| The emotions play an important part during pregnancy. | | | | Going out for the evening to the cinema or a pub, |
| The changing balance of the hormones upsets the | | | | or for a meal. |
| emotional balance, and the expectant mother may find | | | | Buying a new outfit, or, if the prospective mother |
| that she swings from feeling excited and happy to | | | | enjoys making things, getting some fabric to make a |
| being miserable and depressed. Even if she is pleased | | | | garment. |
| at the news of her pregnancy she will feel anxious | | | | Joining an evening or day class and learning a new |
| and worried about the prospect of becoming a | | | | skill. |
| mother. These fears will soon pass, especially if she | | | | Going along to a local Mother and Baby Group, |
| receives the support, advice and comfort she requires | | | | Young Wives Group, or a branch of the group MAMA |
| from her partner, family and doctor. Persistent | | | | (Meet A Mum Association). It is easy to talk over |
| depression and anxiety may affect her sleep and | | | | problems with other prospective or new mothers, and |
| appetite, which will in turn affect her baby. She must | | | | encouraging to find that they suffer depression also. |
| therefore discuss any problems with her doctor or | | | | Many new expectant mothers feel guilty because they |
| health visitor and try to change her attitude of mind. | | | | are depressed; they feel inadequate at the thought of |
| The old saying that a happy mother will produce a | | | | so much responsibility, and they feel insecure at the |
| happy baby has got an element of truth in it. Doctors | | | | thought that their husbands may not love them so |
| will only supply tranquillisers for extreme cases of | | | | much as they advance into pregnancy. This is when it |
| depression, because of the need to avoid | | | | is important that the prospective mother realises that |
| unnecessary drug-taking during pregnancy. | | | | these mixed and complicated emotions are all part of |
| This is a list of alternatives to drugs, which can help to | | | | her condition and the problems exist only in her own |
| change the emotional state. Can you add to the list? | | | | mind. |
| A few days away on holiday or visiting relations. | | | | |