You are 16 weeks and 3 days

In pregnancy, it's even more important to find ways to relieve stress and keep worries in perspective.

165 days until your due date

You may be happily pregnant, but life goes on: you may still be working full time and running a home, and you're bound to have stressful days when you feel you can't cope, on top of the emotional ups and downs of pregnancy hormones.

Like many women, you may worry about the big changes ahead, such as money, whether you'll be a good mother, and how your relationship will change. Keep worries in perspective and stay emotionally balanced, because stress isn't good for your health or your baby's.

Find ways to de-stress, and talk to your partner, friends, and doctor about any concerns.

Good to know

Relieving stress

Learn to recognize when you're stressed, such as your heart racing or feeling hot, and then take action:

Identify the cause and keep it in perspective. Let the stress go by breathing deeply and relaxing your muscles, imagining blowing it away as you breathe out.
Stay busy, because too much time to think can make stress worse.
Go swimming, a great stress reliever and a fantastic way to stay in shape.
Make time to relax, especially if you're juggling a lot: put your feet up, watch TV, read, or think about your growing baby.
Talk problems through with your partner or a close friend, and ask your doctor for reassurance if you're worried about your health or your baby.
If work is the problem, be honest with your boss or human resources; they may be able to help. Your most important job right now is nurturing your baby.

As a matter of fact

Stress reaches the baby

A mother's stress can be passed on to her baby.

The level of the stress hormone cortisol in the amniotic fluid matches the level in the mother's blood, and cortisol is thought to harm fetal development.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.