Anxiety isn't good for any of us but it can be especially detrimental to pregnant women. For pregnant women extra stress can cause high blood pressure which can trigger preterm labor. Preterm labor can lead to a host of issues for baby: including intellectual and developmental delays, hearing and vision challenges and more. This March of Dimes article articulates many of which here. So, let's all calm down! Here are 31 ways how to reduce stress:

Avoid information overload. DON'T Google everything! Find a trusted friend, educator that you can depend on for quality information. No, they won't have all the answers but they will be able to refer you to someone equally awesome when they get stumped.
Find a support group. Connecting with other women is so important at this often scary, vulnerable time. Hear that they are feeling the same and learning from each other.
Start saying "no" now. I know you're a helper. I get it, I do. But the best person you can help now is YOU. Practice saying "no" to whatever doesn't feel like the uber-best fit for you and your new family. Trust me; you'll get a lot of use out of this new habit down the road.
Sit on a birth ball. I can't say enough about how much I love birth balls. They keep you moving, keep your hips fluid, get you off your feet, keep your pelvis in a good position. And they just feel good! Try it.
Take a warm bath. During my last trimester, I must have taken a warm bath 5 out of 7 nights a week. I listened to my breathing CD, took deep breathes, talked to Little Sun and slowly dripped warm water over my big belly. It felt great and allowed me to sleep better.
Go for a walk. I didn't do a lot of exercise when I was pregnant but I did walk nightly. It helped me calm down from the craziness of a work day and kept me active and mobile,even when I didn't want to be. It felt good.
Drink more water. A dehydrated body can lead you to confuse cravings with real hunger pangs. Also a dehydrated uterus is a crampy uterus which is an unhappy uterus. You want a happy uterus. Happy = healthy and feeling good!
Hit the sack earlier. Rest now because it feels so good and because you won't have as much time. If I hear one more story about a pregnant woman heading out for a jam-packed day, with nary a nap in sight, I swear! Take it easy, please. Trust me on this one.
Talk to a coach. Most of my Outside The Mom offerings are ones that I wanted. Wellness Coaching is no exception. One session (or a handful!) includes simply talking to someone who has been there before can bring much relief as well as education, resources and support.
Journal. In Baby Body and Soul, Tracy Gaudet recommends journaling. It was really helpful to me to write down some of the anxieties that I was feeling about the pregnancy and what I still felt like I needed to sort out before I had her.
Enjoy a chiropractic adjustment. For three-four months leading up to my daughter's birth and for over a year, I received regular chiropractic adjustments at Imagine Chiropractic. They felt great but also reminded me that I was doing good prep work for labor.
Enroll in a childbirth class. Prep and information reduces stress now...and down the road. I have a seven week, Sunday afternoon class starting in September in Durham for couples and September online for survivors. I also have other local resources for childbirth here.
Ask for help more often. Boy, do I wish that someone had strongly encouraged me to start asking for help when I was pregnant. You will need help. I did. We all do but it's hard to ask. Start that vulnerable act with someone you trust & see how that goes.

New moms, what would you add to this list? P.S. Your 13 comes up in a few weeks. I didn't forget about you!

It sure seems like babies are in charge sometimes, doesn't it? I'll let you in on a little secret: it's not sometimes, it's most of the time! But along the way in this new world of newborns, you, Mom, get to decide many of the big things on a daily basis. Like baby wearing..

There are many reasons for babywearing [babies are not intended to spend long periods of time in plastic shells like carseats; close to you is where they feel the safest and are the least fussy; wearing your baby allows you to learn them better, learn their signals, etc.]. Sharon Heller discusses this nicely in her book, The Vital Touch-

"Does it make a difference how baby is transported? Carried, our infant experiences body warmth, frequent position change, deep pressure touch, containment and rocking, to say nothing of the opportunities to balance her head, upright her posture or use her muscles for clinging. When babies are wheeled all this is lacking ." (115-6).

In addition to these physical and developmental reasons why carrying/wearing is better than strolling, I wore Elisabeth (up until she was about 15 months actually) for three other reasons:

Sight. I wanted to see what Elisabeth sees. I couldn't do this consistently if she was at stroller level or below, unless I got down that low! That can get awkward for long stretches. Also, she couldn't talk for a while so the least I found I could do is pay attention, right? I found it was easier for me to pay attention, when she was right in front of me. I was less distracted and more focussed on her. I also wanted to see if her hat was covering her eyes, if a sock had fallen off or if her sunglasses have slid down to her mouth. Did Elisabeth notice the squirrel dangling from the tree branch, three steps in front of us? If she did, we could talk about it. That's not something I could notice as easily when she was in the BOB. Just as importantly, she could not see me when she is in the BOB. If Elisabeth cannot see me or feel my smile of reassurance and close touch, she might feel unprotected.
Safety- It may seem silly but when Elisabeth was in the Bob, I used to worry that someone was going to swoop up from behind me, knock me over and wheel her away. (Okay, I still worry about this!) When I wore Elisabeth in her Bjorn, she was tucked right in front of me as, neat as a bib. Someone would have to make a huge amount of very obvious effort to wrestle her out of the Bjorn and steal her away. It wouldn’t be easy. Another fear of mine is not being able to see! I am very aware that my vision is terrible and like many near-sighted folks, I have recurring dreams of losing my glasses and then not being able to see anything. (Adventures in Babysitting, anyone???) If my glasses were knocked off somehow, Elisabeth in the Bjorn would still be close enough so I could see that she was okay...and find my way back home!
Place- Elisabeth belongs in the world that I’m in. She may be a toddler now but even as a baby, she was still part of my world. I wanted her to be on face level with people who I talk to, even the “strangers” that we meet. Side note: I don't know if these early interactions helped remove stranger anxiety but that was never an issue for us! I also wanted Elisabeth to hear me talk to those "strangers". And I wanted Elisabeth to hear them talk to HER, using her name. I don’t want Elisabeth to fear people outside her mama and her papa. I want her to see how I relate to people, why I trust them and how she can learn to do the same.

Trust me, there will be PLENTY of time for strolling around in your amazing stroller in the months to come. And it'll be warmer! So, if your baby is still a little 'un, consider wearing her instead of carrying or strolling her around. What are you thinking you'll do with your baby when s/he arrives? Or what are you doing right now? Share your thoughts below. Like this post? Click the adorable heart below, then watch what it does. Trust me, it's cute as a baby.