Pregnancy Meltdown-Busters

When I couldn't get the WiFi to work correctly on my laptop, the frustration built like a bottle of soda left out in the sun. I called my husband at work. He calmly told me that there was nothing he could do for me over the phone. That did it -- I burst. Yes, I sobbed and threw a tantrum like a three-year-old right there in my cubicle at work. Luckily, everyone already knows I am pregnant.

Sadly, this wasn't the first, and it wasn't the last, pregnancy meltdown for me. I had one just this morning when my husband informed me he wouldn't be able to accompany me on a routine prenatal check-up because of work. The good news? I'm getting better at identifying these annoying little episodes and I'm recognizing ways to combat them (or at least how to ask for forgiveness).

I'm definitely not a mental health specialist, but this is what's keeping me sane (for now):

APOLOGIZING
After recuperating from my morning meltdown today, I e-mailed my husband a little apology and let him know that our favorite musical would be in town this fall. "It sounds funny to say," he replied, "but we'll have to get a babysitter." That made me smile.

ICE CREAM
With chocolate sprinkles. What doesn't this cure? I only wish I could carry a single-size carton around in my purse for meltdown emergencies.

READING
Picking up a good book about something other than pregnancy and babies helps get my mind off of being a raging hormonal mess. I recently finished "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," by Alexander McCall Smith. This is the kind of book you can pick up and put down without losing interest. The main character's optimistic voice is contagious.

CHEWING GUM
Try yelling at someone with gum in your mouth. Feels kind of dumb, doesn't it?

REALITY SHOW MARATHONS
Even if you've already seen all the old episodes of "America's Next Top Model" and "Project Runway," it's the perfect way to drift away from reality. Ironic, isn't it?

I'll keep posting as I discover new ways to stay sane while pregnant. Do you have a meltdown-buster for the Sanity Department? Let me know!