Severe stress during pregnancy consequences for the child. Stress during pregnancy: how to deal with it and what to expect

Stress is a reaction of the human psyche to some external event or one's unfavorable physical condition. It can play a different role in human health. If stress is overcome by one's own efforts, life returns to normal, such a state strengthens and tempers, gives confidence in one's ability to cope with life's difficulties.

If the stressful situation is of a protracted nature, a person may not be able to cope with it and receive a severe blow to the psyche, which will lead to serious illness. In this case, it is necessary to seek the help of a psychiatrist, overcoming your prejudices against the treatment of this direction. It must be understood that only a small part of people who have undergone stress acquire chronic depression, and more fewer people needs treatment in a hospital setting.

Stress during pregnancy is a common occurrence that must be treated in a timely manner with gentle non-drug methods so as not to harm either the expectant mother or the child. Let's figure out why it occurs, as well as methods of dealing with it.

Causes

In the occurrence of stress in a pregnant woman, the type of her character plays a role. If before pregnancy a girl had an easy attitude to life, found reasons for joy, did not focus on minor troubles, was not afraid of pain and difficulties - most likely, she will not face severe stress during pregnancy. If a lady is afraid of everything, she always worries about the slightest adversity - the remarks of the boss, the barbs of a friend, the breakdown of a zipper in a bag, the appearance of a pimple on her nose - she is more prone to stress while waiting for the baby.

In addition, each woman has her own threshold of normal life, the existence below which she considers a misfortune. For some, a tolerable state of health and the expectation of a family dinner on Saturdays are enough. Some people think it's normal leisure, fun parties, trips to resorts. In the second case, the onset of stress is more likely, because during pregnancy you will have to change your lifestyle and limit yourself in many ways.

Most common causes stress in pregnancy:

1. Fear of childbirth. This is the most common cause of stress. Here grandmothers' stories about the times when many women and children died during childbirth due to unsanitary conditions, lack of qualified specialists, and sometimes the inability to get necessary medicines play a negative role here. It would be nice to read literature about modern methods of delivering children in difficult cases, to be like courses for pregnant women, to listen to the doctor who leads the pregnancy, and not to the talkative neighbors, while waiting for the child.


2. Fear of a difficult pregnancy. Naturally, in this position, a woman's taste preferences change, and toxicosis often occurs. During the second half of the term, the physical capabilities of the pregnant woman deteriorate. It is difficult for her to sit, walk, sometimes her legs swell, even tying her shoelaces is a problem. We must remember that this state is temporary, that you will receive the happiness of motherhood as a reward.
3. Fear of losing the youth of the figure after childbirth, getting fat, stop liking her husband. Yes, the figure will change, but it is fixable. Remember to wear prenatal and postnatal bandage. Do not overeat, do not exceed the volume of fluids allowed by the doctor. After giving birth, after 2-3 months, you can start doing exercises to return to prenatal form.
4. Fear of not being able to cope with their role as mother and wife. Indeed, when the baby is very small, and you are not yet accustomed to new responsibilities, and even the child cries at night, it can be difficult. So relatives should help the young mother at this stage. In addition, many books and articles have been written about the first months of a baby's life. Modern doctors consider it possible to take a baby crying at night to bed with his parents so that his mother can breastfeed him on demand almost without waking up. Try to choose the time for sleep and during the day when the baby sleeps. If you take temporary difficulties lightly, the child will also be cheerful and calm. You will succeed.


5. Service problems. The authorities, of course, are unhappy when they have to let go of an employee who already knows the job and has proven himself well for 3 years. Or, on the contrary, the manager is glad that he will temporarily attach someone he knows to a higher place, and then, gradually, he will outlive you from the position. Remember - to give birth to a child and to know maternal happiness is your choice. No job can replace a woman's child. In addition, after pregnancy and a three-year vacation, you will still be young enough to prove your worth in the same place or find yourself new job. Moreover, when the baby grows up a little, there will be less worries, and you will still be on vacation, you can take advanced training courses online.
6. Anxiety that the baby in the womb is not developing properly. At some point, he stops pushing with his legs. You may suddenly start losing weight. Any deviation from the norm causes stress. Therefore, if you have any doubts, you should definitely visit a doctor, do an ultrasound scan and establish the cause of your excitement. Perhaps there is no pathology in the development of the fetus, and you need not worry.

Any cause of stress can be random event- a scandal at home, the rudeness of a fellow traveler in public transport, and so on.

We must learn to avoid participating in unpleasant situations, not to succumb to provocations, and remember that stress during pregnancy is harmful to both you and the baby.

Symptoms

In the initial stage, psychological signs of stress appear, seemingly not affecting the physical condition of the pregnant woman:

• A depressed, depressed state, when nothing pleases, indifference to everything in the world appears.
• Constant feeling of tiredness, unwillingness to do something and go somewhere, even if the trip is connected with entertainment. In such a situation, a pregnant woman strives to lie alone in bed as much as possible, doing nothing.
• Tearfulness. Any word carelessly spoken by relatives or girlfriends, a memory, an episode of a TV movie causes tears.
• Increased irritability. Things that a woman did not attach importance to earlier - a dirty cup on the table, conversations with her mother with elements of mutual misunderstanding, a half-hour delay of her husband from work, and so on - now cause anger in a pregnant woman.
• The most dangerous psychological sign of depression is the occurrence of suicidal thoughts in the expectant mother. Therefore, if relatives and friends notice signs of severe stress in a woman who is expecting a child, it is necessary to be close to her, try to console her, believe in a successful outcome of the pregnancy, and, possibly, persuade her to go to a psychiatrist.

If stress during pregnancy continues for a long time, its physiological signs are noticeable:

• A woman can lose a few pounds.
• There is a reaction to a change in the weather in the form of headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting may not be a sign of toxicosis, but of stress. Unlike the state of toxicosis, in this case they appear less often and are not directly related to food intake.
• Difficulty falling asleep in the evening, which is easier to identify early, when it is not due to the presence of a large abdomen and the inability to get comfortable in bed.
• The severity of breathing is also characteristic of stress in the early stages. On the later dates pregnancy, it may be associated with pressure from the uterus on the internal organs.
• Increase in blood pressure.
• Panic attacks and tachycardia.
• Increased muscle tone, which can lead to miscarriage or premature birth (depending on the gestational age).
• Loss of appetite or the opposite situation - a constant desire to snack.
• Frequent colds and SARS.
• A change in the behavior of the baby in the womb - he shows violent activity or, on the contrary, almost stops knocking his legs.

The appearance of any of the listed signs of stress dictates the need for the expectant mother to visit the attending physician.

Perhaps she just needs to talk to a specialist so that he convinces her that there is no reason to worry. If there are reasons, only a doctor can decide how to help a woman without damaging the fetus.

Effects of stress in pregnancy

During pregnancy, experiences have their own characteristics. These include the physical condition of a woman. After all, when a baby grows in the uterus, his mother's hormonal background changes, metabolic processes in the body are disturbed. Also, a double burden is imposed on the pregnant woman - to ensure her life and the development of the embryo. From this it follows that the very state of pregnancy is already a physiological stress. And experiences are explained by physical discomfort.

The fear of the upcoming birth and responsibility in caring for a defenseless creature after them are also inherent only to women "in position". Therefore, the future mother must understand that her condition is natural, felt by many millions of women. Doctors have accumulated vast experience in attending childbirth and patronage of infants. And there is nothing pathological in the state of the pregnant woman.

How does stress affect pregnancy? At different periods of waiting for a child, he can bring various pathologies and troubles concerning both the mother and the child:

1. stress on early dates pregnancy, in the first 3 months, threatens miscarriage. If it doesn’t happen, the mother’s immunity may decrease, she may have recurring colds and infectious diseases, which also affect the health of the baby.


2. At 2 months of pregnancy - 8-9 weeks - due to this condition of the mother, the baby may develop a "cleft lip" or "cleft palate". With severe stress, the child is threatened with schizophrenia.
3. With stress that occurs in a pregnant woman in the period from 4 to 6 months, the baby is threatened with autism in the future. He won't be able to adapt to social environment their peers. In addition, from mother's stress, her and the child's sugar rises, which can lead to diabetes. A woman in labor can get bleeding after giving birth, and the baby is sometimes born very large.
4. In the last 3 months of pregnancy, stress can cause both premature birth and the birth of a post-term baby. This condition can provoke difficult childbirth, which will have to be intervened by caesarean section. The nervous state of the mother can affect the baby by anomalies in the formation of the nervous system, by slowing down psychomotor development. The baby may also face a lack of oxygen and a violation of the uteroplacental blood flow.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that stress in a pregnant woman is a very serious phenomenon that cannot be ignored. It's best to prevent it.

Stress prevention

The most important part of the treatment and prevention of stress is self-hypnosis. A woman should disconnect from her husband's money problems at work, from her official problems, think only about the health of the child and her condition. If you can’t convince yourself that everything will be fine, sign up for a course of treatment with a psychologist who will talk to you and professionally convince you that you should not worry. Much has been written about the effects of stress on pregnancy. scientific works. A specialist familiar with them will surely help you.

To prevent nervous conditions, drink a course of vitamins that a gynecologist will prescribe for you. Vitamin B will calm your nervous system, vitamin C will strengthen the immune system, protect against diseases. This vitamin also strengthens the nerves.

Helpful Hints:

1. Don't get involved in scandals.
2. Do not listen to neighbors talking about various tragic stories.
3. Do not watch the news on television or read it on the Internet. And in general, you don’t need to watch a lot of TV. But if you have such a desire, watch a comedy.
4. Turn on some nice romantic music.
5. Think of a job that you enjoy. Knit baby hats, read romance novels.

It is very useful to go for exercises for pregnant women. You can do yoga - exercises that are designed for expectant mothers. Walk more and breathe fresh air.

The period of pregnancy has many physiological and psychological nuances. Doctors play it safe, prescribe a lot of tests to prevent any detrimental changes in the condition of the mother and child, prescribe rest and advise to be careful. But, like any person, a woman in a position under the influence of various life circumstances can feel stress. 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 in medical terms. And in modern world, oversaturated with available information, this is sometimes done with complete confidence in the correspondence of the chosen word to the present state of affairs.

But you can't self-diagnose. In addition, juggling with concepts, we often put inaccurate meanings into them or even interpret them in our own way. Hence, there are differences in understanding between professionals who have relevant knowledge in this area and ordinary people.

Thus, stress in the common sense is a state of tension, usually negative.

From the point of view of medicine, stress is a non-specific reaction of the body or an adaptation syndrome that develops under the influence of various intense or new influences (strong physical exertion, psycho-emotional trauma).

There are several types of stress.

• Eustress caused by positive emotions.
• Distress. Occurs as a result of prolonged exposure unfavorable factor or severe shock. The most detrimental type of stress, as the body is unable to cope with it on its own, which leads to severe physical and psychological consequences.
• emotional stress. Psycho-emotional experience by people of various life situations, when the satisfaction of social and biological needs is limited for a long time.
• Psychological stress. The state of extreme psychological stress and disorganization of behavior in society as a result of exposure to extreme factors.

From the classification it can be seen that the differences between the ordinary and medical understanding of stress lies in the following:

• non-specialists often refer to stress as ordinary nervous excitement or emotional excitement, which are inherent in emotional people prone to mood swings and outbursts;
• on the other hand, most do not recognize the stress of positive emotions, believing that only negative experiences adversely affect a person. But if you're so excited about an unexpected gift that you can't help crying or crying, you're medically experiencing eustress;
• people believe that stress is always caused by objective life circumstances. But it's not. After all different people relate differently to the same case. For some, buying a house is a lot of stress, while for others it is a welcome event, comparable to pleasant chores. The emotional reaction of the body is born as a result of the analysis of one's own thoughts and assessments.

Symptoms and signs

Stress has its own symptoms. Among the signs there are common, characteristic for all people, and there are additional, specific ones that appear in pregnant women. The complexity of diagnosis lies in the fact that sometimes signs of stress are taken for a normal, typical pregnancy condition.

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 a pressure drop, 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 inconvenience when the stomach presses on the internal organs;
• rash, redness, itching and severe peeling on the skin. As a rule, in such situations, the results of the analyzes do not show the presence of any abnormalities;
• breathing difficulties. They are easier to identify in the early stages, since the child does not yet put 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 behavior of the baby in the tummy: he stops moving or, on the contrary, shows strong activity;
• lack of appetite or, conversely, a strong craving for food. Often a pregnant woman gains a lot of weight, which also affects the birth process. Properly selected diet is very important;
• frequent exacerbations of SARS. Observed due to weakening immune system.

behavioral signs

• depression. It is very difficult to recognize and diagnose it. Here again there is a big confusion with concepts. Go to a psychologist if you feel that you have reached a dead end, it will not be superfluous. They will listen to you, help you find a way out of a difficult situation;
• irritability. Slight irritability is inherent in all women in a position, but systematic explosions are not the norm, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are;
• difficulty concentrating;
• tearfulness. In general, the release of emotions is not bad. The nervous system is unloaded, the person becomes better. However, tears for no reason are an alarming sign;
• emergence of suicidal thoughts. It can be observed after severe shocks. It is better, of course, to immediately consult a doctor at the first prerequisites for this;

It is important to be able to distinguish when a symptom is a real consequence of the stress experienced, and not just the action of progesterone. Analyze recent events in life and your state before and after a certain event. 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 leading role plays the so-called psychological threshold, to which a woman considers the course of any case as the norm. The psychological state at the moment is also important. After all, even the most bad news in high spirits is perceived more easily.

However, the specificity of stress in pregnant women is such that, in addition to psychological reasons (quarrels with her husband, jealousy of an older child, fears due to financial situation), physiological ones also appear. Here is a list of the most typical reasons for waiting for a baby:

• fear of the upcoming birth. This is the most common of all fears. Due to the scarcity of knowledge in this area, as well as the stereotypes imposed, far from reality, this process seems to be the quintessence of pain and danger;
• fear of pregnancy and fears in connection with its course. This is what the vast majority of women face. Even with a planned pregnancy, it takes time to get used to the new role of a mother, to plan further actions. But nature foresaw everything well and allocated 9 whole months for preparation;
• physiological changes. The problem of figure and excess weight for a woman is always relevant. Fear to dial overweight, losing attractiveness can unbalance even the most persistent. The rapid pace of change is also frightening. Remember that everything is reversible and temporary!
• family and domestic problems. Nobody is safe from them. Of course, the appearance of a new family member will force you to make some adjustments to your usual lifestyle. This is especially true if the parents are expecting their first child. But it may also be that the cause of severe stress will be a minor domestic conflict;
• problems at work. Unfortunately, up to 30 weeks, a pregnant woman is forced to work and, as a member of the team, participate in a complex system of internal relationships;
• concern for the baby. In the first trimester, many are afraid of a miscarriage, in the second they worry that the baby is moving a little in the tummy, in the third - that they will be born early. These are normal manifestations of maternal instinct;
• any unforeseen circumstances.

Possible consequences

Bad 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 internal organs and skills (the ability to squeeze fingers into a fist, open eyes). Any intervention in these processes threatens with serious consequences. The table shows possible complications associated with each trimester of expectation of the child.

Effects of stress in early and late pregnancy (by trimester)

Can Stress Cause a Missed Pregnancy?

There is no reliable evidence that even severe stress is the cause of missed pregnancy. In general, this relationship is poorly understood. Among the main prerequisites for miscarriage, doctors distinguish genetic or gynecological diseases in the mother, autoimmune disorders. However, some scientists tend to believe that indirectly stress still provokes an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy.

For example, the famous British obstetrician Grantley Dick-Read, who changed the negative opinion of most fellow citizens about natural childbirth in the middle of the 20th century, wrote:

I believe there is something in the mother's blood that changes according to 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 state of the child cannot remain the same. Today we know that when the emotional state of the mother changes, it is possible to register an increase or decrease in the fetal heartbeat, that is, it can be definitely stated that the development of the child also depends on the mood of the mother during pregnancy.

Ways to overcome

There is an opinion that the most effective way to deal with the effect of stress caused by negative factors is with the help of rest or maximum relaxation, that is, you need to distract yourself from the problem. Yuri Burlan, the creator of the modern methodology for studying the unconscious person, believes that this is not entirely true. In his opinion, this approach is not universal, and a person who has severe psychological stress or is diagnosed with depression cannot do without professional psychological and medical assistance.

Solving problems and dealing with strong fears

• It is important to identify the specific cause of stress and try to cope with it.. The very solution of the problem in this case will bring satisfaction.
• If stress is generated by fears, then it is urgent to fill in the information gaps due to which fears arose. After all, the unknown is what scares me the most. Now there are many courses and trainings for pregnant women, where they simply and in detail explain what happens in the body during the process of gestation and childbirth. They will give advice on how to alleviate the condition. The waiting period for a child is natural for a woman, so it should not bring much discomfort.
• If there is chaos in your head and you lack certainty, then turning to special psychological techniques and spiritual practices. Understand yourself, find a foothold, sort out all the 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 widespread 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 microelement or substance contained in it. And to maintain the vital activity of a growing baby, it is necessary to eat an average of only 300-500 kcal per day more than the usual norm.

Diet calories by week of pregnancy

Until 15 weeks, you do not need to change your usual diet at all. From weeks 15 to 28, doctors recommend increasing food calories to 25-30 kcal per kilogram of body weight, and from weeks 28 to 30 - up to 35 kcal per 1 kg of body weight. Moreover, the nutritional value of food should not be regulated with the help of sweet or starchy foods.

Healthy lifestyle and positive attitude

• Yoga or light exercise. It is known that during exercise, the body produces a hormone that improves mood..
• Regular outdoor walks.
• Elimination of stress factors. 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.

Help medicine

Abroad, there has long been a practice of turning to private psychoanalysts to help “work through” complex problems. life situations so that there is no understatement, especially in front of you. Russian people, due to their mentality, often perceive this as an excess, which, moreover, not everyone can afford. However, we also have all sorts of free psychological help hotlines. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you really need it!

As a rule, doctors prescribe to pregnant women the use of herbal sedatives: tincture of valerian or motherwort, Persen, Novo-Passit. More serious drug treatment applied only in particularly difficult situations. Antidepressants are resorted to only when the harm from stress to the health of the mother is more devastating than possible consequences for the future child.

Gallery "How to deal with stress"

Serious effects of stress are successfully treated with special drugs. Tell your doctor about your condition The less unresolved everyday problems, the less stress. Solve them together, do not take everything upon yourself Proper nutrition And healthy lifestyle life is a guarantee of good mood Yoga can help you find peace and self-confidence. Get all necessary knowledge you can take 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 you should at least try to reduce the possible damage.

• Take a look at your surroundings. Perhaps there are people in it that it is better to refrain from communicating with, at least for a while.
• Write down in a column those things that spoil your mood the most. On the other side of the column, write down your ideas on how you can reduce pernicious influence, and in the future try to follow this plan.
• Evaluate situations and people's actions calmly and rationally. A pregnant woman does not lose the ability to think and does not become incapacitated. Hormones play an important role, but the mind is not turned off.
• Control your emotions. Do not exaggerate and do not "wind" too much.

Remember! For a whole 9 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 during childbearing. In a civilized society, there are certain traditions, for example, giving way to pregnant women in transport or letting them out of the queue. Nevertheless, stress factors are diverse and unavoidable. To overcome stress, a woman first of all herself must prioritize and soberly assess any critical situation.

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

Stress is bad for 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 endured by the mother is for the baby, and also consider ways to deal with unnecessary excitement and anxiety.

What is stress?

The very concept of "stress" means the body's reaction to certain situations: hormonal changes, changes external conditions, strong feelings and so on. And pregnancy entails a lot of changes in a woman's body. Perestroika also concerns the psycho-emotional background, so expectant mothers always react brighter and more painfully to the influence of their environment.

This is a completely natural process necessary for adapting to a new position and properly bearing a 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, last, can cause protracted and other mental disorders.

Reasons for stress during pregnancy

Unfortunately, there are really quite a lot of reasons for worries in pregnant women: especially if the pregnancy is the first. Consider the most common fears among expectant mothers:

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

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

2 Fear of negative changes in appearance. The fear of losing its 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 gestation, but also became more spectacular, bright and attractive. And such trifles as a tummy that has appeared and rounded hips can be easily eliminated with the help of classes in the gym.

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

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

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

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

Effects of stress during pregnancy

Not a single woman during her entire pregnancy managed to save herself from stress, and therefore the question lurks in the head of every expectant mother - “How can the stress I experienced affect my child? Does he feel all my feelings?

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 that contain B vitamins, manganese and vitamin C.

Interesting! Why does the baby hiccup in the stomach?

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

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

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

A joint trip to a film screening, theater or exhibition is good way forget about everyday problems and anxieties. New experiences experienced together will definitely give good mood both you and your life partner.

3 Interesting hobby - the best medicine from stress. Many women begin to discover new talents in themselves during maternity leave or pregnancy. If in the usual pace of life we ​​do not always have time for creativity, then right now you can do something exciting and enjoyable.

The future mother can attend master classes, during which the teacher will give you basic knowledge about a particular art form in an accessible form. In addition, on 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 observe a normal daily routine. Go to bed no later than 22-23 hours. It is during these hours that the body restores its strength to the maximum. Sleep started at a later time is less effective.

Stress during pregnancy can be caused by: external factors, as well as internal ones. From the first days of pregnancy, a complete restructuring begins in the body. At the beginning of pregnancy, nausea may begin, later frequent urge to urinate, constipation, heartburn, upset digestive system, bad or vice versa, increased appetite, dizziness, etc. In each case, everything goes on individually, some women do not feel anything like this throughout their pregnancy, while others suffer from all the symptoms at once, others are tormented by only some of them. A psychological condition often joins a poor physical condition. Pregnant women, and at the same time those around them, are tormented by frequent mood swings, tearfulness, irritability, resentment, increased anxiety, vague fears, etc. In the second trimester, the gums may begin to bleed, headaches, runny nose, slight swelling may disturb.

The very state of pregnancy causes a woman a little stress, primarily from changes in hormonal levels. A woman during this period is preparing to become a mother, which completely changes her previous lifestyle - and this is also a kind of stress. Added to this are problems at work or in family life, a woman begins to worry greatly about her future and the future of her baby. Closer to childbirth, a woman is haunted by fear of this process, especially if the child is the first and the pregnancy was not going very well. Stress in small doses is even useful, both for mom and baby. But if this condition haunts a pregnant woman for a very long time and manifests itself quite strongly, in this case it is worth seeking help from a specialist, because the negative effects of stress can seriously affect the mental health of the child.

By about the fifth month, the woman’s physical condition returns to normal, she is not bothered by morning sickness, frequent headaches disappear, she is less often irritated over trifles, and she is happy from the realization that a small life lives in her. But over time, a woman feels pulling pains in the lower abdomen, this is due to the fact that the ligaments that support the abdominal press are tightened. She is more and more distracted, more tired, closer to childbirth there is a feeling of fear of this process, especially in first-borns.

All these conditions cause some stress in the body of a pregnant woman, but not in the usual sense. Such shallow experiences do not affect the health of the future person, moreover, with small negative emotions the hormone cortisol appears in the human body. This hormone, in reasonable doses, is necessary for the child to develop properly. And with severe stress, cortisol in the body of the mother, and, consequently, the child, receives too much, which, according to experts, can lead to congenital pathologies.

Severe stress during pregnancy

If a woman experiences severe stress during pregnancy, she is twice as likely to give birth to an autistic child (an autist is a person with mental disorder, which is characterized by immersion in the personal world, such people have a greatly weakened connection with the outside world, they lose interest in reality, there is no desire for communication, they have a very poor emotional manifestation).

Such conclusions were made by American scientists who conducted an experiment involving five hundred pregnant women. During the experiment, experts assessed stress by the strength of the impact. As it turned out, women in whose group of stressful situations were superior in strength to others were 2 times more likely to have children who were subsequently diagnosed with autism.

Severe stress, according to doctors, is moving to a new place of residence, bereavement of loved ones, job loss, conflicts with relatives, etc. It is especially dangerous if a woman has undergone severe stress from the 24th to the 28th week of pregnancy, since during this period the mother's nervous strain can be very strongly reflected in the baby's brain.

As a result of the research, it turned out that the appearance of autism is associated not only with genetic abnormalities, as previously assumed, but to a large extent this is due to the negative factors of the surrounding world, in particular, the psycho-emotional state of the mother during pregnancy.

Nervous stress during pregnancy

Nervous stress during pregnancy is accompanied by every woman. Even in those moments when she is absolutely happy, a woman endures heavy mental stress. Any external irritant, which is conditionally divided into physical and mental, can lead to a severe psychological shock. The physical source of stress is characterized by a constant effect on the body of a pregnant woman - heat or cold, thirst or hunger, severe physical exercise. Physical stress is possible with malnutrition, insufficient sleep, reduced motor activity. With psychological sources of stress, emotional overstrain is observed, this state can be provoked by a lie of a loved one, resentment, as well as situations where there is a threat to personal relationships (for example, with a husband), social status, financial condition. Also, lack of time can lead to psychological stress, when responsibility is felt, but there is no time to think about a decision. Moreover, the source of stress here is precisely the attitude of a person to the situation.

Stress loads accompany a woman throughout pregnancy. The main sources of stress here are natural restructuring, pregnancy, which was not included in the plans, thoughts about how to live on, about the health of the child, fear of childbirth. Experiences are usually associated with the news of pregnancy, the need to attend a consultation, communicate with doctors, conflict situations in the family or at work.

Stress during pregnancy is very strong impact on the nervous system of the unborn child. As a result of frequent nervous shocks of the mother during pregnancy, children grow up more nervous, restless, it is harder for them to adapt to the world around them. Children whose mothers were pregnant who suffered from the cruelty of their husbands showed lower intellectual development than their peers who developed in calm conditions. Scientists have found that the cause of this is the hormone cortisol - the higher its level in the mother's blood, and, accordingly, in the amniotic fluid, the higher the risk of developmental delays. Approximately 15% of children who have anxiety, attention deficit, delays in the development of psychomotor functions, became victims of a strong nervous shock of the mother, transferred during fetal development. The most dangerous for the expectant mother is the stress in which she is subjected to cruel treatment, in this case, the risk of hyperactivity syndrome is doubled. If the mother's stress during pregnancy could be reduced in a timely manner, the development of hundreds of thousands of severe psychological and neurological disorders in children could be avoided.

Experts say that stress and negativity cannot be kept in oneself, one must get rid of it. Sometimes you need to talk to make it easier. Nervous strain can be relieved by having fun and relaxing time. If there is no positive dynamics, you should definitely consult a doctor, you may need the help of a qualified specialist. It is necessary to understand the source of the stressful situation and eliminate it from your life as completely as possible.

Sleep is the best way to treat stress, nervous overstrain and anxiety can occur from lack of sleep. Therefore, you need to rest more. If it’s hard to fall asleep, you need to do interesting active work (as far as possible), then the body tired during the day will relax and rest faster. You can take a warm bath before bed. Activity to some extent helps to get rid of nervous tension, so you can consult your doctor about special exercises or gymnastics for pregnant women. There are many hobbies that will help you forget unpleasant moments, get distracted - cooking, walking, taking photos, reading, etc. During pregnancy, the main thing is to see only the positive aspects in everything, avoid stressful situations if possible and set yourself up for the best.

Constant stress during pregnancy

Prolonged stress during pregnancy negatively affects both the health of the expectant mother and the health of her child. Strong and prolonged nervous shocks exhaust the body of a pregnant woman, she becomes lethargic, lethargic, suffers from insomnia, anxiety causes trembling in the body, heart palpitations. Severe stress can cause skin rashes, headaches, and soreness in the body. With such stress, various complications of pregnancy are possible. A woman may suffer from increased toxicosis, chronic diseases are exacerbated, a newborn may have congenital malformations.

In addition, constant nervous tension negatively affects the immune system, which is already greatly weakened during pregnancy. The body's weak defenses cannot cope with the viruses that enter the body, so the woman is in constant sick state. A difficult physical condition is aggravated by an even more severe mental one - complete discontent, apathy, irritability. But no matter how hard it is for a woman, at this moment it is even harder for a man who has not yet been born into the world, and if a woman does not change her mind in time and does not bring her mental state back to normal, this little man may never know what life is.

Constant stress during pregnancy has very serious consequences, which is why you need to get rid of it as quickly as possible. The best option during pregnancy, will learn to prevent such nervous turmoil. A woman in position should think more about pleasant things, she should be able (or learn) to relax, it may not be superfluous to attend special yoga courses for pregnant women. All existing problems should not be kept in oneself, they should be immediately expressed, discussed in a calm atmosphere with loved ones. If you want to cry - cry, if you laugh - laugh, you should never be ashamed of your own feelings, especially this applies to pregnant women, for whom good health is extremely important. emotional condition. Your motto during this period should be "movement is life." Try to walk as often as possible, swimming is very useful for pregnant women. As you know, sleep cures all diseases, stress among them. If you do not get enough sleep, then stress in this case is guaranteed.

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Effects of stress during pregnancy

Stress reduces the body's defenses. If a person is subject to frequent stressful conditions, he is more prone to infectious diseases, and this is extremely harmful for a pregnant woman. But, stress during pregnancy is a fairly common condition, unfortunately. If the state of stress is not deep and passes relatively quickly, then there is nothing dangerous in this. Such light and short conditions, as it were, train the body of a woman before childbirth, strengthen the nervous system of the baby in the tummy.

The situation is different with a prolonged, severe state of stress during pregnancy. This condition is harmful both to the woman herself and to her unborn child. Prolonged depression drains vitality. The woman becomes lethargic, sleepy, suffers from insomnia at night. The baby will have the same state when he is born, if the mother does not find the strength to overcome this difficult condition.

Stress during pregnancy has serious consequences: severe anxiety, which can occur even without serious reasons, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), trembling in the hands, chest, dizziness, headache attacks, rash (manifested in especially sensitive women). Toxicosis manifests itself much more severely, as a result of a weakened immune system in a woman, which threatens with pathologies in the development of a child.

The central nervous system of the child is especially affected. If a pregnant woman is constantly under stress, the nervous system of her child will be extremely vulnerable. Even at a conscious age, it will be very difficult for a child to adapt to the world around him, he will be very restless, nervous, anxious. Such children are more prone to various fears than their peers. Allergies and asthma are one of the consequences of a mother's stress during pregnancy, and this can be a consequence of both prolonged stress and a short, but strong and frequent stress state. If it were possible to find a way to reduce stress levels, many children would not suffer from severe psychological and neurological disorders. If the mother experienced severe nervous tension in the first three months of pregnancy, then her child may develop schizophrenia over time, since it is during this period that the baby's nervous system is formed. The chances of developing schizophrenia in this case are approximately 70%. Experts are unequivocal in their conclusions: external psychological factors have a direct impact on the formation of the nervous system in the early stages of human development.

Every pregnant woman noticed that in case of anxiety, the baby began to actively move. There is a simple explanation for this - if the mother is in an anxious state, the child does not have enough oxygen and, with his movements, he seems to begin to massage the placenta in order to get blood with the necessary elements.

A child whose mother was often nervous during pregnancy will suffer from enuresis and diabetes in the future. Also, autism is one of the consequences of a strong nervous tension of the mother during pregnancy.

With a strong nervous shock of the mother, her body can independently get rid of the weak male fetus, i.e. this can lead to miscarriage. By the way, but for unknown reasons, the body does not get rid of the female fetus. It is also interesting that boys who were born when the mother was in a very stressful state live much longer than those who appeared in this world under favorable conditions.

Malformation of the fetus, popularly referred to as "cleft lip" or "cleft palate" was observed among women who were in a long stressful state during pregnancy. The risk of developing a malformation in women in constant nervous tension is 2 times higher than in those who were more calm during pregnancy. Strongly restless women risk giving birth prematurely, the weight of the child in this case will be much lower than normal and the chances of survival for such children are very small. If such children survive, then they have a deformation of all body functions, so such children are prone to frequent illnesses.

Conflict situations in the family can lead to mental and emotional inhibition in a child. Also, frequent quarrels in the family can provoke premature birth or miscarriage. Constant stress leads to a long delivery, during which the child may die. Poor sleep, dissatisfaction with oneself, severe fatigue leads to premature and rapid childbirth.

Stress during pregnancy is a condition that needs to be dealt with urgently. A woman, first of all, should think about the health of her baby, whose life is now completely dependent on her, and not only from a strong physical condition, but also a balanced emotional and mental one. A woman must remember that any of her anxiety cuts off the oxygen to her child, he literally begins to suffocate. It is for this reason that when mom is nervous, he begins to actively move to show her how bad he is now.

Many people know that the emotional state of a pregnant woman has a strong effect on her health. born baby. In this case, the impact can be short-term or long-term, bring both benefit and harm. Stress during pregnancy is normal. But you need to understand what stressors have an impact, and take into account how a woman tolerates it.

Definition

Stress is the body's response to intense excitement. This means that the person was very frightened, surprised, upset or indignant. Medical professionals see this concept a little differently. What was presented above, namely mental confusion or nervous tension, refers to neuropsychological stress.

There are several main types:

• emotional;
• physiological;
• light;
• temperature;
• hungry;
• neuro-psychic.

That is, such a state can be caused by a variety of factors. Carrying a baby is a very responsible task, so every mother needs to know how stress affects pregnancy.

Peculiarities

When a woman is in interesting position, a huge number of changes occur in her body, disturbances in metabolic processes, hormonal disruptions appear, so the organs function differently. On the future mother affects everything - not only Environment but also other personal factors:

• a pregnant woman has rapid fatigue;
• limited freedom of action;
• there is constant irritation;
• there is constant fear for the child.

Symptoms

How stress during pregnancy affects a woman, all expectant mothers should know in order to avoid such a condition, since the fetus reacts very actively to all experiences. It should be noted that such problems can take place in several forms:

1. Acute - it flows quickly enough and ends in the same way.
2. Chronic - this is a sharp depressive state that lasts constantly.

Due to the fact that the girl is nervous, her body produces the following hormones:

• adrenalin;
• cortisol;
• norepinephrine.

This increases the tone of the uterus, significantly constricts blood vessels and raises arterial pressure, as a result, the pregnant woman's heartbeat accelerates.

It is almost impossible to get an unambiguous answer to the question of how stress affects pregnancy, since a short-term emotional outburst is also the best workout for the body. But it is very important that such a state does not develop into chronic form. After all, if such shocks are constant, a woman may have problems with breathing, her skin will begin to turn pale, then blush. Also from the symptoms can be noted wet palms, greatly dilated pupils and pain that periodically occurs in the chest area.

In the case of a woman, she cannot restrain her emotions, she becomes fussy, absent-minded, she has problems with memory, appetite, headaches and eating disorders.

Causes

It is already known whether stress affects pregnancy, so you need to know the factors that contribute to the appearance of the problem:

1. Lack of support from loved ones.
2. Continuous problems with sleep, because a woman gets tired so quickly during pregnancy.
3. Feeling of constant dissatisfaction with everything.
4. Nervous and difficult work or study at a university.

You need to know that severe stress is dangerous, as it can threaten the life of the fetus. It occurs when a woman worries about something for a long time and accumulates a huge amount of emotions in herself. Due to such troubles, the body cannot develop the required protection, therefore, such factors negatively affect the process of bearing the fetus.

How to relieve stress during pregnancy?

It is extremely important to get rid of nervous experiences in a timely manner. Although sometimes it is difficult to do, it is worth closing your eyes to the problems and thinking about the health of the unborn child. To overcome trouble, you need to strengthen your body:

1. As prescribed by the doctor, vitamin complexes should be taken. Especially necessary are vitamins C and E. With their support, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but also rejuvenate the entire body as a whole, as well as protect the nervous system. It has been proven that with the help of vitamin C, you can get rid of provocateurs that cause a feeling of panic. Thanks to vitamin B, the nervous system will be thoroughly protected, it can be easily found in marine products.
2. Having figured out how stress affects pregnancy, and realizing that this can leave a negative mark on the health of the baby and mother, you should perform specially designed yoga complexes that include breathing exercises, relaxation and simple physical exercises.
3. It is advisable to do your favorite thing as often as possible, knit, read, that is, calm your mind and be distracted from various problems.
4. Those who know how nervous stress affects pregnancy and how difficult it is sometimes to get rid of it, recommend seeking help from a psychologist if you cannot get out of this state for a long time. The doctor will advise effective methods and the patient will feel better.
5. Pregnant women are calmed by listening to romantic and calm music.

Danger in different trimesters

Every woman who intends to become a mother should know how stress affects early pregnancy, because negative experiences can end in miscarriage. If problems catch a girl in the second or third trimester, then there is a threat to the mother herself. The vital major organs begin to strain, then the pressure rises, a large number of edema appears and it is possible to see protein in the urine. In the placenta, blood flow worsens and, as a result, the fetus will have a lack of oxygen.

Possible consequences

Why is stress dangerous during pregnancy? A similar question is asked by many girls to their doctors. The presence of additional experiences often leads to health problems for the baby. He can be absolutely healthy at birth, and troubles will begin to appear further. The most common disorders in children are:

• increased distraction of attention and activity, which further affects learning;
• problems with the speech apparatus, as well as difficulties in learning to write;
• phobias, fears, urinary incontinence, neuroses;
• weakness of the immune system and cardiovascular ailments, which provoke an increased susceptibility of the child to various diseases;
• the appearance of defects in appearance, which require surgical intervention to correct;
• autism and developmental problems.

Pathologies while carrying a fetus

As you can see, a woman needs to know how it affects during pregnancy, as well as how it affects the mother's condition:

1. Often there is a problem of hypoxia - lack of oxygen. Because of this, it is more difficult for a woman to endure and give birth to a healthy baby. In the most severe cases, suffocation and fetal death may occur.
2. In the placenta, blood circulation is disturbed, problems are formed with the exchange processes between the child and the mother. Therefore, the baby is born premature and late in development.
3. Childbirth is difficult, and the woman in labor quickly loses her strength.
4. Due to the fact that a woman constantly has fears, her pregnancy is disturbed. Sometimes everything ends even with a miscarriage. Girls are born much earlier, and they walk with boys.

Another indicator of how strong stress affects pregnancy is the threat of early discharge of amniotic fluid as a result of it, and this is quite dangerous for the life of the child.

Stress medications

Special psychotropic components for the treatment of stress are used extremely rarely and only at a time when the body's adaptive mechanisms are unable to cope with emotional stress. At the same time, the doctor will definitely weigh all the possible risks for both the baby and the mother and select the most harmless medicines.

Many drugs adversely affect the fetus and lead to the formation of malformations in the development and circulatory disorders. So, expectant mothers should understand that drops such as Barboval, Corvalol, Valocordin, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, are categorically contraindicated for pregnant women. Experts also do not recommend self-medication and taking combined herbal preparations - Nottu, Novo-Passit, Persen - since their effect on the fetus has not yet been fully studied.

The safest remedy is the preparation of valerian.

Prevention

How stress affects pregnancy is already known, so this condition is best avoided. There are several types of stress: moderate, which is standard for all women in labor, and strong, arising from mental shock leading to prolonged depression.

A factor for the appearance of the last stress can be a strong excitement or the loss of a loved one, work, property. Lack of attention, cynicism, rudeness, as well as sharp statements of doctors about any problems of a woman in labor lead to a similar state.

As a preventive measure, a pregnant woman can be offered to undergo special tests with a psychologist that show a predisposition to nervous shocks. Such a procedure should only be carried out by a specialist. Based on the results of the survey, a conclusion is drawn for psychologists and doctors to help the expectant mother.