Mental wellbeing

How are you feeling today?

Your mental health and emotional wellbeing is as important as your physical health. Planning for a pregnancy can be an emotional and sometimes overwhelming time for many women and families.  Many women ask themselves questions like:

• Will I make a good mother?
• How might this change my relationships with friends and family?
• How will I manage financially?
• Will I still have a life and identity of my own?
• What happens if we don’t conceive easily?

It is very common to have these thoughts and feelings whilst you prepare for a pregnancy. It is good time to think about how you will look after your mental health and wellbeing. Evidence suggests there are a number of steps that can help:

• Connect with other people to…
  • help build belonging and self-worth
  • give you an opportunity to share positive experience
  • provide emotional support
• Be physically active. Your mental wellbeing is closely linked with your physical wellbeing. 
• Pay attention to the present moment, which is often called mindfulness. The video below gives you an introduction to mindfulness.

You may find The Pregnancy and Post-Birth Wellbeing Plan from Tommy's charity useful to use.