The influence of stress during pregnancy on the fetus and the mother's body. Overcoming stress during pregnancy How nervous stress affects pregnancy

The stress of a pregnant mother greatly threatens the health of the unborn baby.

Stress is harmful to absolutely everyone. At this point in time, scientists are studying the impact of stress experienced by the mother during pregnancy on the health of the baby.

Pregnancy itself is already stressful for the body of the expectant mother. We will try to find out how dangerous the stress suffered by the mother is for the baby, and we will also look at ways to deal with excess anxiety and anxiety.

What is stress?

The very concept of “stress” means the body’s reaction to certain situations: hormonal changes, changes in external conditions, strong experiences, and so on. And pregnancy entails a lot of changes in a woman’s body. The restructuring also affects the psycho-emotional background, so expectant mothers always react more vividly and painfully to the influence of their environment.

This is a completely natural process necessary for adaptation to the new position and proper bearing of the child.

But such a reaction can also become pathological. If the first two stages of stress are a manifestation of a normal defensive reaction, then the third and last stage can cause protracted and other mental disorders.

Reasons for stress during pregnancy

Unfortunately, there are indeed quite a lot of reasons for pregnant women to worry: especially if it is their first pregnancy. Let's look at the most common fears among expectant mothers:

1 Fear for the baby's health. Even under ideal conditions of conception and constant examinations, there remains a small percentage of the likelihood of pathologies occurring in the fetus.

But modern medicine is not limited to just diagnosing the health of the baby in the womb. If any developmental abnormalities are detected, doctors will always be ready to provide the necessary assistance to eliminate them. Your worries about your child’s health can only give the opposite result. Therefore, it is best to just calm down and not miss scheduled examinations, tests and ultrasounds.

2 Fear of negative changes in appearance. The fear of losing your former shape after childbirth is perhaps the most groundless of the “pregnant” fears. The appearance of many women who gave birth not only did not deteriorate after pregnancy, but also became more impressive, bright and attractive. And such little things as the appearance of a tummy and rounded hips can be easily eliminated with the help of exercises in the gym.

3 Fear of the upcoming birth. How they will go sometimes remains a mystery even to a specialist who monitors the pregnancy throughout the entire period. Possible pain, lack of competence of medical personnel - any pregnant woman thinks about all this repeatedly.

Solving this problem is quite simple. You need to communicate as much as possible with women who have already experienced childbirth and express your concerns to them.

An experienced mother will definitely give you practical advice and help dispel all your fears. It will not be superfluous to attend courses on preparation for childbirth. Here you will be taught proper breathing techniques, special gymnastics and other useful things.

Thanks to the knowledge you have gained, you will never be confused at the most crucial moment, and your baby will be born healthy and strong.

Effects of stress during pregnancy

Not a single woman has been able to protect herself from stress during her entire pregnancy, and therefore the question lurks in the mind of every expectant mother: “How can the stress I have experienced affect my child? Does he feel all my experiences?

The group of food antidepressants, contrary to popular belief, does not include chocolates, ice cream or jam. The ability to improve mood is inherent in products containing B vitamins, manganese and vitamin C.

Interesting! Why does a child hiccup in his stomach?

Such products are fish, nuts, lean meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit), cottage cheese, natural yogurt, red fruits (apples, pomegranates), berries and dried fruits. These products will not only help improve the mother’s mental state, but will also be very beneficial for the baby.

2 Love and be loved. Scientific experiments have shown that single women are most often exposed to stress. Moreover, a woman can feel lonely even if she is married.

It is important to understand that it is not so much sex that can help get rid of stress, but a feeling of complete understanding in the family. Don’t isolate yourself: you need to share your experiences and thoughts with your other half.

Going together to a film screening, theater or exhibition is a good way to forget about everyday problems and worries. New experiences experienced together will definitely put both you and your life partner in a good mood.

3 An interesting hobby is the best cure for stress. Many women begin to discover new talents during maternity leave or pregnancy. If at the normal pace of life we ​​don’t always have time for creativity, then right now you can do something exciting and enjoyable.

The expectant mother can attend master classes, during which the teacher will give you basic knowledge about a particular form of art in an accessible form. In addition, at such courses you can find new acquaintances: communication with interesting creative people always leaves a positive impression.

By creating something with your own hands, you will be distracted from negative thoughts. The fruits of your creativity will also be an excellent decoration for the interior of your home.

4 Healthy sleep and proper daily routine. Physical fatigue also has a negative effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it is so important for pregnant women to maintain a normal daily routine. Go to bed no later than 22-23 hours. It is during these hours that the body restores its strength as much as possible. Sleep started later is less effective.

Stress, even in the normal state of a person, is a very serious test for any organism. What can we say about how difficult it is to tolerate during pregnancy. At this time, both external factors (cold and heat, hunger and thirst, physical activity, etc.) and emotional and psychological factors (resentment, fatigue, fear of childbirth, death of a loved one, nervous tension, etc.) can disable the nervous system. .). Any nervous stress during pregnancy is dangerous both for the health of the woman herself and for the condition of the child she is carrying.

It often happens that a pregnant woman does not even notice that she is under constant stress. She gets so used to it that she takes all her fears and worries for granted. Meanwhile, constant stress during pregnancy carries out its destructive work from the inside. Therefore, every expectant mother should be able to analyze her condition and pay attention to the main symptoms of stress:

• apathy, indifference to everything, lethargy;
• decreased performance;
• lack and loss of appetite;
• periods of inexplicable anxiety, nervousness;
• rapid heartbeat;
• dizziness;
• tremor of the limbs (trembling);
• decreased immunity - frequent colds.

If all this is the case, most likely, your condition is quite serious and requires immediate correction. Scientists have found that in a woman's body under stress during pregnancy, the amount of special hormones - glucocorticoids - increases significantly. And they affect not only genes, but also have a close connection with the functioning of the placenta. Accordingly, their consequences can be very serious.

What are the dangers of stress during pregnancy?

There are women who talk about the extreme stress they endured during pregnancy, which had absolutely no effect on the condition of their baby or the birth. These are very controversial situations, since the consequences can manifest themselves much later - problems can begin in a child at school or adolescence, when serious changes in the psyche occur. Doctors have long explained how stress affects pregnancy and the future health of the baby. It can lead to the following consequences:

• small;
• premature birth;
• stress in late pregnancy provokes abnormalities in the formation of the child’s nervous system;
• problems of adaptation in a team;
• autism or hyperactivity;
• fears and phobias;
• stress in early pregnancy can lead to severe fetal hypoxia.
• enuresis;
• terrible birth anomalies - such as “cleft lip” or “cleft palate”;
• allergic and asthmatic reactions in a newborn;
• development of diabetes;
• cardiovascular diseases;

As you can see, being strong is a very serious test for both the baby and the expectant mother. Therefore, it is so important to try to avoid it by all means. Moreover, this should be understood not only by the woman herself, but first of all by those who surround her during this period of life.

How to avoid stress during pregnancy?

Both the doctor observing her and her family and friends should help a pregnant woman avoid the terrible consequences of a stressful condition. After all, her psycho-emotional state depends on the latter. Pregnancy is not the time for quarrels, hysterics, and certainly not divorce. To avoid nervous tension, the expectant mother needs to know methods that quickly and effectively restore peace of mind.

1. Learn to control your thoughts: stop thinking about the bad, expect only the negative. Tune in to the positive and think about a successful birth and your baby, whom you will soon hug. If you feel that you are not able to do this yourself, be sure to sign up for special training or go to a psychologist.
2. Don't be alone with your fears. Find someone you can tell everything to. Do not leave negativity in yourself, get rid of it by any means.
3. Walk more in the fresh air, do not forget to ventilate your room.
4. Eat well, especially plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
5. Sleep as much as you want.
6. Do physical exercise for pregnant women: special exercise, swimming, even yoga.
7. Communicate only with those people who are pleasant to you. Exclude from your social circle those who often offend you or simply annoy you.
8. Get plenty of rest, especially in the first months. While you are working, a lunch break is a must. Don’t work in the evenings: before going to bed, you need to learn to relax and get pleasant emotions from some favorite activity that gives you pleasure.
9. You can relax in different ways: discover the world of aromatherapy, sign up for a massage or acupuncture, or practice meditation.

Every woman who is preparing to become a mother should be very clear about the dangers of stress during pregnancy and why it is so important to avoid it by any means. To protect your baby from negative consequences, you need to be able to concentrate on the main thing - your situation, and try to ignore annoying little things and failures.

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 the modern world, oversaturated with available information, this is sometimes done with complete confidence that the chosen word corresponds to 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 mental agitation that is inherent in emotional people prone to mood swings and outbursts;
• on the other hand, the majority 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 have different attitudes to the same case. 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 recent 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 the main role is played by 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 cause of severe stress is 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 a complex system of internal relationships;
• 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 there is a gradual development of 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)

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, the creator of modern methods for 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 can help. Understand yourself, find a foothold, put all past and expected events “on the shelves”.

Proper nutrition

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 psychological help hotlines. 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 Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are 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.

Stress is the body’s reaction to the influence of various unfavorable factors (physical or psychological). Being short-term, it does not pose a threat and helps to adapt to circumstances, but if this condition is prolonged, negative consequences inevitably occur. Stress is especially dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, as well as throughout the rest of the period of bearing a child.

Increased psycho-emotional stress to which the expectant mother is exposed can cause many complications regarding the health of the woman and the fetus. Therefore, all pregnant women should learn to protect themselves from stress, recognize its signs in time and take the necessary measures.

Most people find themselves in stressful situations every day. As a result, one gets used to this state of affairs and the person stops paying attention to it.

You can understand that the situation has become critical by a number of symptoms indicating constant stress:

• apathy, lethargy;
• decreased performance;
• difficulty falling asleep, restless sleep;
• attacks of tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
• lack of appetite;
• dizziness, tremor of limbs;
• increased blood pressure;
• decreased immunity (frequent and prolonged colds).

Some people have atypical reactions to stress. For example, sudden headaches, causeless discomfort in the abdomen, itchy skin, and a feeling of shortness of breath appear.

Causes

There can be many causes of stress, they depend on life circumstances and a person’s perception. What is quite normal for some expectant mothers and does not cause psychological discomfort, becomes a problem for others.

Sometimes a stressful situation arises even due to weather conditions (extreme heat, cold, rain). The reason may also be a change of place of residence, a change in daily routine, hunger, or excessive physical activity.

Often stress is associated with the state of pregnancy itself. The points that most often concern expectant mothers include:

1. Physiological changes. Weight gain, the appearance of stretch marks, the fear of spoiling your figure and losing your attractiveness can put many people in a state of stress. It is important to remember that it is temporary and reversible.
2. Fear of childbirth. The process of giving birth to a child is shrouded in many myths and speculations, in which it is the quintessence of danger and pain. Of course, this does not contribute to the positive attitude of the expectant mother.
3. Excitement about the child. While waiting for a baby, especially if the pregnancy is complicated, a woman worries about him, fearing miscarriage, premature birth, possible congenital pathologies and abnormalities in fetal development. All this can cause prolonged stress.
4. Family problems. During pregnancy, cooling sometimes occurs between spouses. A woman may feel that her husband does not understand her and does not fully support her. Added to this are the experiences associated with a rapid change in lifestyle. Such problems are more common for couples expecting their first child.
5. Financial difficulties. If the family has a small income, the costs associated with the upcoming addition may overshadow the joy of the future parents.
6. Conflicts and difficulties at work. Since most women are forced to work until the 30th week of pregnancy, solving work problems and communicating with the team can be a burden for the expectant mother. After all, as the belly grows, it becomes more and more difficult to cope with work, and the nervous system becomes more vulnerable.

In addition to the usual negative factors, unforeseen circumstances are possible. The death of a loved one, a break in a relationship with a spouse, an accident or accident can cause severe stress during pregnancy, which has dire consequences.

Danger

It was found that in response to stress, the human body produces special hormones - glucocorticoids. The result of a frequent increase in their concentration in the blood of a pregnant woman can be pathologies of the placenta and impaired development of the child.

The likelihood of these and other negative consequences occurring is not one hundred percent. In many ways, the danger of stress experienced by a woman for the fetus depends on the gestational age.

In the early stages

In the first trimester of pregnancy, when the formation of the baby’s organs and nervous system occurs, strong experiences are especially undesirable. This can lead to miscarriage or the formation of maxillofacial anomalies of the fetus (cleft of the soft and hard palate).

Also, as a result of the stress experienced by the expectant mother, the child’s risk of developing schizophrenia in the future increases, and the immune system suffers. Possible disruption of the functioning of the placenta, retardation of intrauterine development of the fetus due to hypoxia.

In the later stages

If a woman experiences stress in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the child has a tendency to become hyperactive. In the later stages, sometimes the fetus is repeatedly entwined with the umbilical cord, due to its active movements during the psycho-emotional stress of the mother.

A pregnant woman has an increased risk of developing diabetes. Against the backdrop of constant stress, complicated, protracted labor or premature birth of a child is possible.

How to avoid?

To maintain her health and protect her baby, the expectant mother should try to avoid stressful situations. For example, stop communicating with people you dislike and provoke conflicts. If it is impossible to eliminate stress factors, you need to try to change your attitude towards the situation.

Make a list of the reasons that cause psycho-emotional stress, write down next to it ideas on how you can reduce their impact and follow this plan. When you find yourself in an unpleasant situation, do not forget about self-control and do not exaggerate the importance of what is happening.

The following will also help increase stress resistance:

• walks in the open air;
• good sleep;
• a balanced diet, including plenty of vegetables and fruits;
• light physical activity, if there are no contraindications (swimming, yoga for pregnant women);
• communication with friends and people you like;
• making time for hobbies or extra rest.

Aromatherapy and meditation help some pregnant women relax. Whatever you do, a positive attitude is important. Remember that during 9 months you are responsible not only for yourself and you have the power to create comfortable conditions for your baby’s development.

What to do when stressed?

According to experts, the worst thing you can do is keep negative emotions to yourself. Therefore, if you cannot avoid stress, you need to learn to cope with it correctly.

You can relieve nervous tension in the following ways:

1. Take several slow, deep breaths in and out. Focus on breathing and imagine how oxygen flows to the baby, stroke the belly with light massaging movements.
2. Listen to music for relaxation. To do this, you can create a special collection of pleasant, calm melodies.
3. If you are at home, take a warm bath with aromatic oils.

It will be easier to get through an unpleasant situation if you talk it out, discussing it with a loved one - husband, mother, friend. It is also useful to attend relaxing massage sessions if there are no medical contraindications to this. It is recommended to read light books, such as women's novels, and watch only positive films.

Sleep plays an important role in the fight against chronic stress - pregnant women need to sleep at least 9 hours a day. If it is difficult to fall asleep due to nervous tension, you may need to take light herbal sedatives, such as tincture or. The dosage and duration of their use should be discussed with your doctor.

If all of the above does not help, do not be afraid to seek qualified help. In difficult situations, when it is not possible to find support among loved ones, working through the problem with a psychologist gives good results.

Consequences

Stress allows you to mobilize the body's strength for a short time, due to the production of a number of hormones by the endocrine glands. At the same time, the heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, and increased sweating occurs. But after a period of resistance to negative influences, the stage of exhaustion begins.

Such overloads damage the nervous and immune systems. The number of T-lymphocytes responsible for fighting viruses and infections decreases, which increases the likelihood of prolonged and complicated colds. With chronic exposure to stress, these changes become permanent. Against this background, exacerbation of chronic diseases and even the development of oncological processes is possible.

Increased psycho-emotional stress is undesirable for any person, but the pregnant body is especially susceptible to its influence. Loss of strength, attacks, complicated colds, the risk of developing late toxicosis - all this threatens the expectant mother, who often experiences negative emotions. The consequences of stress during pregnancy also affect the child, causing deviations in his physical and emotional development.

A woman preparing to become a mother must be aware of her responsibility for the life of her baby. By avoiding stress during pregnancy and getting rid of unnecessary worries in a timely manner, you will protect your baby and maintain your health.

Useful video: how to cope with stress during pregnancy

I like!

Stress is a specific psychomotor reaction to some incident from the environment. Doctors distinguish several stages of stressful situations. Some have a positive effect on the human body; when you overcome them, you become stronger emotionally. You become resistant to everything. When negative factors constantly affect life, a severe stage of stress occurs, which is dangerous for mental health, especially for a pregnant woman.

Symptoms of stress

Acute, which lasts a short time and ends quickly, chronic, which lasts constantly. Due to the fact that a woman is nervous, hormones such as adrenaline and norepinephrine enter the body. Because of this, a woman’s uterus is toned, blood pressure rises, blood vessels can narrow significantly, and as a result, the heartbeat begins to accelerate. Short-term is the best training for a woman’s body, the main thing is that it does not develop into a chronic form.

With acute stress, a woman experiences breathing problems, the heart beats much faster, the skin may turn red or pale, the palms become moist, the pupils dilate greatly, and severe pain appears in the chest area.

With chronic stress, a woman cannot keep her emotions under control, she is constantly distracted, fussy, constantly makes mistakes, there are memory problems, lethargy, a state of apathy, problems with appetite, digestive upset, headaches.

Features of stress

During pregnancy, a woman experiences a large number of changes in her body, disruptions in the hormonal system, disturbances in metabolic processes, all organs work differently. A woman has a unique psycho-emotional background. It is influenced by everything, not only the environment, but also other personal factors:

1. She gets tired quickly.

2. She has limited freedom of action.

3. A pregnant woman is constantly irritated.

4. Fear for the child appears.

Pathologies due to stress

All experiences affect not only the health of the mother, but also the child. Stress can lead to:

1. To intrauterine hypoxia, the fetus will suffer from a lack of oxygen. Because of this, it is difficult to carry a child to term and give birth to a healthy one. In severe cases, suffocation and fetal death may occur.

2. Blood circulation in the body is disrupted, causing problems with metabolic processes between mother and child. Therefore, the child is born premature and lags behind in development.

3. Childbirth is difficult, the woman quickly loses her strength.

4. A woman suffers from severe weakness, is constantly worried about everything, she is worried about what the birth will be like, what will happen after it, she does not like her state of health, and is constantly irritable. All this can further cause depression and...

5. Due to the fact that a woman arrives in constant stressful situations, her pregnancy is disrupted. Maybe she gives birth to a premature girl or carries a boy to term. Often, due to stress after birth, the baby does not cry immediately. Stress is dangerous because it can cause the amniotic fluid to leave prematurely, and this is dangerous for the life of the unborn baby.

Stress negatively affects the condition of the mother, child, and the course of pregnancy.

Causes

1. Lack of support from loved ones.

2. Constant quarrels with my husband.

3. Problems with sleep; a woman gets tired quickly during pregnancy.

4. With complex and nervous work, girls who study at a higher educational institution are often subject to stress.

5. Dissatisfaction with everything.

Please note that severe stress is dangerous and can threaten the life of the fetus. It appears if a woman has been worried about something for a long time and has accumulated a large amount of emotions. Due to such stress, the body cannot develop reliable protection. Therefore, it negatively affects the course of pregnancy.

How to relieve stress

It is important to get rid of nervous worries in time; it is difficult to influence your spouse or work, but you will have to close your eyes and think about yourself and your future child. To get rid of stress you need to strengthen your body:

1. Consume vitamin complexes, vitamins C and E are especially useful. With their help, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but also rejuvenate the body and protect your nervous system. It has been proven that with the help of vitamin C, you can get rid of stress triggers in the body. The nervous system will be reliably protected with the help of vitamin B; it is found in large quantities in seafood products

2. Perform a special yoga routine for pregnant women daily; it includes simple physical exercises, breathing exercises and relaxation.

3. Do what you love, read, knit, calm your mind, take your mind off various problems.

4. Listen to beautiful, calm, romantic music.

5. If you have been suffering from stress for a long time, seek help from a psychologist, he will advise you on effective methods for getting rid of stress.

Danger for the baby in different trimesters

Most often, stress negatively affects the condition of the fetus in the first trimester, and it can end in miscarriage. In the second and third trimesters, due to stress, a woman’s vital systemic organs are greatly strained. If she is nervous for a long time, the pregnant woman will have problems with pregnancy, a large amount of edema will appear, protein may be noticed in the urine, blood flow in the placenta will also worsen, and the fetus will suffer from a lack of oxygen.

Thus, try to avoid being exposed to stressful situations as much as possible during pregnancy. If you do not calm down in time, depression and fatigue may develop, and then diseases such as gastritis, etc., will begin to worsen. Stress negatively affects the immune system of the mother and unborn child.