Due to physical changes and reduced mobility, pregnant women may experience psychological shifts. Many feel a conflicting mix of excitement and anxiety, leading to emotional instability, depression, or even perceived weakness—causing reluctance to move even when all is normal.
As the due date approaches, fear, anxiety, or unease about childbirth may intensify, making some women dread the prospect.Some expectant mothers worry excessively about how to handle labor, such as whether they will reach the hospital in time if early signs appear. Consequently, they rush to the hospital at the slightest hint of change, or even insist on early admission before labor begins and without any abnormalities, pestering obstetricians with requests.
Therefore, psychological care during late pregnancy should focus on the following issues:
1. Understand the principles of childbirth and related scientific knowledge
The best way to overcome fear of childbirth is for expectant mothers to understand the entire process and potential scenarios. Many hospitals or institutions offer prenatal classes ("maternity schools") that educate expectant mothers and their partners during the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy. These classes specifically cover relevant medical knowledge and how mothers can cooperate during delivery.This significantly helps reduce psychological stress, alleviate mental burdens, ensure proper prenatal care, and enable timely detection and treatment of various abnormalities.
2. Prepare for childbirth
Preparations encompass late-pregnancy health checkups, psychological readiness, and material arrangements. All preparations aim for the safety of both mother and baby, making the process itself a source of comfort for the expectant mother.When a pregnant woman understands that her family and doctors have made extensive preparations and considered potential contingencies, she gains a sense of reassurance.
After the third trimester, especially as the due date approaches, the husband should remain at home to provide emotional support for his wife.
3. Avoid Premature Hospital Admission Without Medical Need
Undoubtedly, being in the hospital when labor begins is the safest approach.However, prolonged waiting after early admission may not be beneficial. First, hospital facilities are limited; if every expectant mother arrives early, the environment cannot match the comfort, quiet, and convenience of home. Second, extended waiting periods after admission can create anxiety, especially when observing later arrivals giving birth, which may be emotionally triggering. Additionally, events within the maternity ward can affect patients' moods, sometimes in unfavorable ways.Therefore, expectant mothers should maintain emotional stability, keep their minds calm, and patiently await the moment of delivery. Those not advised by their doctor to check in early should not do so. Back, waist, and foot pain are common occurrences for expectant mothers after the second trimester, when the abdomen becomes noticeably prominent and the physical burden increases.
In a normal standing posture, the body's center of gravity rests on the second sacral vertebra. Wearing ill-fitting shoes (especially high heels) causes the upper body to lean forward, shifting the center of gravity and increasing the risk of falls. To maintain balance, the lumbar spine compensates by arching forward, leading to improper use of the back muscles. Over time, this results in persistent back and lumbar discomfort.
While back pain is common during pregnancy, it can be prevented and alleviated. Here are several daily prevention and care methods:
1. Avoid prolonged sitting or standing: Break up extended periods of sitting or standing. After sitting or standing for a while, change your posture and maintain proper body alignment.
2. Correct standing posture: Keep your eyes level, lift your chin, and straighten your chest. Pull your shoulders back and relax them. Let your arms hang naturally at your sides. Tuck in your abdomen and straighten your spine. Keep both feet flat on the ground with knees pointing straight ahead to maintain a stable center of gravity.
3. Correct sitting posture: Chair height should match your body size. Sit upright first, then gently bend at the waist to create a 20° angle, allowing your back to form a slight backward tilt. Place a small pillow between your back and neck, and use a small stool under your feet if needed.
4. Moderate Muscle Exercise: Moderately exercising muscles in the waist, abdomen, and back helps prevent and alleviate back and waist discomfort. However, expectant mothers should note that from around the seventh month of pregnancy, any activity should avoid prolonged lying down, as this can compress major abdominal blood vessels and impair circulation.