Combatting stress in pregnancy

Some scientists now believe that the effect of the life in the womb on emotional and physical health may be greater than that of the genes we inherit. The conditions in the uterus, ranging from mother's hormones to the nutrients supplied through the placenta, may significantly determine how a baby's liver, heart, kidneys, brain and mind will function during the adulthood.

Research has shown that if mothers during pregnancy ingested such substances as alcohol, cocaine, caffeine, and tobacco, they could harm their babies' physical and mental health, notably, lower the birth weight, height, and head circumference, and impair attention, memory, intelligence, and temperament. Likewise, we have known for a while that if a mother experiences excessive stress or suffers from an emotional trauma, her baby may be born with certain deficiencies which may persist into adulthood and cause more complications.

We are still trying to understand how stress and a mother's emotional state affects her unborn baby. Take, for example, a stress hormone called Cortisol. When we are under stress, we manufacture cortisol. If you experience occasional stress, cortisol doesn't create a problem. However, if you remain under stress for a long time, cortisol may be too much for your body to handle. Cortisol can cause high blood pressure problems. A mother's excessive Cortisol can reach the baby in the womb and, for example, can raise the baby's set point for blood pressure forever. In turn this baby, later in life, could be more prone to high blood pressure.

Many mothers during pregnancy face extremely stressful circumstances. Others are confronted with such unhealthy situations as the break-up of their relationship, physical or emotional abuse, open infidelity, job stress, and financial worries. These mothers experience constant stress, shame, loneliness and, sometimes, clinical depression during pregnancy or after giving birth.

The babies of these mothers are exposed to a variety of stress hormones, toxins and malnutrition inside the womb. Some may later become hyperactive, inattentive, or temperamental and exhibit poor self-control. Many of these children are later medicated with Ritalin or antidepressants. Not everyone understands that the problems a child exhibits today may have resulted from events that occurred several years ago. Could there be a link to stress in pregnancy and autism? As time goes on and our lives become more stressful, the incidence of this condition seems to be rising. A definitive cause for autism has not been established.

There are limited resources for people who have anxiety and depression, and people suffering from stress are often unsure of where to go for help. In addition, when referred for therapy, many feel embarrassed and do not want to admit the need for psychological consultation. Their partners or families may not encourage them to seek help because the problem it is not seen as a medical one. Doctors may be reluctant to prescribe psychiatric medications because of pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations.

Thus, a woman in such a situation suffers alone and remains isolated from her support system. She is expected to transcend all such adverse circumstances, and some do. Others don't have the emotional strengths to cope. Some have struggled with depression and anxiety all their lives. Moreover, even when they are seemingly coping with the excessive stress, they might still be constantly producing stress hormones and toxins and some will reach the baby in the womb.

Could maternal stress in pregnancy cause physical malformations? Maternal stress is also linked with imperfections in the developing nervous system which can lead to problems of perception, thinking, and memory. People who are stressed in pregnancy are more prone to postpartum blues and depression which could have consequences for mother/infant bonding.

All of us want happy children. Happy children grow out of happy babies. Happy babies are born to happy mothers. Therefore, partners, families and friends of expectant mothers should do their best to make an expectant mother happy and relaxed. If she is depressed, nervous, or tense, encourage her to seek help. I have tried to create this blog to point women in this situation to tools that can help and educate them. Please talk to your doctor. Join a support group. You are not alone.

Other things to consider:

1. Relax in a bath. It doesn't have to last an hour. A ten minute bath can help you sleep, and a well rested person can deal with stress better than a tired person. Pregnancy relaxing bath

2. Make sure your prenatal supplement contains Omega 3/fish oil/DHA. Pregnancy vitamin with DHA/Omega3 Not only is it good for your baby's brain development, but it can help your mood.

3. Listen to an uplifting CD. Affirmations are available on CD affirmation cd pregnancy and can be downloaded to your IPOD, iPhone, or portable music device. Also consider religious music.

4. Exercise naturally elevates your endorphin levels. Ask your doctor if yoga or walking are Pregnancy walking exercise video appropriate for you.
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