HOW TO BALANCE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PREGNANCY HORMONES?

Written by Feba Maryann  

This is for all the soon-to-be mothers out there.    

Do you snap at your partner for the smallest issues? Are you overwhelmed with hundreds of different emotions every minute? Is your changing physique affecting your self-confidence? Is planning for a new member causing too much anxiety? Do you feel like the only thing you do with your partner is fight?    

All these hormonal changes could take a huge toll on your relationship. Making the change from a being couple to new parents is hard. Balancing a relationship along with your pregnancy can be overwhelming as it’s a time of compromise and adjustment. Your body keeps changing to accommodate the growing life inside you. Hence, your progesterone and estrogen levels will be off the charts which explains your conflicting emotions and mood swings.   

You could also be dealing with a lot of stress while planning to welcome a new child to your family. Sudden outbursts are the result of sudden hormonal fluctuations. You could feel less attached to your partner, which affects the dynamics of your relationship. Anxiety can also trigger an inflammatory response in your nervous system, which harms the baby.   

Let me show you how to keep your hormones from ruining your relationship or harming your baby.   

Your Health    

If you have older kids or work full-time, you might not have enough time to look after yourself. Make sure you ask your kids and your partner to help you out with basic household chores.   

Assign some time for your body to rest. Make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep in a comfortable sleeping position during the night. Do not stay on your feet for more than one hour without taking a break. Also try to take short naps whenever possible throughout the day, this helps to ease your physical discomfort which reduces your irritability.    

Eat healthy foods as frequently as possible, it helps to fuel your body’s energy needs throughout the day. It also helps in supplying essential nutrients for the growth of your unborn child. A mild exercise routine helps with releasing endorphins and managing stress hormones. Mediation helps you to maintain your inner peace. Snacking on high nutrient snacks up to six times a day could also prove to be beneficial.    

Your Relationship    

It is common to struggle with certain strains in your relationship. As you shift your focus to your baby’s wellbeing, he might feel left out.  Your partner might not be able to establish an emotional connection with your unborn baby. To resolve that issue, include him in your journey, make him feel your baby’s kicks and movements. Financial issues could worsen your problems. Chart out a map which includes sudden and future expenses so that you have a clear vision of your monetary needs. You might also feel less interested in sex than you used to be which might provoke other issues.   

The base of a good relationship during your pregnancy is clear communication. You might feel confused about the future of your love life. All you have to do is talk it out with your partner, the good and bad, the worries and excitements. It helps in clearing a lot of misunderstandings, conflicts and anger. Raw and honest communication plays a pivotal role in strengthening your relationship. Talk about how you would want to parent your child, the traditions you would want to keep. Be honest about your sexual needs to avoid miscommunication. Listen to your partner’s concerns and worries. Solve your problems together with compromise, understanding and negotiation.    

Your Relationship With Your Older Kids And Family   

Looking after your older kids as well as nurturing your unborn child can be incredibly taxing for your body. You might overexert yourself by staying on-the-go all day to cater to the needs of your older children. Teach them to look after their own needs and to clean up after themselves. Prepare them for the changes that will come into effect once the baby comes home. Give them the freedom to be more independent as you will not have enough time to look after your baby as well as your kids. Create a chart with shared responsibilities between the members of your family.   

You might not be able to feel happy 24/7 during your pregnancy. These tips will help you to understand your partner better whilst helping you to solve any conflict before the baby arrives. Find a new hobby or keep a journal to help vent your emotions. If you feel like your situation keeps spiralling out of control, consider professional help.    

All new parents feel conflicted at this stage of their lives, you’re not the only ones! So, relax and take life one step at a time.