Staying healthy during your pregnancy
Mental health during pregnancy |
What about mental health concerns in pregnancy?Pregnancy is often seen as a happy time for the parents to be. It is normal for you and your partner to feel many different emotions as you prepare to become parents. You may find your mood changes quickly from excited or happy to sad or anxious. If feelings of sadness or anxiety don't get better, it could be a sign of something more serious. Did you know that mental health concerns like depression and anxiety can start or get worse during pregnancy, not just postpartum? In fact about 20% of women suffer from perinatal depression and/or anxiety. Perinatal depression can happen at any time in the pregnancy. It is more common in the second and third trimesters. What are the symptoms of depression?
What are the possible effects?Mental health disorders in pregnancy can have many effects. They can affect you, your partner, your baby and your pregnancy. Some of the possible effects are:
What can you and your partner do?
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Pregnancy and Oral Health |
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy has many benefits for you and your baby. Did you know…
Visiting the dentist and the hygienist
What can you do to help?
Morning sickness
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Stress |
Stress is our bodies' reaction to a real or imagined threat or challenge. Stress is a part of everyday life. Everyday stress helps you to focus, problem solve and get a task done. The body reacts to this stress in many ways, such as your heart rate goes up and your muscles become tense, making you ready to take action. Once the stress is gone, the body returns to normal. Sadly, stress can also last a long time and be overwhelming for some people. The body and brain are constantly reacting to this type of stress. Overtime it can affect your mental and physical health, including during pregnancy. Learning ways to deal with stress before pregnancy can help improve your mental and physical health during pregnancy, the health of your baby and the well-being of your family, such as:
Helping you adapt to the emotional changes and challenges of pregnancy and becoming new parents. What are some signs of stress?
What can you do to lower your stress level? You can try to:
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Want to speak with a Registered Dietitian?
Call Health Connect Ontario and ask to speak with a Registered Dietitian. Available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm by calling 811 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or starting a chat.
Do you have more questions about parenting?
- Speak with a Public Health Nurse. Call the Ottawa Public Health Info Centre at 613-PARENTS [613-727-3687] (TTY: 613-580-9656) or email Ottawa Public Health at ParentinginOttawa@ottawa.ca
- Connect with a Public Health Nurse and other parents on the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page
- There are a variety of services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa
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