Stress – What is Stress During Pregnancy? | Stress During Pregnancy Overview

There are many negative side effects of stress during pregnancy. Studies show that very high levels of stress may contribute to an increased risk of premature delivery or low birth weight babies. Still other studies suggest that overly high stress levels can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and produce chronic anxiety. None of these side effects are good for your baby. Remember that just as what you eat affects your baby, so too does your stress level and your emotional health. It is important that you minimize your stress and anxiety during pregnancy to provide your baby with an optimal environment in which to grow.

When a mother faces extremely stressful circumstances during her pregnancy such as a marriage break-up, physical or emotional abuse, open infidelity or simply the disinterest and
un-involvement of the partner, they pass the effects on to their baby in the womb.

As a result, these babies are exposed to a variety of stress hormones, toxins and malnutrition inside the womb. Is it any wonder that these babies become hyperactive, under active, inattentive, or temperamental and exhibit poor self-control in later life?

Many young mothers do not realize the gravity of their condition. When referred for therapy, many feel embarrassed and hardly ever show up for psychological consultation. Their partners or families may not encourage them to seek help because the problem is not seen as a medical one.

So a woman in such a situation suffers alone. Even when they are seemingly coping with the excessive stress, they might still be constantly producing stress hormones and toxins and some will reach the baby in the womb. Maternal stress during pregnancy is also found to be a cause of asymmetry in coordination of ears, fingers, feet, elbows, etc.

As a result, the I.Q of such children is found to be lower. Maternal stress is also linked with imperfections in the developing nervous system, which can lead to problems of perception, thinking and memory.

stressmay play a good part in the health of the mother as well as that of the fetus. Women who have to stand at a stretch of four hours at a job may be at a high stress of getting into preterm labour.It is very difficult to tell what amount of stress could affect a mother. There are other variables of stress too like alcohol, chemicals, smoking, and aging.

The reason for lower level of progesterone hormone in the body is because the fertilized ovum is implanted insufficiently and also because of the follicle formation that is inadequate. Some women have this luteal phase effect where there is ovulation but the follicle that is ruptured does not produce enough progesterone to support pregnancy.

Many mothers during pregnancy face extremely stressful circumstances. They are confronted with such unhealthy situations as the break-up of their marriage, physical or emotional abuse, open infidelity or simply disinterested and uninvolved partners who prefer staying out to staying home and supporting their pregnant partners. These mothers experience constant stress, shame, loneliness and, sometimes, clinical depression during pregnancy or after giving birth.

The babies of these mothers are exposed to a variety of stress hormones, toxins and malnutrition inside the womb. Some of these babies will continue to live in the same or often worse noxious environment. No wonder some will later become hyperactive, underactive, inattentive, or temperamental and exhibit poor self-control. Many of these children are later medicated with Ritalin or antidepressants. Not everyone understands that the problems a child exhibits today may have resulted from events that occurred several years ago.

Most of the gynecologists and obstetricians I have talked with are psychologically sensitive and recognize when their patients need psychological support. However, when referred for therapy, many feel embarrassed and hardly ever show up for psychological consultation. Their partners or families may not encourage them to seek help because the problem it is not seen as a medical one. Doctors are understandably reluctant to prescribe psychiatric medications because of pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations.

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