Pregnancy is a really important moment for any woman and that is why it is key to control what you eat, rest or sports. Emotions and the state of mind of the pregnant woman also play a very important role in it. It is not the same to have a completely calm and relaxed pregnancy process without worries than to carry it with high levels of stress and anxiety.
Stress itself can have a negative impact on the proper development of the newborn. The pregnant woman can experience three types of stress during pregnancy: physical, physiological and social. Then we tell you what consequences stress can have in pregnancy for both the mother and the baby itself.
Consequences of stress for the fetus
If the pregnant woman has high levels of stress, it can be reflected at mealtime, at bedtime and harm her health, either with severe headaches or with too high tension. This is not good for the pregnancy that you suffer since it can cause the labor to be advanced, increasing the chances of having a premature baby with all the problems that this entails for the baby himself.
- Stress in pregnancy can cause various respiratory problems in the baby such as asthma and skin problems such as atopic eczema.
- Stress can also negatively influence your child's circulatory system. The large amount of hormones you receive through your blood can cause your heart rate to increase more than necessary.
- In addition to the above, the mother's high level of stress can cause cortisol to cause serious damage to the baby's brain development. It has been shown that the more cortisol found in the amniotic fluid, the more likely it is that the baby's IQ is below average. This can affect the child's daily life together with a higher percentage of suffering from hyperactivity or certain learning problems.
Manage stress in pregnancy
There is no doubt that the state of mind of the pregnant woman will negatively influence the good development of the fetus. It is not the same to lead a totally calm and relaxed life than to be stressed all day and with too high of anxiety. It is therefore quite normal that the moods of the pregnant woman end up being transmitted to the baby. However, it is very important to point out that various unexpected events, such as some kind of unexpected fright, do not endanger the good growth and development of the fetus. What is going to harm you in the medium and long term is the fact of leading a life with prolonged stress over time.
Apart from this, it should be noted that the emotional state is not the same for all women, so stress or anxiety do not affect two different pregnant women in the same way. What doctors and experts do advise is to take life much more calmly and rest as much as possible. Playing sports in a regular way and practicing different relaxation exercises can positively help make your pregnancy the best it can be. There is no doubt that stress is not good for your health, something that is aggravated in the case of being pregnant and carrying a fetus inside.
Ultimately, It is not a good thing to lead a stressful life while a woman is pregnant because it can have a negative impact on the good health of the fetus, especially afterwards.