Pregnancy is a beautiful miracle in progress, one which should be as painless and stress-free as possible. Unfortunately, any woman who’s ever been pregnant will tell you it’s anything but painless and stress-free! Pregnancy is nine months of almost nonstop nerve-wracking anxiety about the future coupled with the physical burdens that come with having a baby growing inside your body.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. While nobody can completely eliminate stress and anxiety from their pregnancy, pregnant women can do a number of things to mitigate the negative aspects of pregnancy. The following are 6 ways to make pregnancy as stress-free as possible.

Consult your doctor

There’s no reason to live with fear and uncertainty regarding your pregnancy. Doctors are there to answer questions and provide expert advice. But the stress-reducing value of licensed physicians is only as good as your willingness to consult them. Book an appointment as soon as possible, commit to follow-up appointments, and take what your doctor says seriously. While they might not be able to respond right away, have a way to reach them if you have any pressing questions or concerns between appointments. In doing so, you alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with uncertainty while benefiting from the uplifting nature of reassurance and support.

Bond with your unborn baby

Bonding with your unborn baby is easier than most people think. While the conversation is admittedly one-sided, simply talking to your baby throughout the day is an effective way to grow closer. You can also use an early-detection gender test and at-home fetal doppler as a way to get to know your baby better. Pay attention to when your baby kicks to see if it correlates with certain noises or environments. It could be an early indicator of their personality. These and other ways to bond with your baby will help alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes with the uncertainty of pregnancy.

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep deprivation is one of the easiest ways to feel stressed and overburdened throughout the day. While quality sleep is hard to come by the farther along you are in your pregnancy, doing what it takes to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night is essential for making pregnancy as stress-free as possible. Consider ways to improve your sleep environment, such as temperature changes, more comfortable bedding, or increased measures to keep light out in the early morning hours. Given the importance of sleep in reducing stress as well as maintaining health, achieving quality sleep should be the priority of every pregnant woman for the duration of their pregnancy.

Avoid triggers

The physical burden of pregnancy is plenty of stress imposed on your body and mind. The last thing you need is more stress coming from outside sources. With this in mind, take steps to avoid known stress triggers in your life. Avoid toxic individuals who always seem to bring drama with them. Limit the amount of cable news you watch to prevent the weight of the world from getting to you. While running away from your problems isn’t the answer, limiting your exposure to unnecessary stress is key to making your pregnancy as stress-free as possible.

Eat right

A healthy diet has been shown to help individuals reduce stress levels and increase overall happiness. With this in mind, pregnant women should stick to nutritious foods high in vitamins and minerals. While the occasional craving for something decadent is one of the fringe benefits of pregnancy and should be taken advantage of from time to time, your overall diet plan during pregnancy should be one that promotes brain health, heart health, and overall physical health.

Talk about it

The stress we bury inside never really goes away. Instead, it festers within, culminating with what is often referred to as a mental breakdown. Rather than let yourself turn into a ticking time bomb with a baby on the way, make a point to talk about what's bothering you to your partner, close friends, family, or a licensed therapist. While you don’t want to burden your loved ones with frequent venting, taking the time to talk it out in a calm and rational manner will go a long way in reducing your overall stress levels during pregnancy.

The miracle of pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, it also takes its toll on the body and mind. While it’s impossible to completely eradicate stress from pregnancy, there are plenty of ways to reduce stress as much as possible.

Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, family, and travel.