.
When Stress Becomes Unhealthy
Stress becomes a concern when it’s intense, unrelenting, or leaves you feeling stuck. Chronic stress can exhaust both the mind and body, affecting sleep, concentration, and mood. Physically, ongoing stress may contribute to muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, or changes in appetite. Emotionally, it may feel like anxiety, irritability, or a sense of being “on edge.”
Common stressors resulting in unhealthy or chronic stress include:
Ongoing relationship tension
Major life transitions or loss
Previous trauma resurfacing during pregnancy
Lack of emotional or social support
When stress remains high for long periods, the body doesn’t get a chance to reset, which can impact rest, emotional balance, and overall health during pregnancy.
How Psychotherapy Can Support You
Pregnancy is not only a physical journey but also a profound emotional one. When stress feels too heavy to manage alone, reaching out to a therapist can be a meaningful way to receive support and find your footing again.
Psychotherapy provides a safe and compassionate space to explore thoughts and feelings without judgment, and helps you:
Identify stress triggers and patterns
Learn relaxation techniques to promote overall health
Process fears or unresolved emotions about birth, parenting, or relationships
Strengthen your support system and communication with your partner
Cultivate self-compassion and confidence as you prepare for motherhood
By talking openly and learning coping strategies, you can build resilience that benefits both you and your baby.
Nurturing Your Wellbeing
Every pregnancy is different, and so is every emotional journey. Stress is a normal part of life, especially during times of change. What matters most is how you respond to it and the support you have around you.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply want to take care of your emotional wellbeing during this time, therapy can be a gentle space to pause and care for yourself - just as you’re caring for your baby.
