Feeling overwhelmed by your pregnancy? These tips will help you to feel less alone

Sometimes, your pregnancy can occur in the most unexpected of ways, and it can be a lot to deal with mentally.

In a recent video posted to her YouTube channel, influencer and former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague discussed her unexpected pregnancy and revealed that it took her a long time to come to terms with the fact that she is going to be a mum.

“The shock literally overtook my body for the first month,” she said to the camera. “I just felt like every single day, I was living an outer body experience.”

“It was a different experience at the start to how I pictured, [...] and I don’t feel like many people say that,” Molly-Mae added.

Seeing as Molly-Mae’s brave admission has opened up the discussion surrounding pregnancy emotions, we thought it would be helpful to devise a list of our top pieces of advice for expectant mothers who are struggling in the same way that Molly-Mae did. Above all else, it is crucial to know that your feelings are valid, and you are not alone:

It’s okay to not feel okay

The most important thing that you need to remember at this moment is that it is perfectly okay to not feel okay. Regardless of whether your pregnancy is a surprise or planned, finding out that you are expecting a baby can be an incredibly overwhelming moment. No one really knows how they are going to react until it happens. In her video, Molly-Mae expresses that she physically couldn’t shed any tears when she found out she was pregnant, because her body went into a state of shock. If you are feeling overwhelmed about the future, this is completely normal and you should not allow yourself to acknowledge your worries, instead of trying to bury them. 

Talking helps

If you are feeling worried about your pregnancy discovery, one of the things that could really help you is to simply talk to someone. Whether that be your partner, a family member, a close friend or even a fellow mum, sharing your fears and stresses with others will help to ease your burden and make you feel less alone. Your loved ones simply want to listen to you, and they will reassure you that the emotions you are feeling are justified. Do not underestimate the power of talking!

No more guilt

In her video, Molly-Mae alluded to the fact that she felt guilty for not initially feeling excited about her pregnancy. She explained that for a while, it bothered her that the discovery of her pregnancy was not how she pictured it would be. If this is something that you can relate to, then try your hardest to not feel any guilt towards yourself. A surprise pregnancy can be a lot to handle at any stage of your life, and you should not put yourself down for having a different reaction to what you had originally imagined. Sometimes, there are things in life that will always be out of your control, and that’s okay!

Revise the story

Following on from our previous point, if your pregnancy discovery was not how you thought it would be, then you always have the power to change the narrative! What we mean by this is that you shouldn’t see it as a bad thing that your pregnancy is unfolding in a way that you didn’t expect it to. Instead, you should embrace it! Try to put a positive spin on your pregnancy and see it as a truly wonderful adventure. Although the unknown can be a scary thing, it can also be incredibly exciting, and a slight change in your plans is nothing to be afraid of. 

Ask for help if you need it

Lastly, we know that the early stages of pregnancy can be a very overwhelming time. If you are still struggling to come to terms with your news, then it might do no harm to speak to a professional about how you are feeling. Whether it be your local GP, your midwife, or your nearest support group for expectant mothers, there is a never-ending wave of support out there for you to reach out to. Never be afraid to ask for help.

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