The 6 Most Important Advantages Of Going To The Psychologist During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is not only a process in which a clear physical transformation occurs. It is, furthermore, a phenomenon that has significant psychological repercussions on the woman and, by extension, also on her partner (if there is one).
This occurs especially in the case of first-time mothers, but to a greater or lesser extent, it also occurs in practically any pregnancy, regardless of those that have occurred before. It is not only about the changes at the hormonal level that occur in the pregnant woman’s body, but also about the modifications in her context, in her roles and in the expectations that she must know how to manage, among other things.
In short, there are many psychological and social elements that come into play when expecting a baby. And it is precisely for this reason that many psychologists offer specialized services for those who must adapt to pregnancy and everything that it entails. Therefore, here we will see a summary of the benefits of going to the psychologist during pregnancy.
Perinatal psychology is the branch of psychology that It is responsible for investigating and intervening in all the emotional, behavioral and cognitive processes linked to pregnancy and motherhood. during the first months of raising the baby.
This is an area of ​​work that helps people who do not have to be developing psychopathology, but who in any case experience special needs linked to their way of adapting to the new situation of pregnancy.
Thus, psychologists who offer services in perinatal psychology give support for both pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, as well as, in many cases, their partners. In addition, it is also common to provide support to women who have suffered an unwanted abortion or who have fertility problems and the obstacles when trying to become a mother affect their quality of life.
The benefits of going to the psychologist during pregnancy
This is a summary of the main advantages of going to the psychologist while going through pregnancy.
1. Advice is offered
In psychology services for pregnant women it is possible to find behavioral guidelines to psychologically adapt to both pregnancy and motherhood once the baby has been had. This helps you know how to manage all the challenges that this new way of life entails without your own mental health suffering.
For example, information is provided on how to manage schedules, how to distribute responsibilities within the context of the couple without fueling conflicts, how to combine moments of rest with those of work, etc.
2. Promote self-care programs
In the previous point we have seen that In sessions with the psychologist it is possible to obtain information on very varied aspects associated with pregnancy.
However, it is also possible to go beyond simply receiving information and get involved in psychological training programs to be able to move from words to actions, especially in something as important as self-care.
Thus, Psychologists work by generating activities and contexts that facilitate the maintenance of physically and psychologically healthy habits. In day to day. This involves doing self-motivation exercises to follow schedules, Mindfulness to keep anxiety at bay, establishing triggers for action to avoid postponing our responsibilities related to diet or a good rest, etc.
4. Helps manage fears
Pregnancy is associated with all a series of expectations and forecasts about what may happen.
In these cases, it is relatively easy to fall into obsessive thoughts about everything that can go wrong, something that is not unusual considering that having a baby is an experience capable of changing our lives: in the absence of information, it is common worry about the extent to which problems may appear during pregnancy, childbirth, adaptation to the role of mother, etc.
Therefore, in the sessions with the psychologist The tools are offered to manage this anxiety by adopting a constructive mentality.
5. Enhance self-knowledge
During pregnancy it is easy for future mothers to come into contact with parts of themselves that they were unaware of until that moment.
That’s why, Perinatal psychology offers help when it comes to exploiting the potential for self-knowledge of this type of experiences. For example, it is taught to keep an emotions diary, to detect problematic forms of emotional management (binge eating, hair pulling, etc.), to understand the scale of values ​​and priorities that is followed, and more.
6. Help is offered for possible psychological disorders
In some cases, pregnancy can act as a trigger (not the sole cause) of psychological disorders that must be treated in therapy. Given this, It is important to detect these problems as soon as possible and solve them with professional support.
Are you looking for psychological assistance during the pregnancy and motherhood process?
If you are interested in having professional support in the field of perinatal psychology, contact our team of professionals. In Vibra Wellness We offer psychological assistance both in person at our center in Madrid and through online therapy.
