How to Be Happy When Expecting a Baby

While pregnancy is exciting, it can also be wrought with stress, mood swings and plenty of fears to go along with your growing belly. If you're having trouble being excited for your impending arrival or you're just too stressed to feel happy, putting your focus on the things about your pregnancy you can control might help. Instead of worrying about the "what-ifs," take time for yourself in making decisions and prepping for baby to help you feel calmer, more relaxed and happier throughout the process.

Instructions

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      Prepare for the arrival of your baby to feel less stressed during your pregnancy. Whether it's choosing furniture for the nursery, paging through name books or creating a wardrobe, busy prep work can help you get more excited for your baby's birth.

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      Take a prenatal class. You can usually find birth classes through hospitals, community centers and even private companies. By knowing what will help during the last months of pregnancy, the birth process and even postpartum, you can feel calmer and more prepared when it comes to the birth process. You may also have the opportunity to socialize with other expecting parents, which can boost your mood and give you a support system.

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      Talk to your health care provider about your birth options, suggests Sutter Health. Pregnancy involves many variables, and letting your doctor know your wishes concerning things like birth intervention, visitors and postpartum healing puts you in control of those things you can predict.

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      Remind yourself that pregnancy hormones can cause mood swings and changes in emotion. While you may feel sad or restless one moment, you may also feel elated and excited the next. When you're feeling upset, remember that hormones could be the culprit and you won't feel sad for the entire pregnancy. If you do feel sad most of the time, talk to your doctor about your moods. Prenatal and later, postpartum depression could be affecting your pregnancy, and your doctor may prescribe treatment.

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      Bond with your baby in utero. As you forge a connection by talking, reading books, singing or feeling your baby kick, you'll feel more connected to your little one -- and possibly more excited about the birth.

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      Exercise on a regular basis, as long as your OB-GYN says it's OK. Most women who were active before pregnancy can continue low-impact exercise throughout the gestational period. Exercising can help boost your energy and release feel-good endorphins, which can help you feel happier and more relaxed, according to KidsHealth. Aim for 30 minutes of low-impact exercise, like walking or swimming, each day.

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