Last trimester anxiety

To manage these last-minute jitters, it’s important to review your pregnancy “to-do list” and the decisions that need to be made before the arrival of your baby. Jotting down the things that need completing and then getting things done with the help of your partner and family members can help you feel calm.

Here are some common issues that arise once your baby is born. Take some time to review your thoughts on each and you’ll feel more in control of the uncertainty of what is to come.

• Am I going to breastfeed or bottle-feed?
• Have I talked to my partner about co-parenting our baby?
• Have I talked with my baby’s pediatrician about safety precautions?
• Will we circumcise my baby (if he is a boy)?
• Will we have guests come visit us in the hospital/birthing center or at home?
• Is the nursery ready?
• Is my hospital bag packed?
• Have I discussed my birth plan with my doctor?

Feel free to include or eliminate any specific issues of this list and talk about them with your partner, family members or doctor. Sharing your concerns makes them less daunting. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to clear your mind and feel prepared.

Take some time to practice the relaxation techniques you have learned with our prenatal program and childbirth classes. If you are feeling very anxious and can’t sleep, visit our activity catalog and practice 5-10 minutes of relaxation. They may help clear your mind and, as an added benefit, help you prepare for the big moment. Remember, there are some things you can control, like completing the list above, but with childbirth and life in general some things are out of our control. Try to separate what you can do and what you must accept as it is. Learning to decipher the controllable and uncontrollable situations will allow you to participate in all the wonderful palette of colors that life has to offer.