How Journalling Helped my Prenatal Anxiety
Having a baby in a pandemic is no joke, y’all. I’ve been pretty obsessive about watching local numbers, the daily government briefings, and I even make more morning matcha to the sound of my Alexa reading the news update for even more COVID pandemonium. That being said, in my first trimester, thinking about the pandemic was only one sliver of my worries. Between the ups & downs of life, planning ahead for what maternity leave looks like as a self-employed person, worrying about my nutrition when all I felt like eating was a buttery english muffin (and you’re looking at someone who pre-pregnancy ordered gluten-free off the menu by choice), you could say that anxiety was a regular part of my life, like so many other pregnant people.
Anxiety is a feeling, and it’s also a clinical condition. If anxiety is interfering with your quality of life, talk to a trained mental health professional who can help you along your journey. And mental illness or not, I personally believe everyone can benefit from talking to a therapist, so there’s nothing to be ashamed about when reaching out for help.
However, as someone who is in-tune with the world of wellness, I was really interested in managing my anxious thoughts through lifestyle practices. When I was able, eating healthy foods, gentle movement, fresh air, and a good bubble bath all made me feel well, but one practice that really made me pause and express gratitude was journalling.
Starting a Journalling Practice from Nothing
I’ve never been one to keep a diary (not since my mom confronted me about my diary entries all the way back in elementary school, at least…), so getting into a routine felt unnatural at first. I was so glad to get in touch with the people from Blossom + Pear who were kind enough to send me a pregnancy journal. What I found super helpful was that the journal was divided by weeks and had several prompts to guide my writing. I didn’t have to do it every day, but checking in once a week was a helpful practice to get the ball rolling.
Bonding in Pregnancy
While I’m a spiritual person, I didn’t have the instant spiritual connection to my baby from the moment of conception like some people do. With all the stress going on in life, I found it challenging to bond with my baby in the first trimester, especially when there’s no bump to talk to, or any biofeedback by feeling any kicks. I decided to use my pregnancy journal as a way to talk to my baby, and have an heirloom for them to read when they’re older and feel connected with me. Through all the stress that happens during a pandemic pregnancy, it gave me such joy to have a moment once a week to write and connect to my baby.
If journaling isn’t for you, try reading books, singing, or just chatting to your baby. Get your partner involved in chatting to the bump too in order to boost their bond as well.
This journal was kindly sent by Blossom & Pear.