Pregnancy and Prenatal Counseling

Even in the happiest of circumstances, pregnancy is often a scary and overwhelming time. If you’ve never been pregnant before, you don’t know what to expect. If you have been pregnant before, you do know, and that might feel even more daunting. You find yourself wondering, “can I really do this?” or “how will I get through these next few months?” Perhaps you’re thinking, “what if something goes wrong?” and “am I really ready for labor/birth/parenthood?” The questions and fears you are having before and during pregnancy are normal. We can say that without knowing exactly what you’re thinking because we’ve helped countless expecting parents in Chicago. Your anxious thoughts could be focused on one particular piece of pregnancy, or swirling around the overall experience and unknowns.

Worries and Fears About Pregnancy

Early in pregnancy, you may have one set of fears and concerns. Then, as things progress, changes in your body and the baby bring a new round of worries. Finally, as the time for birth comes closer, there are often new fears and challenges you didn’t even know to expect. Does that mean you’re a bad parent? Or, that you are not capable of fully loving or appreciating this baby? No! Not at all. It means you are human, having a human experience. One that, while people all over the world experience every day, YOU do not experience every day. This is a difficult and anxious time for most pregnant people, no matter what else is going on in the world. But, right now, everyone is dealing with anxiety and overwhelm. Those are the last things you should have to feel as an expecting parent. It is okay to acknowledge what is going on. Realizing support is needed is key to getting the help you, and your family, deserve.

Common Mental Health Concerns During Pregnancy

Sometimes, pregnancy can bring on unexpected fears and even symptoms you weren’t ready for. Our therapists who specialize in working with pregnancy concerns often see folks dealing with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Uncertainty
• Insomnia
• Pain management
• Compounding health concerns
• Trauma triggers or flashbacks
• Partner support and communication

Perhaps, you are experiencing something on this list and it’s making you feel uneasy. Please know that there is no shame in this. In fact, you are an amazing parent for doing the hard work of learning more. Taking care of yourself during this time is great parenting. Sometimes, getting more support during pregnancy can help in the long-term.

Pregnancy and Prenatal Counseling Can Help

With pregnancy counseling, the rest of your prenatal time can feel more grounded. More joyful. Less fearful. Our prenatal counseling specialists will help you with therapy methods that work. In fact, we have special expertise in a number of pregnancy and reproductive topics. Infertility, trying to conceive (TTC), third-party reproduction, pregnancy anxiety, birth trauma, postpartum support, and more. This is a time for partners to feel connected and supported too. But, it is often a space that is difficult for partners to navigate. Our therapists can help you all feel more like a team. Ready to take the next step, together.

Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling

Our therapists specialize in working with parents and couples in regards to perinatal mental health. So, we offer marriage counseling with particular expertise in challenges during the perinatal period and throughout parenthood. Our couples therapists frequently work with partners to address:

• Additional support during the fertility journey
• Preparing for third-party reproduction
• Preconception couples counseling
• Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and/or postpartum
• Grief due to pregnancy loss, miscarriage, and stillbirth
• Birth trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Relationship issues when transitioning and adjusting to parenthood