Stress during pregnancy: how to deal with it and what to expect. How stress affects pregnancy - danger and consequences Constant stress during pregnancy

A storm of emotions lies in a woman during pregnancy, it is very, very difficult to figure out what she finally wants. She may get angry, cry after a few minutes, and then smile. How can a pregnant woman learn to remain calm again?

The reason for the storm of emotions in pregnant women.

The mood of pregnant women is changeable, while various little things can irritate them. It should be noted that the woman did not even pay attention to these trifles before. The reason for this behavior is the production of a large amount of female hormones necessary for the normal bearing of a child. The main pregnancy hormones include gonadotropin: on early dates pregnancy, a high level of the hormone, the maximum concentration at 7-10 weeks of pregnancy, an increased concentration causes nausea, and this causes increased irritability; progesterone: a hormone that affects the process of bearing a child, the level of the hormone is high, it is the cause of a woman's rapid fatigue; Estriol: A natural antioxidant produced throughout pregnancy.

The most changed hormonal background affects the emotional state of a pregnant woman in the first trimester. Pay special attention to yourself when:

· you were predisposed to mood swings before pregnancy;

· you lost a baby during a previous pregnancy. During a new pregnancy, a woman will listen to her body and look for signs of danger, and this increases irritability and serves as a reason to lose her temper. Keep in mind that negative emotions can provoke a threat of termination of pregnancy, we get a vicious circle.

· pregnancy came under the persuasion of her husband or relatives, then you may not understand why you are pregnant, as a result, the pregnant woman begins to take out her anger at her loved ones, who made her decide to have a baby.

· you are used to commanding to be obeyed, you are used to keeping everything and everyone in submission, but closer to childbirth, your performance decreases, often those around you start to help you out of good intentions, but such care seems to be a signal to a strong woman - I have become weak, and this is the basis of nervous stress .

How nervous breakdowns affect pregnancy.

Hormones change throughout pregnancy, so there will be mood swings throughout pregnancy. However, it is worth remembering that severe stress can provoke the risk of a threatened abortion (uterine hypertonicity), cause problems with sleep, appetite, exacerbation of chronic diseases, skin problems, ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract.

You can determine that you are having a nervous breakdown if:

· rapid fatigue sets in, frequent errors in work appear;

· cannot concentrate;

· suffering from insomnia, nightmares;

· tormented by irresistible anxiety;

· increased heart rate, neck pain, headache, pain in the neck, in the back.

You have a nervous breakdown - what to do?

It is difficult to cope with emotions on your own, you should seek help from a specialist. First, inform the gynecologist about your nerves and he will prescribe you: valerian, motherwort infusion, Glycine, Person, Magne B6. Only a specialist will prescribe the necessary dosage for you, tell you how long you should take them. If the measures taken are not enough, the doctor will refer you to a psychologist, psychotherapist.

How to cope with nervous stress during pregnancy.

1. Throw out emotions - anger, anger overtook you at work, you can go to the toilet and wash yourself with cold water, open the faucet to the full and hit the jet of water with the edge of your palm;

2. Train yourself to relax

3. Sleep is the best medicine. If you have a lack of sleep, then this is a direct path to stress. You need to try to sleep for 8 hours a day, and if possible, you can take a nap for a couple of hours during the day. Give yourself a SIESTA!

4. Talk about problems. You were rude at work, pushed in public transport, etc. It is worth saying the situation, if there is a problem, then it will be easier for you to understand the reason and solve it.

5. Seek support from your husband. Do not take out your anger on your husband, this will only aggravate the situation. It is worth explaining to him that you are having a difficult period and you need help. Ask him to help you, even pull his mustache or beard (if it makes you feel better). Believe me, your husband, just like you, wants you to be calm and cheerful.

Stress during pregnancy can be caused by both external and internal factors. 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, digestive system upset, bad or vice versa, increased appetite, dizziness, etc. 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, her chances of giving birth to an autistic child are doubled (autistic is a person with a 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 to reality, there is no desire for communication, they have a very meager 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, heavy physical exertion. Physical stress is possible with malnutrition, insufficient sleep, reduced physical 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 has a very strong effect 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 exposed to cruel attitude, 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 most the best remedy for the treatment of stress, nervous tension 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 everything only positive sides, if possible, avoid stressful situations 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 a constant painful 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 is to learn how to prevent such nervous shocks. 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 for pregnant women, for whom a good emotional state is extremely important. 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 helps reduce defensive forces organism. If a person is subject to frequent stressful conditions, he is more susceptible 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, in the 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 processes of formation nervous system even 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 malformations in women in permanent nervous tension 2 times higher than 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.

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To avoid negative impact on yourself and the baby developing in the womb, experts recommend expectant mother control emotions, although it is extremely difficult for a woman in a position to do this.

The danger of emotional experiences for the fetus and mother

For absolutely every woman, bearing a child is one of the happiest and most emotionally vivid periods.

However, during the 9 months of pregnancy, situations occur that negatively affect her psycho-emotional state. It is important to note that a girl who is expecting a child perceives any life situations much more sharply. For most of those who have planned conception for a long time, a positive test is already a big stress.

What is stress

Stress is the body's only defensive reaction to various kinds of stimuli. Specialists are divided into 2 categories:

1. light;
2. difficult.

A person experiences mild stress every day and this category of experiences does not have any negative impact on the body. The main reasons for its occurrence are:

• heat/cold;
• lack of fluid in the body;
• excess moisture in the air, etc.

The body can adapt to these changes. Thanks to such emotional stresses, a person reveals internal reserves.

Complex stress is dangerous for the health of both.

What is dangerous

Being pregnant, the girl literally perceives all situations differently. During these months, doctors strongly recommend restraining your negative emotions.

Strong emotional experiences increase the likelihood of premature birth, the development of obvious physical and mental abnormalities in the development of the fetus.

In the early stages

Stressful experiences in the first trimester are very dangerous: the formation of the main organs of the fetal nervous system begins in the first weeks. With vivid negative experiences, there is a high probability of spontaneous abortion. The danger also lies in intrauterine growth retardation, the development of schizophrenia in the future is not excluded.

In the second trimester

If a pregnant woman in the second trimester is subjected to serious stress tests, the likelihood of developing congenital autism in a child is high. Mothers who constantly experienced negative experiences give birth to overweight or, on the contrary, underweight children, grow up, moving away from communication with anyone.

Before childbirth

Negative emotions have a bad effect on the child, not only in the early stages, but also before childbirth. There is a repeated entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord - the reason for this is the active movements of the baby, which he makes due to the psycho-emotional overload of the mother. A great danger caused by stress is prolonged complicated or, on the contrary, premature birth.

With multiple pregnancy

Carrying two or more children at the same time is even more stressful for the body. Multiple pregnancy is not a deviation. At the same time, it should be understood that the load on the female body is directly proportional to the number of babies. Therefore, the usual complications for pregnancy are much more difficult. Stress during multiple pregnancies increases the chance of fetal death. For a short time, the doctor will save the pregnancy and the life of the second baby. If the child dies at 28 weeks or more, then the second fetus is likely to die.

For severe pregnancy

The expectant mother is not recommended to be nervous at any stage of pregnancy, especially if it is difficult. It is necessary to be able to turn off stress-provoking factors. Otherwise, there is a high probability of stopping intrauterine development of the fetus, as well as miscarriage.

With IVF fertilization

Women who could not conceive a child naturally resort to the IVF method (In Vitro Fertilization), and therefore, if conception has occurred, expectant mothers experience a great fear of losing a child (especially after long attempts to get pregnant). The risk of fetal death or developmental delay inside the mother's womb increases.

Impact on the mother's body

Minor experiences can be useful when they are able to provoke the activation of the body's defenses. However, regular and constant emotional stress is the cause of insomnia, excessive fatigue and fatigue, which greatly worsen the condition of the pregnant woman. The predominance of the stress hormone contributes to a decrease in mood, deprives confidence. A woman who regularly experiences unpleasant unrest is found to have various possible infections.

Impact on the child

According to the conclusion of scientists, the anxiety and worries of the mother negatively affect the fetus and its sleep inside the womb, and the placental blood supply is also disturbed. The likelihood of developing psychosis is high. Also, children whose mothers were nervous during pregnancy are often aggressive, more prone to phobias, an allergic reaction, emotional instability, a large number of congenital diseases, in particular, diabetes.

Can pregnancy freeze from stress

To date, there is no information confirming that pregnancy can freeze only from stress. Stress can be considered the main prerequisite, but not the main cause.

Consequences for a pregnant woman and the likelihood of a nervous breakdown

Experts are convinced that it is stress that sometimes causes unpleasant pulling pains. Severe stress causes a miscarriage. Therefore, experts recommend that a woman learn to control emotions. The likelihood of a breakdown during pregnancy is extremely high, because being in a position, a woman perceives more acutely.

Eliminate the factors that provoke experiences, it is impossible. You should try to change your attitude towards them. The first thing psychologists recommend is to make a list of the reasons that cause negativity and prescribe ways to resolve it. In addition, experts advise to adhere to the following rules:

• communicate more with positive people;
• find a hobby or new hobby;
• exercise (only light exercise);
• spend a lot of time walking;
• get enough sleep;
• eat properly.

A woman is responsible not only for her psycho-emotional state, but also creates favorable conditions for the development of the fetus.

Psychology

Depending on the main factors provoking stress, there are different types of it:

• physiological;
• psychological (informational and emotional).

Stress has three stages of development:

• The first stage is the formation of attitudes towards the stimulus. All the forces of the body are directed to solving this issue.
• the second stage is stabilization. The parameters that are out of balance in the first stage are fixed at a new level.
• the third stage is exhaustion. The condition worsens, this leads to deep depression, serious stress, and so on.

Perception of conflict

Pregnancy is a critical period in life. During the bearing of the fetus, there is a change in the consciousness of a woman, her understanding of the world, the existing relationships. That's why conflict situations, troubles at work, etc. is perceived differently than it would be perceived in the period before pregnancy.

Priority tasks and goals for the expectant mother

The main task of a pregnant woman is a successful delivery. For this, the expectant mother is ready for anything. The priority is the health of the baby, the fulfillment of any of his needs.

Soothing decoctions

If you experience anxiety during pregnancy, you should give preference to freshly prepared decoctions. An excellent sedative is chamomile, lemon balm, mint, lime blossom, hawthorn. It is necessary to brew 1 tbsp. spoon a glass of boiling water, then insist for 30 minutes, then drink throughout the day.

What sedative pills can you take?

Pregnant women are not recommended to take any sedative pills. However, in case of severe stress, experts allow the use of drugs such as Persen or Novopassit.

You can take medications only as prescribed by a doctor.

Being pregnant, a woman experiencing stress exposes not only herself, but also the baby to a negative influence. Therefore, doctors recommend taking health seriously. A woman should control emotions and step back from stressful situations.

Useful video

Often pregnant women complain of fatigue, headaches, lack of concentration due to interrupted sleep, feelings of anxiety and sadness. Constant malaise and depressive thoughts can develop into severe stress. How does the nervous state of the mother affect the child? What are the consequences, and what threatens stress during pregnancy? Let's talk about this in more detail.

Causes of nervousness of expectant mothers

Almost every woman expecting a baby can talk about physical discomfort. Many suffer from heaviness in the stomach, nausea and digestive problems, which cannot but affect the general well-being. In addition to this, pregnant women are often stressed due to:

• back pain;
• bad sleep;
• frequent urination;
• heartburn.

Psychological factors of stress during pregnancy are:

• problems with work;
• financial difficulties;
• intimate and family troubles;
• fear of childbirth.

It is especially difficult for women who are single or experiencing financial difficulties. They constantly think about how they will have to continue to live after the birth of a baby who needs proper care and nutrition. Stress is inevitable in such conditions.

Why is high stress dangerous?

Doctors call stress the silent killer, and they are right. Hormonal fluctuations, characteristic of pregnant women, entail nerves, tantrums, tears, which lead to fatigue, migraines, poor appetite, or, conversely, overeating. It's no secret that prolonged stress causes cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other complications.

When stressed, hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisone are excreted from the body. During pregnancy, 10% of these hormones pass through the placenta and directly affect motor activity fetus, accelerating the baby's heartbeat. The baby in the womb begins to feel stress as early as the 17th week of pregnancy. In addition, hormones affect blood flow, so the blood will not give the baby enough oxygen and nutrients.

What risks can pregnant women have on the background of stress attacks? We list the main ones:

1. Premature birth (before 37 weeks).
2. Birth of a low birth weight baby.
3. Slow development of the child.
4. Miscarriage.
5. Weakening of the immune system.
6. postpartum depression.

Pregnancy stress can cause the baby to experience learning and concentration difficulties in the future. So, some scientists argue that stress hormones in the blood of a pregnant woman cross the placenta and negatively affect the fetal brain.

Studies have shown that chronically stressed pregnant women are at significant risk of prolonged and painful labor and, unfortunately, stillbirth. A mother who is restless throughout her pregnancy is also more likely to give birth to a hyperactive child who will be overly nervous, prone to allergic reactions, have problems with sleep, feeding and digestion in general.

Tips for Reducing Anxiety During Pregnancy

Since stress negatively affects pregnancy, you need to learn how to control it. How to do it:

• One of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to exercise regularly. For women whose pregnancy proceeds without any pathologies, doctors recommend engaging in moderate exercise at least 3 times a week. Classes may include recreational swimming, fitness for pregnant women.

• If you feel overwhelmed and tense, try to relax with yoga, stretching exercises, meditation, and deep breathing. All these actions will help you feel much calmer and more restrained.
• You need to pay more attention to rest and sleep. Go for a walk, read books, listen to pleasant music.

• Try to avoid stressful situations and directly those people who upset you. Focus on what is important to you and your child.
• Healthy nutrition during childbearing contributes to the normalization of the nervous system, helps to reduce possible complications of pregnancy.