To help keep your stress levels manageable:

• Talk with a professional or someone you trust
• Learn to say ‘no’ to extra responsibilities
• Make time for yourself every day
• Be physically active every day
• Get enough sleep and eat healthy foods
• Practice relaxation breathing
• Plan ahead, including maternity leave
• Prepare your other children for the new baby
• Arrange for help in your home once the baby is born
• Ho to prenatal classes to learn about pregnancy, birth, and parenting

When trying to manage stress ask yourself:

• What are my top two de-stressing activities?
• How can I fit those two (or more) activities into my life?

If you have a sudden crisis, such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or move to a new home, talk with someone you trust. This could be a friend, your partner, or someone from your personal support team. For advice about seeking professional help, talk to your health care provider or a public health nurse, or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.

Partners, friends and family members can help, too. Here are some tips for support people:

• Listen to the expectant parent's concerns and try to understand - even if you don’t have a solution to the problem
• Ask what you can do to help
• Talk about your own worries and concerns
• Discuss potentially stressful issues, like the management of finances, to help get them out in the open
• Join a prenatal class together to learn about becoming parents
• Create your birth plan together
• Talk about parental leaves
• Laugh together