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Don’t be nervous: how stress during pregnancy affects the fetus
Stress haunts every person. Pregnant women who are very concerned about the health of the baby and the course of pregnancy are also susceptible to stress. But how does stress affect the fetus, how negative can the consequences become?
Often in women during pregnancy, excitement is caused by:
fear of childbirth;
rejection of changes in appearance;
fear for the health of the unborn child.
A woman’s health worsens due to stress. Toxicosis often intensifies, chronic diseases are aggravated, and liver function worsens.
Pregnancy: how stress affects the fetus
How does stress affect the fetus?
Stress is a really serious test not only for a woman, but also for a baby. It happens that the baby is born healthy, but the effects of stress on the mother begin to affect when the child reaches transitional age. How severe stress can affect the fetus:
Constant nervousness, fears and anxiety threaten with disturbances in the work of the baby’s endocrine system. Its immunity and metabolism may suffer, this, in turn, causes frequent infections and obesity.
Stress causes poor labor.
Severe psychological shocks can provoke intrauterine hypoxia – a lack of oxygen.
The higher the mother’s stress level, the less nutrients the baby receives, this can lead to a deterioration in the placental blood supply, which threatens the unborn baby with various developmental difficulties.
In the future, the child may experience problems with the cardiovascular system, allergic reactions or asthma and other somatic diseases may develop.
In addition, under the influence of stress, glucocorticoids are actively produced in the body of the expectant mother. These are hormones that, in large quantities, harm the development of the fetus. Complications can be very different:
the risk of developing diabetes;
autism and other neurological disorders: phobias, increased anxiety;
“Cleft lip”;
disorders in brain development, which can lead to hyperactivity and even schizophrenia.
How stress affects fetal development and how to avoid dire consequences
Stress increases the likelihood of miscarriage when it comes to the early stages of pregnancy, and premature birth when it is more than 25 weeks old. Premature babies are more likely to have developmental delays and learning disabilities. In the future, they often develop chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In addition, stress during pregnancy affects the weight of the fetus. Often, these babies are born lightweight, and this also entails health problems.
The damage caused by stress during pregnancy can manifest itself in a child already in adolescence by isolation or, conversely, increased activity, impaired perception, memory, and inattention.
How to get rid of stress?
It doesn’t matter what caused the stress of the expectant mother. It is important to quickly get rid of negative feelings and emotions so as not to harm yourself and your baby. Knowing how stress affects the development of the fetus, women who are expecting a child should take a responsible attitude to the state of the body. And if you notice signs of stress, it’s best to see a doctor.
If you are afraid of the childbirth process, then it will not be superfluous to communicate with knowledgeable people who have already successfully passed this stage. Contact your gynecologist, visit special courses for pregnant women.
If you are afraid for the health of the baby, and this fear visits absolutely all women, then you need to pull yourself together and calm down – after all, if you follow all routine examinations, then the risk of having a sick baby is excluded.
Your favorite activities can help relieve mild anxiety. Relax, get distracted – read a good book or watch a fun movie.
Walk more, especially if you have company. Fresh air and physical activity reduce stress. Spend time with family and friends – actively receive positive emotions and support from others.
Eat plenty of foods high in vitamin D and vitamin C to help restore balance and reduce stress. However, the use should not exceed the permissible limits, consult your doctor. Junk food should be excluded, it not only harms the appearance, but can also provoke the development of stress.
Treat this issue carefully, the main thing is the health of the baby. Do everything in your power to prevent destructive stress from haunting you and threatening your small body.