Severe stress during pregnancy. Stress and nervous tension during pregnancy

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 modern world, oversaturated with available information, this is sometimes done with complete confidence in the correspondence of the chosen word with 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 long time satisfaction of social and biological needs is limited.
• 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 treat the same case differently. For some, buying a home is severe stress, and for others it is a desired event, comparable to pleasant chores. The body's emotional reaction is born as a result of analysis own thoughts and ratings.

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 recent months 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 gradual development occurs 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 hotlines psychological assistance. 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 is more destructive than 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 healthy image life is 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 during pregnancy regarding further childbirth and others related issues in pregnant women is not considered uncommon. A little anxiety, disappointment and depression during this period is the norm, due to the influence of hormones. If stress during pregnancy causes more negative emotions and nervous breakdowns, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Reasons for the appearance of negativity

The causes of stress vary from woman to woman. For some expectant mothers, pregnancy itself is stressful. They find it difficult to maintain control and manage physical changes. Other reasons that take an emotional toll on the expectant mother include:

1. Heavy load on the body. This is caused by periodic nausea, constipation, and muscle pain.
2. Hormonal fluctuations that lead to mood swings affect self-control during pregnancy. This makes it difficult to manage yourself in such a situation.
3. Juggling work, pregnancy and household chores at the same time can be difficult for some pregnant women. This affects personal and work life.
4. Domestic violence, personal problems.

If a pregnant woman recognizes herself from several of the listed life situations, the level of stress hormones in the body increases.

The effect of stress on the fetus and the health of the pregnant woman

Bad mood, depression and nervousness are unlikely to lead to pregnancy complications if the circumstances are properly controlled. In some cases, this affects the health of the expectant mother and child. Severe, prolonged stress leads to complications if left untreated:

• high blood pressure;
• diabetes mellitus during pregnancy;
• weakened immune system;
• severe depression.

Some women try to cope with stress by smoking and drinking alcohol. This again leads to health problems for the mother and child.

Stress during pregnancy in the first trimester has the following effects on the baby:

1. Emotional shock stimulates the release of the hormone cortisol, which increases depending on the severity of the stress. As a result, depression, obesity, heart disease, and osteoporosis develop in the child at a later age.
2. The child is born prematurely, which leads to diseases related to digestion, respiratory tract, decreased immunity and death of the child in some cases.
3. Term babies are born overweight and have a weak immune system. Stress exposure causes hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply during childbirth).
4. Increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Watch a video about the effects of stress during pregnancy:

Sometimes, in the early stages, ultrasound reveals a frozen pregnancy after stress. It is better for others to treat pregnant women with understanding. The consequences of stress for a child develop in adulthood if the mother was very nervous during pregnancy.

Dangerous symptoms

Chronic nervous stress causes a variety of physical, emotional, mental and social symptoms:

1. Chest pain, difficulty breathing, vision problems, headaches, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue, muscle pain, increased sweating. But most often a pregnant woman has a stomach ache.
2. Confusion, nightmares, memory loss, sleep changes and difficulty focusing.
3. Grief, guilt, worry, irritability, fear, denial, worry, loneliness or frustration
4. Isolation from family, friends, loss of appetite, smoking and alcohol abuse.

If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist and psychologist.

How to deal with stress as a pregnant woman

There are ways to reduce negative symptoms during pregnancy:

1. You need to do light physical activity. For example, walking, as it not only reduces stress levels, but also prevents general discomfort during pregnancy.
2. Prenatal or meditation classes.
3. Breathing exercises should be done.
4. The best thing to do is read a book or watch your favorite show.
5. It is necessary to find out what worries the pregnant woman most and try to talk about it with her husband, friend or even a therapist.
6. Seek help from family and friends.
7. Take childbirth education classes to understand about pregnancy, childbirth, relaxation techniques, exercises.
8. If a pregnant woman thinks she is depressed, treatment should be started early to avoid the need for antidepressants.
9. Eat healthy, nutritious foods.
10. Consider joining a support group at in social networks. This way you can meet like-minded people among pregnant women.

Stress is extremely undesirable for pregnant women. If you can’t contain your emotions, it’s better to consult a psychologist.

Pregnancy and stress are closely related. The hormonal balance in a woman’s body changes, she is preparing to occupy a different social niche in society - this alone can cause stress during pregnancy. But many more small factors and life troubles can be added to them, as a result of which nervous stress during pregnancy for many expectant mothers becomes, if not the norm, then an everyday reality. It is advisable to prevent such a state, because severe stress during pregnancy is fraught not only with a bad mood and damaged nerves, but also with a danger to the life and health of the baby.

How does stress affect pregnancy?

Severe stress during pregnancy causes fatigue, bad mood, the sense of humor disappears, it is difficult to fall asleep at night, during the day there is increased drowsiness, and there is a complete lack of pleasure from the work performed. Changes in the functioning of a woman’s body are also observed. Constant anxiety is aggravated by increased heartbeat, trembling in the body, attacks of dizziness and headaches are frequent, a rash may appear on the skin, etc.

What are the dangers of stress during pregnancy?

The effects of stress on pregnancy are serious and should not be taken lightly. Severe nervous stress during pregnancy can lead to major complications: toxicosis increases, many different diseases appear, the risk of newborn pathologies, miscarriages, as well as various birth anomalies increases many times, fetal development slows down. Impaired blood supply and resulting oxygen starvation lead to damage to the baby’s brain. Sometimes a stressful state is a direct or indirect culprit in the development of a frozen pregnancy - the death of the fetus in the early stages (up to 28 weeks). Negative experiences can affect even before the process of conception - pregnancy after stress is much more difficult and is accompanied by increased risks.

Stress in early pregnancy

Stress in the first weeks of pregnancy is primarily closely related to the awareness of the very fact of future motherhood. A woman needs to get used to the idea that a baby will soon appear in her house, that now her entire way of life will change. It is very important for the unborn child that stress at the beginning of pregnancy does not develop into some kind of chronic or advanced condition, so that the mother learns to cope with the situation that has arisen and understands everything. Considering that a woman’s emotional stability is at risk during this period, and with the accumulation of negative experiences, the rapid development of depression is also possible, we should not put off solving problems, but deal with them immediately. Ideally, it is necessary to create such an atmosphere and rhythm of life around so that nothing can overshadow the joy of waiting for the birth of a baby. Stress in the first trimester of pregnancy differs from the causes and characteristics that give rise to stress in later stages of pregnancy. In the second case, the dominant role is taken by the fear that something will go wrong during childbirth, especially if there are some complications, and the arguments and beliefs of the doctors look implausible.

How to relieve stress during pregnancy?

First of all, it is necessary to take care of the health of body and spirit, no matter how trite it may sound. Light gymnastics, walks in the fresh air, swimming, there will simply be no place for stress in your life, because so many important and pleasant things still need to be done. Enjoy the delights of preparing for motherhood, let happiness and joy into your soul. Don’t let problems accumulate; if something is bothering you, talk about it with your loved ones, find the source of the problem, and eliminate it through joint efforts. Stress at work and pregnancy are another seed, which can then give rise to very unwanted shoots. Remember that your health and the future of your baby are the most valuable, and the rest is less important.

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 your belly grows, it becomes more and more difficult to cope with work, and 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 reasons causing psycho-emotional stress, write down ideas next to each other on how you can reduce their impact and follow that 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 in your power to create for your baby comfortable conditions for development.

What to do when stressed?

According to experts, the worst thing you can do is keep negative emotions in itself. 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 this is not medical contraindications. 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 you have difficulty falling asleep due to nervous tension, you may need to take some sedatives herbal based, 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. Avoiding stress during pregnancy and getting rid of it in a timely manner unnecessary worries, you will protect your child and maintain your health.

Useful video: how to cope with stress during pregnancy

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Many people know that emotional condition pregnancy has a significant impact on the health of the unborn baby. In this case, the impact can be short-term or long-term, bringing 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 endures it.

Definition

Stress is the body's reaction to strong anxiety. This means that the person was very scared, surprised, upset or outraged. Medical specialists view 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;
• neuropsychic.

That is, such a condition 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 an interesting position, a huge number of changes occur in her body, disturbances in metabolic processes appear, hormonal disruptions, so the organs function differently. On expectant mother affects everything - not only environment, but also other personal factors:

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

Symptoms

All expectant mothers should know how stress during pregnancy affects a woman in order to avoid this condition, since the fetus reacts very actively to all experiences. It should be noted that such problems can occur in several types:

1. Acute - it proceeds quite quickly and ends the same way.
2. Chronic is a severe depressive state that lasts constantly.

Because a 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 blood pressure, as a result, the pregnant woman’s heartbeat accelerates.

It is almost impossible to get a definite answer to the question of how stress affects pregnancy, since a short-term emotional outburst is also the best training for the body. But it is very important that such a condition does not develop into a chronic form. After all, if such shocks are constant, a woman may have problems breathing, her skin will begin to turn pale and red. Other symptoms include wet palms, greatly dilated pupils, and periodic pain in the chest area.

In this case, a woman 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 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 studying 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. Due to such troubles, the body cannot produce the required protection, so such factors negatively affect the process of bearing a fetus.

How to relieve stress during pregnancy?

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

1. As prescribed by your doctor, you should take vitamin complexes. Vitamins C and E are especially necessary. With their support, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but also rejuvenate the entire body as a whole, and also 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 seafood products.
2. Having understood how stress affects pregnancy, and understanding that this can leave a negative impact on the health of the baby and mother, you should perform specially designed yoga complexes, which include breathing exercises, relaxation and simple physical exercises.
3. It is advisable to do your favorite thing as often as possible, knitting, reading, that is, to calm your mind and distract yourself 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 for a long time It’s impossible to get out of this state. The doctor will advise effective techniques, 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 the impact of stress in the early stages of pregnancy, because negative experiences can result in miscarriage. If problems occur to a girl in the second or third trimester, then there is a threat to the mother herself. Vital major organs begin to tense up, then pressure increases, and big number swelling and it is possible to see protein in the urine. Blood flow in the placenta deteriorates and as a result the fetus will lack oxygen.

Possible consequences

What are the dangers of stress during pregnancy? Many girls ask their doctors a similar question. The presence of additional worries often leads to problems with the baby’s health. He may be absolutely healthy at birth, but troubles will begin to appear later. The most common disorders observed in children are:

• increased distraction and activity, which subsequently 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 diseases, which provoke an increased susceptibility of the child to various diseases;
• the appearance of appearance defects that require surgery to correct;
• autism and mental development problems.

Pathologies during pregnancy

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. A common problem is hypoxia - lack of oxygen. Because of this, it is more difficult for a woman to bear and give birth to a healthy baby. In the most severe cases, suffocation and fetal death may occur.
2. Blood circulation in the placenta is disrupted, causing problems with metabolic processes between the child and mother. Therefore, the baby is born premature and is delayed in development.
3. Childbirth is difficult, and the woman in labor quickly loses strength.
4. Due to the fact that a woman constantly has fears, her pregnancy is disrupted. Sometimes it even ends in miscarriage. Girls are born much earlier, and move with boys.

Another indicator of how severe stress affects pregnancy is the threat of early rupture of amniotic fluid as a result, 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 not able to cope with emotional stress. In this case, the doctor will definitely weigh all the possible risks for both the baby and the mother and select the most harmless medications.

Many drugs negatively affect the fetus and lead to the formation of developmental defects and circulatory disorders. Thus, expectant mothers should understand that drops such as “Barboval”, “Corvalol”, “Valocordin”, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, are strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. Experts also do not recommend self-medication and taking combination medications based on herbs - Nottu, Novo-Passit, Persen - since their effect on the fetus has not yet been fully studied.

The safest remedy is valerian.

Prevention

It is already known how stress affects pregnancy, so it is better to avoid this condition. There are several types of stress: moderate, which is standard for all women in labor, and severe, which occurs due to mental shock leading to prolonged depression.

The final stress factor can be severe anxiety or the loss of a loved one, job, or property. Lack of attention, cynicism, rudeness, as well as harsh statements from doctors about any problems of the mother in labor also lead to a similar state.

As a preventative measure, you can suggest that a pregnant woman undergo special tests from a psychologist that show her predisposition to nervous shocks. This procedure should only be carried out by a specialist. Based on the results of the survey, a conclusion is drawn up for psychologists and doctors to provide assistance to the expectant mother.