Show your support
- **Engage in Relaxing Activities**: Activities like warm baths, deep breathing, or gentle yoga can relax you, helping release oxytocin. - **Listen to Music You Love**: Listening to soothing or uplifting music can help increase oxytocin and improve your mood. ### 2. **Connect with Friends and Family** - **Stay Connected Socially**: Spending time with supportive friends or family, whether in person, by phone, or online, can help boost your mood and release oxytocin. Feeling heard and understood by others fosters this hormone. - **Join Supportive Communities**: Look for prenatal or parenting groups, either in your local area or online. Connecting with others in a similar stage can offer comfort and reduce feelings of isolation. ### 3. **Physical Touch** - **Hugging or Being Close with Loved Ones**: If you have close friends, family, or pets, hugging or simply spending physical time near them releases oxytocin.
- **Self-Massage**: Massaging your belly, arms, or hands with a gentle lotion or oil can help you feel connected to your body and baby. This can also promote relaxation. ### 4. **Bonding with Your Baby** - **Talk or Sing to Your Baby**: Talking to your baby, visualizing their future, or singing can create a bonding moment that boosts oxytocin. - **Mindful Breathing and Visualization**: Taking a few minutes to relax, breathe deeply, and visualize your baby growing can be both calming and help release oxytocin. This is also a great way to connect emotionally with your pregnancy. ### 5. **Exercise and Movement** - **Gentle Exercise**: Light movement, like walking or prenatal yoga, can help release feel-good hormones, including oxytocin. - **Dancing**: Even simple movements to music at home can help improve mood, reduce stress, and release oxytocin.
### 6. **Consider a Doula or Supportive Professional** - A doula, counselor, or prenatal specialist can offer you emotional support, guidance, and physical relaxation techniques. The emotional support from a professional can be especially valuable and uplifting.
Don't worry, I cried alot during mine and was under periods of intense stress, however my baby was born at 40+6 and a healthy 9lb 9oz!
Thank you @Melisa @Rebecca
I cried sooooooo much during my whole pregnancy, baby came out healthy and well. I just prayed to God to protect him from my emotional state and put him in a safety bubble where he wouldn’t feel my pain - I had to give it up to God because psychologically it would say hormones and emotional signals can cross the placenta onto baby such as cortisol when you’re stressed. Try to also help yourself independently by working the relaxation and happy/love hormone -oxytocin. Oxytocin is released naturally during positive social interactions, physical touch, and moments of relaxation and joy. Here are some ways to increase oxytocin levels during pregnancy: ### 1. **Self-Compassion and Self-Care** - **Practice Self-Compassion**: Remind yourself of the strength and resilience you have. Speak kindly to yourself, and practice positive affirmations.