Pregnancy is a great time when a mother prepares to meet a future baby. However, it is at this moment that a woman is often in a state of increased emotionality, when even a trifle can cause tears and tantrum. Scientists have proven that frequent and prolonged stress during pregnancy can harm a future mother and her baby. Why are pregnant women often nervous and why is this dangerous? How to deal with stress? Every woman preparing for motherhood should know this.
Causes of increased nervousness in pregnant women
Physiological:
- a change in the hormonal background, which provokes excessive emotionality, irritability, tearfulness;
- manifestations of toxicosis: nausea, a change in taste preferences (read about toxicosis);
- unpleasant physical sensations, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Psychological:
- uncertainty about tomorrow, financial problems, relations with the father of the child;
- unrest associated with the course of pregnancy and the approaching birth.
Obviously, there are plenty of worries for expectant mothers. But doctors warn that pregnant women should try to be as nervous as possible. What are the stresses during pregnancy?
10 reasons to avoid stress during pregnancy
- Strong nervous experiences can lead to a miscarriage. Negative emotions affect the hormonal background of a woman, which is fraught with hypertonicity of the uterus. In the first trimester, this can provoke a miscarriage, in the last - premature birth.
- Stress and nerves during pregnancy weaken the immune system, which increases the frequency of colds, and exacerbates chronic diseases.
- In women who are constantly nervous during pregnancy, children with developmental defects are born 2 times more likely.
- Excessive irritability and anxiety of the expectant mother can be the cause of sleep problems in the newborn.
- Adrenaline, released into the blood during stress, constricts blood vessels, leading to fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Chronic hypoxia can cause organ pathologies, neurological problems, intrauterine growth retardation.
- Nervousness of a pregnant woman causes an increase in the level of “stress hormone” (cortisol) in the fetus. This increases the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system of the unborn baby.
- Constant stresses during pregnancy cause asymmetry in the location of the ears, fingers, limbs of the fetus.
- Irritability and nervousness of a future mother often leads to disturbances in the formation of the nervous system of the embryo, which in the future affects brain functions such as thinking, memory, perception, attention.
- Negative experiences are transmitted to the baby in the womb, why it can be born overly excitable and impulsive, or, conversely, fearful, timid, inert.
- An unbalanced emotional state can cause changes in the presentation of the fetus, which causes difficulties in the process of childbirth, up to the need for a cesarean section.
Stress experienced by the mother can have different consequences for infants depending on gender. For girls, this can turn into a rapid course of labor and the absence of a reflex cry, and for boys - a premature discharge of amniotic fluid and the onset of childbirth.
Stress Prevention and Control
What to do to calm down and stop being nervous over trifles, thereby harming the health of the future baby? We will name a few simple and effective tools:
- Breathing exercises. To calm you need to use deep, measured breathing. Thanks to it, oxygen enriches the muscles and organs of the whole body. This leads to the normalization of blood pressure, the removal of muscle and emotional stress.
- Phytotherapy. Melissa, mint, valerian, motherwort have a relaxing effect. You can make tea from these herbs, add a decoction to the bath.
- Aromatherapy Essential oils of needles, citruses, sandalwood will help calm down a pregnant woman.
- Physical exercise. It can be a set of exercises for pregnant women, or just walking in the fresh air.
- Meditation and auto training - methods of managing their physical and psychological state, based on the technique of auto-suggestion. To learn how to relax and tune yourself in a positive way, 10-15 minutes a day is enough.
- Massage. Expectant mother can do herself a massage of the neck, head, ears, hands and even the spine. It brings a calming effect, helps relieve stress.
- Proper nutrition. Often, increased nervousness during pregnancy is caused by a lack of vitamin B. It is necessary to regularly eat foods rich in this vitamin: milk, cheese, cottage cheese, sprouted grains, legumes, liver, greens, vegetables.
- Positive environment. To avoid unnecessary reasons for stress, try to communicate more with positive, friendly people.
- Beneficial effect hobby, hobby. If there is none, you can learn to needlework, sew, knit. Repeating movements allow you to concentrate, distract from unpleasant experiences.
Expecting a baby is one of the most beautiful moments in a woman’s life. Try to reject negative feelings from yourself and fully enjoy how the new life grows. A happy and calm mother is the key to the birth of a healthy baby.
