Is It True That Stress Can Affect The Baby In The Womb?
Stress in pregnancy is common and has many reasons. Knowing if it affects the baby is a source of concern for mothers. Let’s see what the consequences are and what can be done to avoid it.
Important changes occur in the mother’s body throughout pregnancy. Sometimes, these come to generate a level of stress that can affect the baby in the womb. It is because hormonal variations influence the maternal emotional state in different ways.
Among the physical changes are nausea and signs of fatigue that are often accompanied by mood swings. Learning to control them will be key to preventing them from becoming chronic stress, harmful to fetal health.
What are the causes of stress during pregnancy?
The causes of stress vary in each woman according to her medical history and the circumstance in which she has become pregnant. However, among the most common are the specific conditions of pregnancy that cause physical discomfort due to hormonal changes.
Stress alters the mother’s hormonal profile, releasing more cortisol. The increase of this hormone in the fetal environment is associated with poor brain development in the baby.
Types of stress
The reasons that activate stress, its duration and the level of affectation in the mother will be decisive to evaluate the final effect, as well as the degree of incidence that it may have on the baby.
Physical changes
The typical discomforts of pregnancy can develop a type of temporary stress that does not cause problems for the baby. They are the discomforts such as back pain, constipation, tired legs, tachycardia, frequent urination and sweating, among others, linked to the transformations that pregnancy brings.
Job
Sometimes working conditions cause more pressure than pregnant women can tolerate. Failing to meet goals causes stress. If we feel that the demands of the job exceed capabilities, perhaps it is time to evaluate the maternity leave.
Family relationships
Other factors that produce stress during pregnancy are linked to the existence of a conflictive relationship or the abandonment of the father. Also the rejection of a relative towards pregnancy, especially if it is the parents of the pregnant woman.
Fear of childbirth and the development of pregnancy
The expectations that mothers create about the health of the baby can fill them with fears that turn into stress. Especially when they have been informed of the possibility of having a high-risk pregnancy.
On the other hand, the uncertainty about the type of delivery they will have, the possibility of a cesarean section or latent complication are factors that cause stress. Issue that intensifies in the case of gilts.
Economic conditions
In the same way, pregnant women are affected by economic limitations during pregnancy or the difficulties that they project in the upbringing.
Grief or illness
Having a family member suffering from a terminal illness or facing the loss of a loved one are situations that can cause sadness and anxiety. If the days go by and we believe that we do not overcome these feelings or we are with a feeling of stagnation, it is advisable to seek help from a therapist.
Social rejection
Being a victim of racism, in any of its forms, can cause lasting stress on the mother that is likely to be difficult for her to get over without help. Not letting go of stress is the best way to have a healthy pregnancy.
External events
Catastrophic natural or artificial events expose us to a significant level of stress in any case, whether or not there is a pregnancy. We refer to earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, storms, wars or terrorist attacks.
How is stress affecting me?
Stress can affect the mother and the pregnancy with signs that will manifest as the stress continues. In the mother, it is associated with an increase in blood pressure and a weakening of the action of the immune system.
In turn, being stressed could lead to a tendency towards unhealthy eating habits that lead to gestational diabetes or being overweight that triggers other problems. Also, stress increases the chance of having an abortion or preterm delivery with a low birth weight baby.
Can stress affect my baby?
Yes, stress can affect the baby in the womb, according to a recent study exposed at the III Virtual International Congress of Nursing and Physiotherapy reveals. The moment in which the pregnancy is found influences how the effects are manifested in the fetus. Let’s look at some consequences.
Congenital malformations
Research links maternal stress with birth defects, such as heart disease. He even associates it with the appearance of a cleft lip. Likewise, the consequences may fall on its development causing a decrease in bone formation.
This can occur when the stressor occurs for a long time during the first trimester of pregnancy. Larger studies are necessary to determine these findings, so it is suggested that they be taken as guidance information.
Neurological disorders
Another article associates alterations in cognitive development and behavioral problems in some children with exposure to maternal-fetal stress. Here we can mention delays in language development, hyperactivity, attention deficit in childhood and a lower development of intellectual and psychomotor skills.
Practicing healthy habits avoids stressful situations that can affect the baby in the womb
Practicing healthy habits reduces the triggers of stressful scenarios during pregnancy. We talk about eating a balanced diet, doing a suitable exercise routine and practicing relaxation techniques. Also walking and listening to music are conducive actions to achieve emotional balance.
Let us remember that we are going through a moment of life that is new and transcendental, so we can have a certain psychic vulnerability. It is necessary that we be honest with the professional in charge of the control if we feel that something is not going well. Well then you will have tools to make associations that allow you to guide us to get out of the stressful climate.
