Stress during pregnancy can be caused by: external factors, and internal. From the first days of pregnancy, a complete restructuring begins in the body. At the beginning of pregnancy, nausea may begin, later, frequent urge to urinate, constipation, heartburn, digestive system upset, poor or vice versa, increased appetite, dizziness, etc. are bothered. In each specific case, everything goes individually, some women do not feel anything like this throughout their pregnancy, others suffer from all the symptoms at once, while others suffer from only a few of them. A poor physical condition is often accompanied by a psychological one. Pregnant women, and at the same time those around them, are tormented by frequent mood swings, tearfulness, irritability, resentment, increased anxiety, vague fears, etc. In the second trimester, gums may begin to bleed, cause headaches, runny nose, and mild swelling.
The very state of pregnancy causes a woman a little stress, primarily from changes in hormonal levels. During this period, a woman is preparing to become a mother, which completely changes her previous lifestyle - and this is also a kind of stress. Added to this are problems at work or in family life, the woman begins to worry greatly about her future and the future of her baby. Closer to childbirth, a woman is haunted by fear of this process, especially if the child is the first and the pregnancy did not go very well. Stress in small doses is even beneficial, both for the mother and for the baby. But if this condition haunts a pregnant woman for a very long time and manifests itself quite strongly, in this case it is worth seeking help from a specialist, because the negative consequences of stress can seriously affect the mental health of the child.
By about the fifth month, the woman’s physical condition returns to normal, she is not bothered by morning sickness, frequent headaches disappear, she is less likely to get irritated over trifles, and she is happy in the knowledge that she has a little life inside her. But over time, the woman feels nagging pain in the lower abdomen, this happens because the ligaments that support the abdominal press become tense. She becomes more and more absent-minded, more tired, and closer to childbirth a feeling of fear of this process appears, especially in firstborns.
All these conditions cause some stress in the pregnant woman's body, but not in the usual sense. Such shallow experiences do not affect the health of the future person; moreover, with minor negative emotions, the hormone cortisol appears in the human body. This hormone, in reasonable doses, is necessary for the child to develop properly. And with severe stress, too much cortisol enters the body of the mother, and, consequently, the child, which, according to experts, can lead to congenital pathologies.
Severe stress during pregnancy
If a woman experiences severe stress during pregnancy, her chances of giving birth to an autistic child are doubled (an autist is a person with a mental disorder, which is characterized by immersion in the personal world; such people have a greatly weakened connection with outside world, they lose interest in reality, have no desire to communicate, and have very poor emotional expression).
Such conclusions were made by American scientists who conducted an experiment involving five hundred pregnant women. During the experiment, specialists assessed stress by the strength of its impact. As it turned out, women in whose group stressful situations surpassed others in strength, children were 2 times more likely to appear who were subsequently diagnosed with autism.
Severe stress, according to doctors, is moving to a new place of residence, bereavement of loved ones, loss of work, conflicts with relatives, etc. It is especially dangerous if a woman has been subjected to severe stress from the 24th to the 28th week of pregnancy, since during this period the mother’s nervous overstrain can greatly affect the baby’s brain.
As a result of the research, it turned out that the appearance of autism is associated not only with genetic abnormalities, as previously assumed, but is largely due to negative environmental factors, in particular, the psycho-emotional state of the mother during pregnancy.
Nervous stress during pregnancy
Nervous stress during pregnancy is accompanied by every woman. Even in those moments when she is absolutely happy, a woman endures heavy mental stress. Any external irritant, which is conventionally divided into physical and mental, can lead to severe psychological shock. The physical source of stress is characterized by constant impact on the pregnant woman’s body - heat or cold, thirst or hunger, heavy physical activity. Physical stress is possible due to poor diet, insufficient sleep, and decreased physical activity. With psychological sources of stress, emotional overstrain is observed; this state can be provoked by a lie from a loved one, resentment, as well as situations where there is a threat to personal relationships (for example, with a husband), social status, financial condition. Also, lack of time can lead to psychological stress, when you feel responsible, but there is no time to think about a decision. Moreover, the source of stress here is precisely the person’s attitude to the situation.
Stressful loads accompany a woman throughout pregnancy. The main sources of stress here are natural changes, pregnancy that was not part of the plans, thoughts about how to live further, about the child’s health, and fear of childbirth. Experiences are usually associated with the news about pregnancy, the need to attend a consultation, communicate with doctors, conflict situations in the family or at work.
Stress during pregnancy has a very strong impact on nervous system future child. As a result of the mother's frequent nervous shocks during pregnancy, children grow up more nervous, restless, and find it harder to adapt to the world around them. Children whose pregnant mothers suffered from husband cruelty showed lower intellectual development than their peers who developed in calm conditions. Scientists have found that the reason for this is the hormone cortisol - the higher its level in the mother’s blood, and accordingly in the amniotic fluid, the higher the risk of developing developmental delays. Approximately 15% of children who exhibit anxiety, attention deficit, and delays in the development of psychomotor functions have become victims of a severe nervous shock suffered by the mother during the period of intrauterine development. The most dangerous thing for an expectant mother is stress in which she is subjected to cruel treatment, in which case the risk of hyperactivity syndrome doubles. If it were possible to reduce the mother's stress during pregnancy in a timely manner, the development of hundreds of thousands of severe psychological and neurological disorders in children could be avoided.
Experts say that stress and negativity cannot be kept to yourself; you must get rid of it. Sometimes you need to talk it out to make it easier. Nervous stress can be eased by having a fun and relaxed time. If positive dynamics are not observed, you should definitely consult a doctor, and you may need the help of a qualified specialist. It is necessary to understand the source of the stressful situation and eliminate it from your life as completely as possible.
Sleep is the best remedy for treating stress; nervous tension and anxiety can arise from lack of sleep. Therefore, you need to rest more. If you have a hard time falling asleep, you need to do an interesting active activity (to the best of your ability), then the body, tired during the day, will more quickly relax and rest. You can take a warm bath before bed. Activity to some extent helps to get rid of nervous tension, so you can consult your doctor about special exercises or gymnastics for pregnant women. There are many hobbies that will help you forget unpleasant moments and distract yourself - cooking, walking, photography, reading, etc. During pregnancy, the main thing is to see only positive sides, if possible, avoid stressful situations and set yourself up for the best.
Constant stress during pregnancy
Long-term stress during pregnancy has a negative impact on health expectant mother, and on the health of her child. Strong and prolonged nervous shock exhausts the body of a pregnant woman, she becomes apathetic, lethargic, suffers from insomnia, anxiety causes trembling in the body, rapid heartbeat. Severe stress can cause skin rashes, headaches, and body aches. With such stress, various pregnancy complications are possible. A woman may suffer from increased toxicosis, chronic diseases will worsen, and the newborn may have congenital malformations.
In addition, constant nervous tension negatively affects the immune system, which is already greatly weakened during pregnancy. The body's weak defenses cannot cope with viruses entering the body, so the woman is in a constant painful state. A severe physical condition is aggravated by an even more severe mental one - complete dissatisfaction, apathy, irritability. But no matter how hard it is for a woman, at this moment it is even harder for a person who has not yet been born, and if a woman does not come to her senses in time and does not bring her mental state back to normal, this person may never know what life is.
Constant stress during pregnancy has a very severe consequences, which is why you need to get rid of it as quickly as possible. The best option during pregnancy is to learn to avoid such nervous shocks. A woman in this position should think more about pleasant things, she should be able (or learn) to relax, perhaps a visit to special courses yoga for pregnant women. All existing problems should not be kept to yourself; they should be expressed immediately and discussed in a calm atmosphere with loved ones. If you want to cry, cry, if you laugh, laugh, you should never be shy own feelings, this especially applies to pregnant women, for whom a good emotional state is extremely important. Your motto during this period should be “movement is life.” Try to walk as often as possible; swimming is very beneficial for pregnant women. As you know, sleep cures all diseases, stress being one of them. If you don't get enough sleep, then stress is guaranteed.
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Consequences of stress during pregnancy
Stress helps reduce the body's defenses. If a person is exposed to frequent stressful conditions, he is more susceptible to infectious diseases, and this is extremely harmful for a pregnant woman. But stress during pregnancy is a fairly common condition, unfortunately. If the state of stress is not deep and passes relatively quickly, then there is nothing dangerous about it. Such mild and short-lived conditions, as if training the woman’s body before childbirth, strengthen the baby’s nervous system while still in the tummy.
The situation is different with a prolonged, severe state of stress during pregnancy. This condition is harmful to both the woman herself and her unborn child. A long depressed state depletes vitality. The woman becomes lethargic, sleepy, and suffers from insomnia at night. The baby will have the same condition when he is born if the mother does not find the strength to overcome this difficult condition.
Stress during pregnancy has serious consequences: severe anxiety, which can occur even without serious reasons, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), tremors in the hands, chest, dizziness, headaches, rash (manifests in especially sensitive women). Toxicosis manifests itself much more severely, as a result of a woman’s weakened immune system, which threatens developmental pathologies in the child.
The child's central nervous system is especially affected. If a pregnant woman was constantly in under stress, her child's nervous system will be extremely vulnerable. Even at a conscious age, it will be very difficult for a child to adapt to the world around him; he will be very restless, nervous, and anxious. Such children are more susceptible to various fears than their peers. Allergies and asthma are one of the consequences of a mother’s stressful state during pregnancy, and this can be a consequence of both long-term stress and a short, but strong and frequent stressful state. If a way could be found to reduce stress, many children would not suffer from severe psychological and neurological disorders. If a mother has experienced severe nervous tension in the first three months of pregnancy, then her child may develop schizophrenia over time, since it is during this period that the baby’s nervous system is formed. The chances of developing schizophrenia in this case are approximately 70%. Experts are clear in their conclusions: external psychological factors have a direct impact on the processes of formation of the nervous system even in the early stages of human development.
Every pregnant woman noticed that when experiencing anxiety, the baby began to move actively. There is a simple explanation for this - if the mother is in an anxious state, the child does not have enough oxygen and with his movements he seems to begin to massage the placenta in order to obtain blood with the necessary elements.
A child whose mother was often nervous during pregnancy will suffer from enuresis and diabetes in the future. Also, autism is one of the consequences of severe nervous tension of the mother during pregnancy.
If the mother is severely nervous, her body can independently get rid of a weak male fetus, i.e. this may lead to miscarriage. By the way, but for unknown reasons, the body does not get rid of the female fetus. It is also interesting that boys who were born when their mother was under severe stress live much longer than those who were born into this world under favorable conditions.
Fetal malformation, popularly referred to as “cleft lip” or “cleft palate,” has been observed among women who were under prolonged stress during pregnancy. The risk of developing malformation in women under constant nervous tension is 2 times higher than in those who were calmer during pregnancy. Severely anxious women run the risk of giving birth prematurely; in this case, the baby's weight will be much lower than normal and the chances of survival for such children are very low. If such children survive, then they experience deformation of all body functions, so such children are prone to frequent illnesses.
Conflict situations in the family can lead to mental and emotional inhibition in the child. Also, frequent quarrels in the family can provoke premature birth or miscarriage. Constant stress leads to a long delivery, during which the child may die. Poor sleep, dissatisfaction with oneself, and severe fatigue lead to premature and rapid labor.
Stress during pregnancy is a condition that needs to be addressed urgently. A woman must first of all think about the health of her baby, whose life now completely depends on her, taking into account not only a strong physical condition, but also a balanced emotional and mental state. A woman must remember that any anxious state of hers cuts off oxygen to her child, he is in literally starts to choke. It is for this reason that when his mother is nervous, he begins to actively move to show her how bad he is now.
], [The pregnancy period has many physiological and psychological nuances. Doctors play it safe, prescribe a lot of tests to prevent any harmful changes in the condition of the mother and child, prescribe rest and advise to be careful. But, like any person, a pregnant woman may feel stressed under the influence of various life circumstances. There are many causes and manifestations of stress during pregnancy. What consequences does it threaten? How to deal with it? Do I need to see a doctor? Let's answer these questions.
Everyday and medical understanding of stress
People often describe their condition using medical terms. Moreover, in modern world, oversaturated with available information, this is sometimes done with complete confidence in the correspondence of the chosen word with the current state of affairs.
But you can’t diagnose yourself on your own. In addition, when juggling concepts, we often give them inaccurate meaning or even interpret them in our own way. This creates differences in understanding between professionals with relevant knowledge in this area and ordinary people.
Thus, stress in the commonly used sense is a state of tension, usually negative.
From a medical point of view, stress is a nonspecific reaction of the body or an adaptation syndrome that develops under the influence of various intense or new influences (strong physical activity, psycho-emotional trauma).
There are several types of stress.
- Eustress caused by positive emotions.
- Distress. Occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to an unfavorable factor or severe shock. The most harmful type of stress, since the body is unable to cope with it on its own, which leads to severe physical and psychological consequences.
- Emotional stress. Psycho-emotional experiences of people in various life situations, when the satisfaction of social and biological needs is limited for a long time.
- Psychological stress. A state of extreme psychological stress and disorganization of behavior in society as a result of exposure to extreme factors.
From the classification it is clear that the differences between the ordinary and medical understanding of stress lie in the following:
- non-specialists often call stress the usual nervous excitement or emotional agitation, which are inherent in emotional people prone to mood swings and outbursts;
- on the other hand, most do not recognize stress from positive emotions, believing that only negative experiences have a detrimental effect on a person. But if you are so happy about an unexpected gift that you cannot hold back a cry of joy or tears, then from a medical point of view you are experiencing eustress;
- people believe that stress is always caused by objective life circumstances. But that's not true. After all different people treat the same case differently. For some, buying a home is very stressful, but for others it is a welcome event, comparable to pleasant chores. The body’s emotional reaction is born as a result of analyzing its own thoughts and assessments.
Symptoms and signs
Stress has its own symptoms. Among the signs there are common ones, characteristic of all people, and there are additional, specific ones that appear in pregnant women. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that sometimes signs of stress are mistaken for a normal condition typical of pregnancy.
Tearfulness is a sign of stress in pregnant women
All symptoms can be divided into two groups: physical and behavioral.
Physical symptoms
- weight loss (if it is not caused by toxicosis);
- headaches as a result of pressure changes, which is also a sign of stress;
- stomach cramps, sometimes even vomiting. Unlike toxicosis, attacks are infrequent and more controlled;
- insomnia. It differs from that which is often observed in women in the last months of pregnancy and is associated with discomfort when the stomach presses on the internal organs;
- rash, redness, itching and severe peeling of the skin. As a rule, in such situations, test results do not show the presence of any abnormalities;
- difficulty breathing. They are easier to identify in the early stages, since the child is not yet putting pressure on the internal organs;
- panic attacks accompanied by increased heart rate;
- pressure surges;
- muscle tone. A very dangerous symptom, especially in the last months of pregnancy, as there is a risk of premature birth;
- the baby’s behavior in the tummy: he stops moving or, conversely, shows strong activity;
- lack of appetite or, conversely, strong cravings for food. Often a pregnant woman gains a lot of weight, which also affects the birth process. A properly selected diet is very important;
- frequent exacerbations of ARVI. Observed due to a weakened immune system.
Behavioral signs
- depression. It is very difficult to recognize and diagnose. Here again there is a lot of confusion with concepts. It wouldn’t hurt to go to a psychologist if you feel like you’ve reached a dead end. They will listen to you and help you find a way out of your difficult situation;
- irritability. Mild irritability is inherent in all pregnant women, but systematic outbursts are not the norm, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are at;
- difficulty concentrating;
- tearfulness. In general, releasing emotions is not a bad thing. The nervous system is unloaded, the person becomes better. However, tears for no reason are a warning sign;
- the appearance of thoughts of suicide. Can be observed after severe shocks. It is better, of course, to immediately consult a doctor at the first sign of this;
It is important to be able to distinguish when a symptom is a real consequence of the stress suffered, and not just the effect of progesterone. Analyze latest events in life and your condition before and after a certain incident.
If you understand that a rash on your hands appeared after, for example, a quarrel with your husband, and the test results do not reveal any abnormalities, then this is most likely the body’s reaction to the situation experienced.
Causes The causes of stress can be different. Here main role
plays the so-called psychological threshold, up to which a woman considers the course of any case to be normal. The psychological state at the moment is also important. After all, even the most bad news is perceived more easily in an upbeat mood.
- However, the specificity of stress in pregnant women is such that in addition to psychological reasons (quarrels with the husband, jealousy of the older child, fears due to financial situation), there are also physiological ones. Here is a list of the most typical reasons for waiting for a baby: fear of upcoming birth. This is the most common of all fears. Due to the paucity of knowledge in this area, as well as imposed stereotypes that are far from reality this process
- seems to be the quintessence of pain and danger;
- fear of pregnancy and fears in connection with its course. The vast majority of women face this. Even with a planned pregnancy, it takes time to get used to the new role of a mother and plan further actions. But nature foresaw everything well and allocated 9 whole months for preparation;
- physiological changes. The problem of figure and excess weight is always relevant for women. The fear of gaining extra pounds and losing attractiveness can unsettle even the most persistent. The rapid pace of change is also frightening. Remember that everything is reversible and temporary! family and household problems. No one is safe from them. It’s clear that the arrival of a new family member will force you to make some adjustments to your usual lifestyle. This is especially true if parents are expecting their first child. But it may also be that the reason severe stress
- there will be a minor domestic conflict; problems at work. Unfortunately, until 30 weeks a pregnant woman is forced to work and, as a member of the team, participate in complex system
- worry about the baby. In the first trimester, many are afraid of miscarriage, in the second they worry that the baby is not moving much in the tummy, in the third - that it will be born early. These are normal manifestations of maternal instinct;
- any unforeseen circumstances.
Possible consequences
Poor health of the mother is transmitted to the child
Pregnancy in women develops in stages. Each month of gestation is very important, as gradual development occurs internal organs and skills (the ability to clench your fingers into a fist, open your eyes). Any interference in these processes threatens with serious consequences. The table shows possible complications associated with each trimester of expecting a child.
Consequences of stress in early and late pregnancy (by trimester)
| Period | Private consequences | General consequences |
| 1st trimester |
|
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| 2nd trimester |
|
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| 3rd trimester |
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Can stress cause a missed pregnancy?
There is no reliable information that even severe stress is the cause of missed abortion. In general, this relationship is poorly understood. Among the main prerequisites for miscarriage, doctors identify genetic or gynecological diseases in the mother, and autoimmune disorders. However, some scientists are inclined to believe that indirectly stress still provokes an unfavorable pregnancy outcome.
For example, the famous British obstetrician Grantley Dick-Read, who changed the negative opinion of the majority of his fellow citizens about natural childbirth in the mid-20th century, wrote:
I believe there is something in a mother's blood that changes depending on her mood. When the psychological and emotional state of the mother changes, the endocrine glands produce substances that enter the blood, which nourishes not only the mother, but also the child. Thus, the child's condition cannot remain the same. Today we know that when the mother’s emotional state changes, we can register an increase or decrease in the fetal heartbeat, that is, we can definitely say that the development of the child also depends on the mother’s mood during pregnancy.
Ways to overcome
There is an opinion that the most effective way to combat stress caused by negative factors is through rest or maximum relaxation, that is, you need to take your mind off the problem. Yuri Burlan, creator modern techniques
studying the unconscious person, believes that this is not entirely true. In his opinion, this approach is not universal, and a person who experiences severe psychological stress or is diagnosed with depression cannot do without professional psychological and medical help.
- Solving problems and dealing with strong fears It is important to identify the specific cause of stress and try to cope with it.
- . The solution to the problem itself in this case will bring satisfaction.
- If stress is caused by fears, then it is urgent to fill the information gaps that caused the fears. After all, the biggest fear is the unknown. Now there are many courses and trainings for pregnant women, where they will explain in simple and detailed terms what happens in the body during pregnancy and childbirth. They will give advice on how to alleviate the condition. The period of waiting for a child is natural for a woman, so it should not bring severe discomfort. If there is chaos in your head and you lack certainty, then turning to special psychological techniques and spiritual practices..
Understand yourself, find a foothold, put all past and expected events “on the shelves”
Firstly, a woman’s mood can directly depend on the discomfort caused by toxicosis or heartburn. Both of these symptoms can be alleviated by adjusting your diet. Secondly, the common belief that during pregnancy you can afford everything you want is wrong. In addition, there is no reliable evidence of a connection between the desire for a certain product and the actual lack in the body of the trace element or substance it contains. And to maintain the vital functions of a growing baby, you need to eat on average only 300–500 kcal per day more than usual.
Calorie intake by week of pregnancy
There is no need to change your usual diet until the 15th week. From 15 to 28 weeks, doctors recommend increasing the caloric intake of food to 25–30 kcal per kilogram of body weight, and from 28 to 30 weeks - up to 35 kcal per 1 kg of body weight. Moreover, the nutritional value of food should not be regulated by sweets or starchy foods.
Healthy lifestyle and positive attitude
- Yoga or light exercise. It is known that during physical activity the body produces a hormone that improves mood..
- Regular walks in the fresh air.
- Elimination of stress factors. There's no need to complicate things. If loud music bothers you, just turn it off.
- Communicate as much as possible with people who are sincerely disposed towards you, with those with whom it is easy and pleasant.
Medical help
Abroad, there has long been a practice of turning to private psychoanalysts to help “work through” difficult life situations, so that there are no unsaid things, especially in front of oneself. Russian people, due to their mentality, often perceive this as an excess, which, moreover, not everyone can afford. However, we also have all kinds of free hotlines psychological assistance. Don't be shy about asking for help when you really need it!
As a rule, doctors prescribe plant-based sedatives to pregnant women: tincture of valerian or motherwort, Persen, Novo-Passit. More serious drug treatment is used only in particularly difficult situations. Antidepressants are used only when the harm from stress to the mother’s health turns out to be more destructive than the possible consequences for the unborn child.
Gallery “How to deal with stress”
Serious effects of stress can be successfully treated with special medications 
You need to tell your doctor about your condition. 
The fewer unresolved everyday problems, the less stress. Solve them together, don’t take everything upon yourself 
Understand yourself, find a foothold, put all past and expected events “on the shelves” And healthy image life is the key to a good mood 
Yoga will help you find peace and self-confidence 
You can get all the necessary knowledge at free courses for pregnant women, which are available in every antenatal clinic
Stress Prevention
Quite ordinary life circumstances can become stressful for a pregnant woman. And if it is not always possible to ignore them, then it is worth trying to at least reduce the possible damage.
- Take a closer look at your surroundings. Perhaps there are people in it with whom it is better to abstain, at least for a while.
- Write down in a column those things that spoil your mood the most.. In the other column, on the contrary, write down your ideas on how you can reduce the harmful effects, and in the future try to follow this plan.
- Evaluate situations and people's actions calmly and rationally. A pregnant woman does not lose her ability to think or become incapacitated. Hormones play an important role, but the mind does not turn off.
- Control your emotions. Don't exaggerate and don't overindulge.
Remember! For 9 whole months, not only your own life, but also the fate of another person depends on your decisions.
Video "Stress during pregnancy"
Most people understand that a woman is very vulnerable while carrying a child. In a civilized society, there are certain traditions, for example, giving up a seat to pregnant women on transport or letting them skip the queue. However, stress factors are varied and cannot be avoided. To overcome stress, a woman must first set priorities and soberly assess any critical situation.
Severe stress has a negative impact on mental and physical condition person. Acute shock affects the functioning of the immune system, and health and performance deteriorate. Therefore, it is extremely unfavorable during pregnancy. Not only the mother's body suffers, but also the fetus.
Of course, for nine months you cannot completely isolate yourself from exciting situations, but it is the acute and prolonged stress factor that is dangerous. Powerful emotional trauma can cause the development of various pathologies, for example, missed abortion. But it's not all that scary. Scientists believe that small worries are even beneficial for the female body and the baby’s nervous system. Only constant stress and deep emotions cause serious damage. What consequences, besides missed abortion, can be caused by a long-term stress factor?
The effect of stress on the female body
Long-term chronic stress affects the condition of a pregnant woman as follows:
- Increased blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, breathing problems, tachycardia, dizziness. Some women complain of chest and abdominal pain and persistent migraines.
- In the first trimester, many women are plagued by toxicosis, and constant stress increases its manifestations.
- A pregnant woman is unable to cope with emotions, she may cry often, and is haunted by apathy and fatigue. does not allow the woman to relax, she is tense and in a state of anxiety.
- Decreased overall tone and strength. A woman constantly wants to sleep during the day, but cannot sleep at night. This behavior will subsequently appear in the baby.
Exposure to prolonged stress during pregnancy leads to depression, irritability, and dissatisfaction with one's situation.
Mental stress and the course of pregnancy
Regular use also affects gestation. How dangerous is a stress factor?
- Traumatic circumstances can provoke such an undesirable phenomenon as miscarriage. Constant worry has been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester.
- Due to protracted emotional experiences, amniotic fluid may begin to leak prematurely, and this is an unfavorable development of events for the baby.
- In the first trimester, the eighth week of gestation is considered the most dangerous period. At this time, the fetus is sensitive to stressful circumstances and a strong traumatic factor can lead to a missed abortion. In this case, the embryo stops developing. Additional causes of frozen pregnancy include alcohol abuse, infectious diseases, hormonal imbalance, heavy lifting, and previous abortions. But in some cases, doctors do not see any other reason for the appearance of a frozen pregnancy than nervous stress. Signs of a frozen pregnancy may appear in the second trimester, especially at 16 and 18 weeks.
Any deviation from the normal course of pregnancy aggravates the woman’s emotional state. And some pathologies, for example, the occurrence of a frozen pregnancy or miscarriage, have a strong impact on overall well-being.
Consequences of a stress factor for a baby
The mother's fetus is most susceptible. Stress during pregnancy negatively affects the baby for the following reasons:
- Medical experts say that during periods of strong excitement, the baby’s nervous system suffers greatly. If the expectant mother experienced stress during pregnancy, then after birth the child may suffer from hyperactivity. Such children are susceptible to various phobias and have a reduced adaptive threshold.
- Stress in pregnant women also negatively affects the health of the baby. The fetus suffers from intrauterine hypoxia, and after birth the child is susceptible to allergic and asthmatic reactions.
- According to some data, in the early stages of pregnancy, namely in the first trimester, it can provoke the development of schizophrenia in the child. Researchers say the probability is seventy percent.
- The child needs the calm emotions of the mother. If a woman is subject to negative thoughts, then the consequences of negative experiences affect the child’s psyche. A balanced mother can give her child health, both mental and physical. Some scientists believe that the manifestation of a frozen pregnancy should be looked for in the nervous excitability of the mother.
- The cause of enuresis, diabetes, and autism also lies in the stressful state of the expectant mother. Severe trauma is a factor in many adversities in the baby, for example, prematurity, or the non-viability of the baby.
Stress during pregnancy affects not only the woman, but also her future child. The baby suffers from the mother’s worries and worries. Stress during pregnancy is the cause of many problems. You should be wary of severe anxiety not only in the first trimester, but throughout the entire period of bearing a child. In this case, many negative aspects can be avoided, for example, the occurrence of a frozen pregnancy or rupture of amniotic fluid.
Video: Ayvazyan Tatyana Albertovna, professor, doctor medical sciences, with the topic “Why does depression occur during pregnancy?”
Pregnant women should not be nervous, therefore, when they are faced with some problem, they are doubly nervous: firstly, they are worried about the problem itself, and secondly, they are worried that. It turns out to be a vicious circle. How to open it and stop being nervous?
We offer 9 simple but effective ways that will help during pregnancy. Choose which one you like best. Or you can use all nine.
Watch your breath
The simplest and quick way relieve stress during pregnancy - watch your breathing. Do you think this is impossible? Let's check.
So, get comfortable, you can even lie down, and close your eyes. Try to relax your body as much as possible. Draw air into your lungs as slowly as possible, hold your breath, slowly counting to four. Then exhale slowly. Before you take another breath, hold your breath again for four counts.
How it works: firstly, they force you to breathe slowly, which means they prevent hyperventilation, which often occurs under stress. Secondly, as long as you are monitoring your breathing and counting to four, your overstimulated mind has no other problems. This way, you give him a break and a chance to deal with stress.
Visualize happiness
I've known you for a long time. Remember how you loved to dream as a child. How equally vividly you imagined both the carefree summer spent with your grandmother and the fairyland in which you were a real queen. So, nothing has changed - you can still do this.
Close your eyes and imagine a place and time when you were happy. Walk mentally through the hot sand or the dew cool from the morning grass; listen to the splashing of waves, the singing of birds; look at the rays of the sun breaking through the dense foliage, or at the soaring seagulls; Feel the smell of herbs heated by the sun, inhale the pine-mushroom aroma after the rain.
Visualization of pleasant moments helps to get rid of psychological and bodily pressures, and the pleasant emotions that you experience at this moment are transferred to the baby. By the way, this psychological technique will help you not to lose control of yourself. In the meantime, it will help relieve stress during pregnancy, gain peace of mind and cope with anxiety.
To relax, first tense up.
If you feel like stress has frozen your whole body, your head has become heavy, and your arms are drooping, the Jacobson method of progressive muscle relaxation will help restore mental balance. It is based on the idea that after intense tension, muscles automatically relax.
To relax according to Jacobson, you need to lie on the floor on your back, close your eyes and select a small muscle group, such as your hands, abdominals or calves. Tighten this group strongly for 5-10 seconds, and then sharply relax and completely feel this relaxation.
Gradually increase the number of muscles involved in relaxation.
The classic progressive relaxation scheme: sequential tension and relaxation from the neck muscles to the muscles of the tips of the legs.
Inhale pleasant aromas
One more effective method dealing with stress can become. You can easily combine this method with others. For example, before practicing relaxation or visualization techniques, ventilate the room well and fill it with the aroma of any essential oil that makes you feel good. You can add several oils to the aroma lamp at the same time.
Neroli, bergamot and rose oil are good at reducing psycho-emotional stress. The aromas of petitgrain (it helps not only with anxiety and worry, but also in case of panic attacks), eucalyptus, fir, and pine have anti-stress properties.
Essential oils of lemon, grapefruit, jasmine, cypress, cinnamon and geranium improve mood and raise emotional tone. Lavender oil will calm and help you cope.
Hang out with happy people
Often it is our environment that makes us happy or unhappy. Therefore, when stressed during pregnancy, it is important to communicate more with people who are positively minded, and limit contact with those who make you despondent. If something is bothering you, meeting with an optimistic friend is the best cure for stress.
Don't be afraid to share your concerns, because speaking them out loud can reduce the intensity of stress. Even research confirms that sociable people overcome stress more easily. Besides, your friend will probably have some for you the right words support. However, you should not focus solely on your problems. After speaking, be sure to switch to other topics, take an interest in your friend’s affairs - this will also help to distract you from disturbing thoughts for a while.
Get creative
If you are now thinking that this method will definitely not help you, because you are not a creative person... We assure you, it does not matter. For example, do you know how to knead clay? You know how! Can you make a bun? Still would! So get busy. What is important here is not the result, but the process, because clay modeling is a massage of the fingers and palms, which relieves tension and leads to peace. You can sculpt some kind of figure that would be associated with your problem, and then get rid of it, and with it, unpleasant emotions.
Also great is intuitive drawing. You don't need to be an artist for this. You can even paint with your fingers rather than brushes - this has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. Trust your intuition, it will definitely tell you what to draw.
Will also be pushed out of my head negative thoughts and activities that require concentration, such as knitting, embroidery, and scrapbooking, will balance the nervous system.
Get out into nature
It’s true, when you found out about your pregnancy, you almost immediately wanted to go somewhere to the village, where there was fresh air, cucumbers from the garden, apples from the garden, milk from a real cow, and peace and grace all around. Yes, it helps calm your nerves. Like a holiday in the mountains or on the seashore. But if your nerves are getting to you right now, and you may be at work, then get out to the nearest park. Quarreled with your husband? To the park!
Closed within four walls, problems increase noticeably and seem insoluble. But as soon as you take them out into the open, they begin to shrink and return to the state of the little things in life. Meanwhile, you enjoy the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves, saturate your body with oxygen and take free vitamin D3.
Contemplate the beautiful
So, you got out into nature, and that in itself is good. But you can enhance the effect even faster if you try the method of contemplation. It sounds serious, but in reality everything is simple and pleasant. As you walk, just look around, trying to notice more details: from a black raven on the top of a poplar tree to a ladybug landing on your sleeve.
Sitting down on a bench or just on the grass, choose some interesting object and study it. It could be a tree with an interesting curve or a cloud that resembles someone's face. Peer at them, try to let nothing else occupy your attention for a while.
Play some sports
They say you can't run away from problems. Don't believe it! Most effective method combat stress - physical activity. Because during physical activity, endorphins are released - hormones of happiness. So this is the best cure for stress.
Don't want to run? Dance! Music plus physical activity is a double whammy against stress. If you want something quieter, find out. The main thing is not to sit idly by.
Drink fresh juices
Fresh juices will save you from stress. Studies conducted by British scientists have shown that one glass of pomegranate juice a day reduces stress levels, and with regular consumption of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, you will not only react less to external stimuli, but also feel an emotional uplift! Carrot and pumpkin juices will also improve your mood and help during pregnancy, because they are rich in vitamins and microelements that have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
Research has shown that Severe stress during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby. Women exposed to stress are twice as likely to give birth to babies with any developmental defects than those whose pregnancy was emotionally calm and smooth.
The causes of severe stress may be the breakdown of a marriage, the loss of a loved one, and so on. Loneliness, constant nervous tension (or, conversely, apathy), depression, a feeling of abandonment, fear that something might go wrong - all this is difficult for an expectant mother to endure. But the worst thing is that a woman’s nervous experiences also affect the baby.
The impact of maternal stress during pregnancy on the child
- Expectant mothers who experience stress during pregnancy expose their babies to stress hormones. Also, the development of the fetus can be negatively affected by malnutrition (when women lose their appetite due to disorders and worries) and the resulting toxins.
- The hormone that is released during stress is called cortisone. It leads to an increase in blood sugar and a decrease in the supply of oxygen to tissues. Both of these conditions can cause birth defects.
- The “habitat” of the future baby becomes more “toxic”.
- In the future, due to mother's stress, the child is more likely to exhibit such characteristics as passivity, lack of initiative (the other extreme - hyperactivity - is also possible and is also not the norm), inattention, and poor self-control. These children are more likely to need antidepressant treatment in the future.
- Stress during pregnancy can cause asymmetry in the placement of fingers, ears, feet and elbows. Such children may also have a lower IQ (“intelligence quotient”).
- Due to disturbances in the child’s nervous system, problems associated with memory, thinking, and perception arise.
Different effects of pregnancy stress on boys and girls
For expectant mothers expecting boys and girls, the effects of stress during pregnancy will vary.
If a girl is expected
Fatigue and sleep disturbances result in increased irritability of the expectant mother. If she is expecting a girl, then this irritability can lead to rapid labor and the baby’s lack of “first cry.”
If a boy is expected
Internal dissatisfaction, fear and worries about health can also negatively affect the birth of a boy. Here the risk is even greater: the mother’s severe emotional state can lead to premature rupture of amniotic fluid and the onset of labor. Also, for some reason, the likelihood of the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck at birth increases.
Pediatric problems in babies
Babies born prematurely due to severe stress have a high risk of respiratory disease, blindness, and delayed motor development.
Children born to depressed mothers are at increased risk of having sleep problems in infancy and early adulthood.
In order to avoid all possible problems, you should pay great attention to your psychological comfort and healthy sleep. Sleep plays an important role in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system and immune system, regulating metabolism and appetite, and maintaining a good mood.
The 5 ways suggested below will help you cope with emerging stress.
6 Ways to Deal with Stress During Pregnancy
You shouldn't allow yourself to let yourself become slack. The ideal option, of course, would be if during the entire nine months of pregnancy you were protected from stress and any serious emotional experiences. But in real life this can hardly be realized in life. After all, anything can happen.
In case of “unforeseen disorders,” you need to have “stress management” strategies in your arsenal. Here is a selection of five great options to take your mind off sad thoughts and lift your spirits.
1. Go to the gym or exercise at home
Physical exercise during pregnancy helps reduce nervous stress and improves the overall health of the body. Not only do you stay in great shape, but you also get enough energy to stay in good shape and get rid of various pregnancy-related ailments.
Of course, it is important that the workouts are “pregnancy compatible.” That is, so that playing sports does not entail an increased risk for the baby (threat of injury, lack of oxygen, etc.).
List of types of exercises that will suit you best:
- Hiking or slow walking on a treadmill;
- quiet cycling on mostly flat terrain or riding an exercise bike without load;
- swimming and water aerobics;
- step trainer;
- aerobics “with low impact” (without sudden movements, pushing, jumping).
2. Find yourself a “pregnancy consultant”
Often, the expectant mother experiences stressful situations due to not knowing what is normal in her situation. She begins to examine every sign under a magnifying glass and worry: should it be like this or is it something out of the ordinary? That is why we recommend that all women who are going to become mothers for the first time, in addition to consulting with a doctor, “find” a friend - a woman who is either pregnant herself (but several months older than you), or who has recently given birth. When you have the opportunity to turn to an experienced mother, it can reduce anxiety and relieve tension. Down with prenatal depression!
By the way: in Lately Forums for expectant and established mothers have become especially popular. If you don’t know any pregnant women, you can chat on one of these forums. Just be sure to filter the information!
3. Learn to meditate
Research has shown that meditation may help reduce the negative effects of extreme stress (and increase resilience), relieve pain, and lower blood pressure and heart rate. Regular meditation will also help solve sleep problems - they will protect you from insomnia, allow you to fall asleep faster and fully restore your strength during the night.
Before you start meditating, find a comfortable, spacious place where you will feel comfortable in every sense. Sit down and set a timer for five minutes (gradually, the meditation time can be increased to 20 minutes). Place your hands on your stomach, close your eyes and sit, focusing only on your breathing until the timer goes off. That's all - in a simplified version - what needs to be done!
4. Practice relaxation breathing
Don't forget about yours breathing. And here we should mention the regular practice of so-called relaxation breathing (American term “labor breathing”). If you periodically practice this type of breathing, the exercises will help you reduce your stress levels during pregnancy.
Simply place your hand on your stomach and breathe through your belly, feeling your hand rise with each inhale and fall with each exhale. After mastering this simple technique, modify it a little: breathe deeply and take short pauses before exhaling. After exhaling, before inhaling, slowly count to four.
This type of breathing is also called “yogi breathing.” After five to ten minutes, you will find that it slows down, the body relaxes, the mind is freed from disturbing thoughts and calmness sets in.
5. Get a massage
Everyone knows that massage very useful for the body. It helps relieve back pain, leg cramps, headaches and some other problems associated with pregnancy. For example, it calms and relaxes the nervous system, promoting the production of the hormone endorphin. So you have a good reason to approach your husband with a bottle of massage oil and a “hint” of what you want. And this reason is motherhood! :)
6. Take advantage of the “magic” of aromatherapy
Some aromatic oils help you relax, come to your senses, and get rid of far-fetched problems. If you do not have individual contraindications, then try using this method of dealing with stress. “Acceptable” oils during pregnancy include grapefruit, bergamot, lavender, lemon, and tea tree oils.
From the instructions for use:
Grapefruit oil. The aromatherapy properties of this oil can lift your spirits, invigorate you, and overcome stress and its consequences. It is also known to relieve manic-depressive conditions. Interestingly, grapefruit oil simultaneously has a mild hypnotic and stimulating effect. It can soften the severity of premenstrual syndrome, relieve migraine pain, reduce discomfort during pregnancy, and relieve fatigue and headaches.
Literature
Would you like to learn more about the effects of stress? It is described very vividly in John Medina’s book “Rules for the Development of Your Child’s Brain” (in the Labyrinth, in Ozone). In general, the book is very interesting: it describes the entire process of fetal development (and it is very accessible and fascinating, but with physiological details) and the changes that occur in the mother’s body.
The book can be purchased in electronic version on liters (if it is more convenient for someone to read from the screen). Plus, it will be cheaper.
The book also gives advice on the development of a child under 4 years old: what to pay attention to, what affects his abilities and character. Readable in one go.
If you have experienced severe stress during pregnancy:
This can affect your baby's temperament: babies become more excitable and have a harder time calming down.
This can reduce the child's IQ: the average decrease can be about 8 units on certain mental and motor indicators measured in the first years of a child's life.[…]
This may hinder the future development of the child’s motor skills and ability to concentrate. Differences continue to develop at age six. Harm can also be caused to the child’s stress response system.
Stress can even reduce your child's brain size.
Also in the chapter, you will learn about 3 types of toxic stress and about laboratory studies on rats, confirming that anxiety can lead to unimaginable consequences: stomach ulcers, loss of sleep and decreased immunity.
We hope that our advice will be useful to you, and that stress and depression will bypass you!