empowereD perinataL

During my first pregnancy, I was considered high-risk, but most of the pregnancy went smoothly. I was happy, healthy, and things didn’t go wrong until I was unexpectedly induced at 33 weeks. However, my second pregnancy was much different. The difficulty came early on—at 26 weeks pregnant, one of my doctors became concerned and almost induced me. The next 10 weeks were spent living in uncertainty—would my baby be allowed to grow long enough to be healthy? Would I have another unexpected NICU stay? Would my health sustain us long enough for me to bring her to full-term?

These questions lingered every day. Living through a high-risk pregnancy can bring constant mental and emotional stress, but I was determined to do what I could to support both my baby and my mental health during pregnancy.

I made empowered choices to support my mental wellness during pregnancy and decrease stress wherever I could. This meant I needed to adapt my original expectations for what I thought my pregnancy would look like and pivot to the reality I was living each day.

I chose to leave work a month earlier than planned. This was really hard because it meant letting my therapy clients down and ending sooner than I originally told them.

I chose to take it slow at home and not add extra responsibilities to my plate. This meant I got many extra snuggles and giggles with my toddler—time I deeply cherish.

I chose to speak up more in doctor appointments, stating my needs clearly and advocating for the best care and support I could receive.

I chose to ask for and accept extra support when it was offered from family and friends. Not everyone can offer support, but I can make the choice to accept it when it’s available or ask for help when I need it.

Whatever your situation may be—whether you are navigating challenges in pregnancy or postpartum—I want to encourage you to continually check in with yourself and ask: “What are my needs right now, and how can I support them?”

This small but powerful check-in can go a long way in protecting your perinatal mental health when the twists and turns of pregnancy or postpartum rock the boat and bring unexpected challenges.