Olivia and Marcos still don’t know that they are facing the nest syndrome. They are looking forward to their first baby. The pregnancy is now in the third trimester and each day is one more day to cross off the calendar to see little Coral’s face. Suddenly one afternoon while Olivia is walking around the house she begins to get “overwhelmed” and nervous about the order and cleanliness of the home:“This closet is very messy”, “we have to polish the floor”, “the final touches are missing so that the room is perfect”,… Marcos is stunned looking at his girl, but not before observing her tremendous belly. But he can barely move slightly! “At this point, what is the reason for this kind of hyperactivity and this need for order and perfection?”– he wonders.Don’t worry Marcos, Olivia is living the nest syndrome. Throughout the following lines we explain everything in detail.
What is nest syndrome?
With the positive result of pregnancy testYou start to get used to the idea that life is going to change you sooner rather than later. You have 9 months to assimilate the before and after that will occur after the moment of the delivery.
As the pregnancy progresses and you enter the development of the fetus in the third trimester, You look around and stop to carefully observe what will be her room: in that corner her crib, next to her changing table, in the back her first outfits and pajamas in that beautiful closet that you bought. It is there, right at that moment, when you feel aimperative and uncontrollable need to start organizing, cleaning, decorating,… Everything has to be more than ready for the baby’s arrival!
This is known asnest syndrome or “nesting instinct”.Sounds a bit like the animal world, right? And it is a kind of instinct that people – just like birds – have when faced with the arrival of “our chicks.”
It goes without saying that It does not occur in all women or with the same frequency and/or intensity. It occurs more frequently in first-time pregnant women (with greater fear in pregnancydue to ignorance of the first times) who go through the third trimester of pregnancy and in women with more demanding and perfectionist personality traits. Here you can read more about emotional health in pregnancy.
Nest syndrome is due to…
“What is the reason for this considerable increase in energy?”– you may be wondering.
On many occasions nest syndrome is related to maternal instinct. You want to care for and protect your baby even before birth! How can you not want everything to be perfect for your birth? You are mentally preparing yourself for what the new stage ahead entails.Of coursehormones play a very important rolethroughout the entire gestation, being theoxytocin one of those responsible for preparing your body, influencing your activation and energy.
Anxiety and stress during pregnancy
Throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy, you will face different fears and doubts. These concerns and fears will vary as the pregnancy progresses. Furthermore, day after day you may hear different opinions and points of view that, far from reassuring you, make you feel more on guard. Hence the recommendation ofrelativize and adapt to circumstances depending on how they arrive . Nest syndrome has a important psychological component. And it can be interpreted as a way to deal with the anxiety of childbirth and postpartum. It would be a kind of “defense mechanism” in which that hyperactivity to free oneself from that anxious state, as a way to release the adrenaline accumulated in recent weeks.
Nest syndrome also affects the couple
In other articles we have talked about how pregnancy affects the couple. Even though your partner cannot feel/live the pregnancy from your perspective, you should not forget that… their world is also in the process of change!
That’s why Your partner can also experience this type of nest syndrome. But with the plus point that he will not need to rest nor will his body weigh down like yours, allowing him to do all kinds of activities so that everything is more than perfect for the baby’s arrival.
If you have nest syndrome…If you have come this far and have felt reflected in these lines… don’t panic! The nest syndrome there’s nothing wrong with it,They are very normal behaviors that can calm you down and give you confidence and security, making you feel better.. Although as we always say… virtue lies in the middle ground.
How to take advantage of nest syndrome?
Yes, you want to do a billion things… but where do you start?
Organize a weekly calendar and go at your own pace, slowly but surely, covering first what you consider most important. You can take advantage of this energy to make a list of the things you need for your life.hospital bagor save time preparing your birth plan. There are two actions that will help you feelcalmer and more confident.
You can also try to put everything “in order” as long as you avoid any exposure to anything that could cause you harm (avoid tasks that involve climbing stairs, making sudden movements or carrying a lot of weight).
Remember thatyou should not overexert yourselfAt the same time, it is essential that you take care of your postural hygiene.. Prioritize and ask your partner or family for help so you can manage your strength. Overwhelm is not positive, so… don’t get obsessed! The moment of delivery is getting closer and it is important that you give importance to the sleep during pregnancy andRest enough when the big moment comes.
Some ways to take advantage of this extra energy from the last weeks of pregnancy before receiving your baby is to get everything ready, reading maternity books or doing physical exercise in the third trimester. The latter can be carried out up to 5 times a week. Is there a better way to spend that extra dose? We assure you not.
With our online childbirth preparation classes we have prepared different tables to adapt to you taking into account the physical exercise you did before getting pregnant. That is why we give you the choice between 2 different weekly routines.
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