grief counseling for an entire family

Posted on: 10 May 2022

Pregnancy can be a joyous time as you prepare to welcome a new child into the world. However, people with mental health challenges may find that pregnancy brings a whole new set of concerns. Fortunately, these concerns are not insurmountable. With the help of a mental health care professional, you can navigate your pregnancy while protecting your mental and emotional well-being. Here are four tips that can help you take care of your mental health throughout your pregnancy:

1. Work with your counselor to develop a mental health plan ahead of time. 

Adequate preparation can help you avoid many of the mental health pitfalls that occur during pregnancy. If you're not already in counseling, it's a good idea to start. Finding a therapist that you feel comfortable with can take some time. Ideally, you should be established as a patient by the time you conceive. Your therapist can help you work out a mental health plan to follow during your pregnancy. This plan can include ways to soothe yourself and trusted people you can call if negative thoughts and feelings arise.

2. Continue seeking therapy throughout your pregnancy. 

You should continue seeking therapy throughout your pregnancy. Weekly meetings with your therapist will give you the chance to check in about your mental health and overall feelings regarding your pregnancy. Don't be afraid to increase the frequency of your therapy visits if necessary. Seeing your therapist more often can help you manage more serious mental health concerns. Your therapist will work with you to find the frequency of care that offers the best results.

3. Talk to your doctor about medication options. 

Medication can be helpful for people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, not all medications are safe to take during pregnancy. Your psychiatrist may want to transition you to a different medication before you conceive. However, you shouldn't automatically assume that you can't take your medication while pregnant. Your psychiatrist and OB-GYN doctor may decide that the benefits outweigh the risks of continuing medication since a mother's mental health also has an effect on the outcome of a pregnancy. 

4. Remember that pregnancy can affect your thoughts and feelings. 

Finally, you should remember that pregnancy will affect your thoughts and feelings. The hormones and physical changes that pregnancy bring can cause you to feel emotional and unsettled. Reminding yourself that these emotions have a biological basis and will pass can help you feel more at peace.

For more information, visit a family center—such as Family Center for Recovery—or speak with a pregnancy mental health professional.