How to Shut Out the Noise And Preserve Your Mental Health In Pregnancy

Remember when you first found out you were pregnant and suddenly the algorithm knew?

And then came the avalanche:

Your baby will never sleep... Your baby won't be smart... Your baby will cry all night with terrible gas...

And then the guilt: Does refusing to buy these things mean you're a bad parent? Will other parents judge you?

Here's the truth: Advertisers want to keep you afraid because scared people spend.

My $1000 Mistake at 4 Weeks Pregnant

I'll confess my panic-purchasing low point: At 4 weeks pregnant, I bought a Snoo—a $1000 bassinet that rocks your baby based on their crying.

I bought it at 4 weeks pregnant. Before I'd even had my first ultrasound.

Looking back, I laugh. But at the time, I was convinced that if I didn't buy it immediately, my baby would never sleep and I would lose my mind.

The fear was real. The noise was overwhelming. And like so many new parents, I fell into the trap.

The Industry That Profits From Your Fear

Pregnant women and expecting parents are prime targets for companies to scare into buying. You're urged to purchase products, courses, supplements, and $40 teas that will supposedly make you the perfect parent.

Then comes the advice. From family, friends, colleagues, books, and websites. You can raise your baby like the French. Like the Danish. Like the Swedes. There's a "right way" for everything—and somehow they all contradict each other.

"You'll never have time once the baby comes, so prepare now!" is the rallying call.

Pair that with pregnancy insomnia, and you have a recipe for late-night stress-purchasing and disaster scenario planning.

What Babies Actually Need

Here's the truth that the baby industry doesn't want you to know: Babies need very little.

They need:

• Food (breast or bottle)
• A safe place to sleep
• Diapers
• A few clothes
• To be held and loved

That's it. Everything else is optional.

Your baby will not care if their nursery is Pinterest-perfect. They won't care if their clothes match. They won't be smarter because you bought developmental toys at birth.

How to Actually Shut Out the Noise

Here's what I wish I'd done differently:

1. Block the ad targeting (literally)

Go into your social media settings right now:

• Remove "parenting," "pregnancy," and "baby products" from your interests
• Hide every pregnancy-related ad and click "See fewer ads like this"
• Clear your cookies regularly
• Use incognito mode when searching baby stuff
• Tell the algorithm you're interested in other things—travel, cooking, anything else

Will this block everything? No. But it significantly reduces the bombardment.

2. Learn to identify "noise" vs. "signal"

Noise sounds like:

• "You NEED this or your baby will..."
• "If you don't do X, you're not doing right by your baby"
• "This is the ONLY way to..."
• Fear-mongering without evidence
• Shame disguised as advice

Signal sounds like:

• "Here's what worked for us, but every baby is different"
• "This is one option, here are the trade-offs"
• "Check with your doctor"
• Information that empowers rather than terrifies

3. Stop doomscrolling parenting content

If you're feeling overwhelmed by advice and information, that's a sign you need to consume less, not more.

Take a week off from all pregnancy content. See how you feel. I bet you'll feel more confident, not less.

Why This Actually Matters

The noise isn't just annoying—it's actively harmful. It:

• Increases your anxiety
• Makes you doubt yourself before you've even started
• Creates unrealistic expectations
• Costs you money you don't need to spend
• Distracts you from what actually matters

Your biggest job right now is to protect your wellbeing and trust that you'll navigate challenges as they arise.

No amount of pre-worry will determine what your baby needs. No amount of researching future scenarios will bend the future to your will.

The Permission You Need

You have permission to:

• Stop researching everything
• Unsubscribe from overwhelming pregnancy emails
• Tell people "We've got it covered, thanks"
• Not know what kind of parent you'll be yet
• Trust yourself

The quieter you can make the external noise, the better you'll be able to hear your own voice.

And that voice? That's the one you need to listen to.

You already have everything you need to be a great parent. You don't need the $80 swaddles or the $200 bassinet attachment or the developmental toys.

You just need to show up for your baby with love. Everything else? You'll figure it out.