Skip to content

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can bring up a spectrum of emotions. Finding out that you’re pregnant can bring joy, dread, relief, fear, excitement, anxiety and more. Finding out that you’re not pregnant can echo a similar spectrum of emotions. How are you navigating the results of a pregnancy test?

Were there days, weeks, months, or years of efforts awaiting a pregnancy result? Is your emotional reaction what you thought it would be? Do you feel boxed into having the “expected” emotional response based on the outcome? Do you have someone to talk to about those unexpected feelings and the guilt for having them?

Do you have a support person or support system with whom to share news of a pregnancy? What does that internal dialogue look like if you don’t? How are you feeling about sharing this information with others? Are you bursting to tell someone or crippled with anxiety because of a history of miscarriage? Is it difficult to find the motivation to get out of bed or see people after reeling from the devastation of a negative pregnancy test?

What has the journey to pregnancy looked like? Has there been strain on the relationship due to infertility? Has sex become an obligation? Was there choice in the pregnancy? Was there intimate partner violence, abuse, infidelity, rape, incest?

Pregnancy is impactful to every aspect of our lives. How much of that impact are you able to experience with or process with others? In fact, pregnancy can be lonely. We can feel alone in our emotions. Even with incredible support systems, we can feel lonely.

It doesn’t have to be so lonely. In therapy, you can explore those emotions. You can verbalize the things that you fear may be met with unfavorable or judgmental reactions by even the best intentioned. In therapy you can examine your identity and how it’s changing during your pregnancy. You can learn communication skills to navigate relationship dynamics, preparing for changes in your professional life, and asserting concerns and questions for your health care. You can explore trauma and intergenerational patterns that may drive your fear about becoming a parent. Preparing for a baby is more than the doctor’s appointments, a gender reveal, genetic testing, baby showers, pregnancy classes and birth plans. Preparing for a baby is also about preparing you as a mom. Therapy can be a space that allows you to have consistent, undivided time with a caring professional who will guide you through what you’re feeling each step of the way.

Written by:

Lauren Pena MFT, ATR, LMFT # 130687
lpena.ip@soultenders.com

Other Related Blog Articles

The word "gaslighting" on a letter board in a peach beige background.

All About Gaslighting: Understanding the Different Types of Gaslighting

Learn what is gaslighting in a relationship, and beyond that—the other forms of gaslighting that might be affectin...
Category: Patient & Families, Uncategorized
Graphic of a person under pressure in mostly yellow.

Life Under Pressure: Finding Relief and Resilience with the Help of Therapy

Peer pressure, academic pressure, social pressure, relationship pressure—therapy can help us deal with stressors t...
Category: Patient & Families, Uncategorized
Two people standing on either side of a yellow line.

Learning About Boundaries and How to Set Them with the Help of Therapy

Setting boundaries in a relationship, personal or professional, is important for our mental wellbeing. Learn how to ...
Category: Patient & Families, Uncategorized

Soultenders Main Blog Categories

Notice To Users / Disclaimer: Soultenders blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, medical treatment, or therapy. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding any mental health symptom or medical condition. Never disregard professional psychological or medical advice nor delay in seeking professional advice or treatment because of something you have read on Soultenders Blog.