According to the results of studies, it was proved that severe stress during pregnancy can leave a serious mark on the unborn baby. Women who during this period were constantly in a state of tension often had babies with any defects.
What is stress?
Today, people often make their own diagnoses without even fully understanding one or another concept. But you can not self-medicate. In the common sense, “stress” is interpreted as a negative state of tension.
In medicine, this term is meant by the nonspecific response of the body or the adaptation syndrome, which develops under the influence of excessive or new influences (for example, emotional or physical stress). There are several types of stress:
- Emotional stress. The psycho-emotional excitement of a person in a variety of life situations, when for a long period the replenishment of social and biological needs stops.
- Eustress, which is caused by a positive mood.
- Psychological stress. Due to the influence of extreme circumstances, there is a feeling of excessive psychological stress and discord in social behavior.
- Distress Appears with periodic exposure to some adverse situation or deep shock. It is the most difficult and dangerous, because the body can not cope with it alone.
One can see the understanding of what stress is in the usual sense and medical: the stress state is considered to be ordinary nervous excitement or emotional experiences inherent in people with excessive emotionality.
How to determine
Stress during pregnancy has its own specific symptoms and signs, which are common to all people, and specific to girls in position. In the latter case, difficulties may arise in determining the stress state, since the signs of both of them sometimes converge. Separate signs into physical and behavioral.
Physical symptoms include:
- sudden weight loss (exception - toxicosis);
- frequent headaches and pressure drops as a sign of stress;
- redness, itching and rashes, no diseases are detected during the analysis;
- panic attacks with increased heart rate;
- muscle tone (in the last stages from it premature birth can begin);
- contractions of the stomach, accompanied in some cases by vomiting (difference from toxicosis in frequency and controllability);
- insomnia;
- difficulty breathing
- pressure drops.
Behavioral signs include:
- irritability, not that slight irritability accompanied by all pregnant girls, but frequent “explosions”;
- a depressed state, again, there may be a divergence of concepts, but it is better to consult a psychologist who will help;
- excessive tearfulness, remember that tears for no reason is a bad sign;
- impaired concentration of attention or thoughts of suicide.
If you notice these symptoms, try to analyze the latest events and your condition before and after this situation.
Reflection on the child
Women experiencing constant stress during pregnancy expose the child to stress hormones - cortisones. Due to stress, a woman may lose her appetite, and malnutrition or the resulting toxins also adversely affect the baby's development. Cortisone increases sugar and reduces the flow of oxygen into cells. Together, these two aspects can lead to congenital diseases.
Passivity, lack of initiative, hyperactivity, problems with concentration on one thing, poor self-control - this is what severe stress during pregnancy can lead to. Such a child is more likely to need antidepressant treatment. In addition, due to constant stressful situations in a child, asymmetry of fingers, feet, ears, eyes, or a low intelligence coefficient is possible.
Impact on boys and girls
Girls who are expecting the birth of a baby should expect the different consequences of severe stress during pregnancy:
- When waiting for a girl, increased fatigue, unhealthy sleep affect the mother’s high nervousness. And this nervousness itself can cause premature birth and cause the absence of the “first cry” of the girl.
- When waiting for the boy, the unstable emotional state of the mother can also cause a premature birth and increase the chance of entwining the umbilical cord.
Baby problems
A baby born prematurely under severe stress is more at risk of respiratory diseases, blindness, and developmental delay. Sleep problems in early and infancy, a high-risk group are all problems inherent in children born to mothers who are depressed. Psychological comfort and healthy sleep are the best prevention of problems. Good mood, the state of the cardiovascular and immune systems, and metabolic function depend on sleep.
Several ways to fight
The effects of stress during pregnancy can be dire. In the ideal case, of course, throughout the entire period of bearing the fetus to be away from stress and deep emotional experiences. But this is unlikely in real life. In case of an unforeseen stressful situation, you need to know how to deal with it.
- Physical exercise. Sport helps to overcome nervous stress, affects the improvement of the state of the body as a whole, gives a charge of vivacity and energy, improves mood and excellent shape. But the main thing is to remember that physical activity should not be contraindicated by a doctor during pregnancy. Here is the minimum and harmless load for girls in position: walking or slow walking on the simulator, swimming, water aerobics or classes on the stepper.
- Pregnancy Consultant. Who is it? This is a woman who has already given birth or on a term that is a couple of months longer than yours. Especially for the first time, the girl is very worried about situations that are incomprehensible to her, which causes enormous stress during pregnancy, because it is not clear: the norm is what happens or not. And if you can turn to an experienced woman who has passed through this difficult period, she will significantly reduce her excitement.
- Meditation. Based on the research of specialists, meditation at times reduces the negative effects of stress, pain, blood pressure and heart rate, and also improves sleep. Before starting meditation, find a comfortable position, set a timer for 5 minutes, place your hands on your stomach, close your eyes, focus on your breathing until the end of time. Of course, this is the most simplified version.
- The severe consequences of severe stress during pregnancy can be prevented by the practice of relaxation breathing. But you need to do this regularly, only in this case there will be a result. How it's done? We place our hands on our stomach and breathe, let’s say, “stomach”, feeling the movements of the hand along with the stomach. Over time, we improve, pause before exhaling.
- Massage. This useful procedure helps to relieve back pain, leg cramps, headaches and other ailments of girls in position.
As you can see, the ways to deal with stress are completely uncomplicated, and the effect of them is amazing: not only calming the nervous system, but also healing the body, relieving stress of the whole body.
Causes
Overstrain of the nervous system can occur for various reasons. Here the main role is given to that mark, which is considered the norm for a girl. Great importance is given to the psychological state at the moment. After all, even the worst in a good mood is taken at times easier. Here are the most common causes of stress during pregnancy:
- Fear of previous birth. The most common fear. Limited knowledge in this area and fueling rumors about the unbearable soreness of this process and no less danger.
- Experiences regarding position. Everyone is afraid of a miscarriage. Even with the planned birth of a child, a certain period of time is needed to get used to the idea of a new role. But the woman has 9 months for this.
- Volume increase. Yes, yes, all the girls are afraid of extra pounds, as a result of the loss of attractiveness. Here we must remember that the form can be put in order.
- Domestic and family troubles. It is hard to insure against this, but it is necessary to be prepared for worries about adding to the family. This is very true if this is the first child.
- Unrest at work. Alas, up to 30 weeks a woman in a position is obliged to work as a full member of the team with all the problems and experiences.
- Experiences for the child. The first trimester is the fear of miscarriage, the second is the activity of the fetus, the third is preterm delivery.
All of the above symptoms are an integral part of pregnancy. But, despite them, this is a great time, and the time of motherhood is even more wonderful.
Frozen pregnancy
There is no reliable information that even the most severe stress for the body during pregnancy leads to fetal freezing. In general, this phenomenon has not been fully studied. The main causes of miscarriage by specialists include genetic, autoimmune or gynecological diseases in women. But among some doctors there is still an opinion that stress affects a negative outcome for a child.
Solve the problem
You need to understand the specific cause of stress and try to eliminate it. Solving the problem in this situation will lead to satisfaction and increase mood. If negative emotions are caused by fears, then you need to quickly fill up the ignorance that causes fears. After all, the unknown scares. Today, many programs and trainings have been developed for expectant mothers, which clearly explain how the body changes during this period, advise how to alleviate the condition as much as possible. The waiting time for the baby to appear is completely natural, so it should not cause much discomfort. With uncertainty and some chaos in the head, the right decision would be to turn to a psychologist.
Nerves under control
In the period of the second trimester, the girl becomes happier: toxicosis, hormonal boom and the first tests have already been completed, it is time to enjoy her new status. In the second trimester, stress during pregnancy, as a rule, does not depend on the woman, severe shocks and small experiences have a great influence here. It is during this period that the formation and development of the child, more precisely its organs, takes place, and the damage does the most serious harm. Of course, this will not cause any special mutations, but the negative consequences will be:
- Due to malfunctioning of the uteroplacental blood flow, the child cannot fully receive nutrients and oxygen.
- Hypertonicity of the uterus: until the 22nd week it can cause a frozen pregnancy, after which it affects too early birth of a premature baby.
- After birth, a child who was under constant stress during the developmental period in the womb should tend more to stressful situations, since they are normal for him.
If you still had to be nervous, then consult a doctor for the appointment of mild sedatives. It is better to take measures in time to avoid consequences.
First trimester
Stress during pregnancy in the early stages works on the principle of "all or nothing." The fetus is well protected from any physical injury, as the small size of the uterus is hidden in the pelvic area. And there is no reason to worry about the utero-placental blood flow. But, if you look from a different angle, then all the organs and systems of the developing fetus are only forming, so even the most minor injuries can lead to interruption of the development and death of the fetus.
How the stress during pregnancy affects the baby is already clear, but what effect does it have on the mother? A nervous state during this period can cause severe toxicosis in a woman. Because of the experiences, mild nausea in the morning can become quite difficult and around the clock.
Healthly food
The good mood of a pregnant girl may depend on the absence of unpleasant sensations of heartburn and toxicosis. To avoid these irritants, you need to control your diet. And statements about the fact that you can consume anything you want are wrong, because a pregnant woman does not always want healthy foods.
Calories
The consequences of stress during pregnancy for a baby can be severe, so the smallest details, even the number of calories consumed, are important to avoid it. Until 14-15 weeks, you should not change your usual diet, 16-28 you need to consume 25-30 kcal per kg of weight, then 29-35 kcal per kg of weight. At the same time, it is not recommended to eat sweet, flour or fast food.