Stress during pregnancy, it’s possible, it’s not, it’s possible...

What it is

The gestation period is a rather complex process. At this time, a woman's hormone levels increase. Significant changes occur in the body. Against this background, constant hormonal surges occur.

Frequent mood changes occur. The influence of environmental factors, household chores, unforeseen situations at work, etc., can cause stress during pregnancy.

In psychology, there are two types of emotions.

1. Eustress occurs when there are positive moments in life.
2. Distress appears after a negative experience.

Short-term overexertion often does not cause consequences for the fetus. Prolonged negative emotions can cause significant damage, including miscarriage, and in later stages cause premature birth.

Symptoms of stress

Acute, which lasts a short time and ends quickly, chronic, which lasts constantly. Due to the fact that a woman is nervous, hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine enter the body. Because of this, a woman’s uterus is toned, blood pressure rises, blood vessels can narrow significantly, and as a result, the heartbeat begins to accelerate. Short-term stress is the best training for a woman’s body, the main thing is that it does not develop into a chronic form.

With acute stress, a woman experiences breathing problems, the heart beats much faster, the skin may turn red or pale, the palms become moist, the pupils dilate greatly, and severe pain appears in the chest area.

With chronic stress, a woman cannot keep her emotions under control, she is constantly distracted, fussy, constantly makes mistakes, there are memory problems, lethargy, a state of apathy, problems with appetite, digestive upset, headaches.

Causes

There can be many reasons for stress during pregnancy. The increased load on all organs and the growing level of hormones contribute to the development of nervous tension.

It is important to try to avoid conflict situations and moments that bring negative emotions.

It is impossible to completely avoid emotional swings. It is important to carefully monitor such moments so that the effect on the fetus is not detrimental.

A number of points are becoming the main factors of unrest.

1. Fear for the fetus. There are worries about the process of formation, whether everything is in order, and so on. Women who have previously had unsuccessful attempts to give birth are the most worried.
2. Worries about work. Colleagues and superiors do not always react positively. Changes in the hormonal background of a pregnant woman affect the perception of information.
3. Not all people are equally kind and welcoming. Communication with such people can cause stress in the mother and harm the health of the baby.
4. Shocking moments. Nervous tension is caused by seeing an unpleasant picture and a number of other reasons.
5. The closer you get to the third trimester, the more you worry about childbirth. Attacks of fear are provoked by insufficient information about the quality of medical care, fetal development and possible complications.

During the first weeks, the woman does not yet feel that a new life is growing in her. After the first month, awareness comes.

The second trimester is relatively calm. The concept of stress and pregnancy does not bother her; the woman enjoys her condition. Only powerful shocks can cause negative experiences.

The last trimester brings with it worries about the upcoming birth.

Ways to overcome

There is an opinion that the most effective way to deal with 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 a modern method for studying the unconscious person, believes that this is not entirely true.

• 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 point of support, 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.

How it manifests itself

One way or another, every woman experiences severe stress during pregnancy. In this case, mental overload occurs. This entails malfunctions in the functioning of internal organs.

The main symptoms are:

• poor quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness;
• indifference and apathy;
• constant anxious thoughts;
• causeless tears;
• aggression;
• high blood pressure;
• tachycardia;
• headaches and dizziness;
• feeling of hopelessness, melancholy;
• inability to concentrate;
• deterioration in the quality of short-term memory;
• neurosis;
• skin itching, redness and rashes.

At first, there is a rapid restructuring of hormonal levels. Minor everyday troubles are very upsetting.

Then an apathetic state appears. The normal functioning of the central nervous system is disrupted.

How do you know if you are stressed during pregnancy?

Our lives are rarely stress-free, and one individual episode may go unnoticed. But when tension accumulates, sooner or later it will affect the physical and psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman. Here are the main signs:

• insomnia at night and drowsiness during the day;
• decreased concentration, memory and performance;
• apathy and chronic fatigue;
• mood swings, irritability;
• depressive states, despair, feelings of hopelessness;
• tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
• changes in blood pressure;
• obsessive thoughts, causeless anxiety;
• headaches and dizziness;
• itching and rashes on the skin.

In addition, prolonged exposure to stress can cause causeless pain, exacerbation of chronic diseases and allergic reactions.

What happens in the body

Hormone stimulation increases, causing malignant synthesis of catecholamines and glucocorticoids.
Glucose levels are disrupted and the amount of sugar in the blood increases. To stop this process, the body starts producing insulin, which utilizes excess glucose.

Sensing a lack of insulin synthesis, the combination of sugar and amino acid is triggered. Their number is limited, and often this is not enough. The process of fat breakdown begins. Intoxication, damage to the brain, cardiovascular system and muscles, and hypoxia occur.

Constant repetition of such a cycle disrupts the functioning of the thyroid gland, the central nervous system and weakens the immune system.

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.

Why is it dangerous?

The effects of stress during pregnancy in the first three months either have no effect or cause irreparable damage.

The slightest impulses of negativity and anxiety provoke the development of pathologies or miscarriage. It is manifested by an increase in the tone of the intrauterine muscles.

The second trimester is relatively quiet for the mother, but active for the baby. A stressful state affects muscle hypertonicity, which can lead to developmental arrest and premature birth.

Lack of uterine blood flow causes a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Developmental delays and weight gain occur in the baby.

Constant anxiety leads to damage to the child’s nervous system.

Stress during the 9th month of pregnancy contributes to premature birth.

Anomalies of labor are provoked by an unstable mental state and excessive anxiety.

Danger for the baby in different trimesters

Most often, stress negatively affects the condition of the fetus in the first trimester, and it can end in miscarriage. In the second and third trimesters, due to stress, a woman’s vital systemic organs are greatly strained. If she is nervous for a long time, the pregnant woman will have problems with high blood pressure, a large amount of edema will appear, protein may be noticed in the urine, blood flow in the placenta will also worsen, and the fetus will suffer from a lack of oxygen.

Thus, try to avoid being exposed to stressful situations as much as possible during pregnancy. If you do not calm down in time, depression and fatigue may develop, and then diseases such as gastritis, pancreatitis, etc. will begin to worsen. Stress negatively affects the immune system of the mother and unborn child.

Prevention

Prevention methods will help with this.

1. Healthy eating. It is the basis for a good mood and proper development of the baby. The diet should include fermented milk products, meat, fruits, and green vegetables.
2. Lack of vitamins. It has a negative impact on well-being. Taking high-quality vitamin complexes will support the necessary condition.
3. Autotraining. Small positive moments can create a positive attitude.

Being surrounded by loved ones and loved ones is the best way to promote peace of mind.

Pregnancy is, first of all, a joyful event accompanied by anxious anticipation. To make time pass easily and joyfully, you should control your emotions. Prevent the influence of negative factors on the life and health of the mother and fetus.

How to cope with stress during pregnancy?

The advice “don’t be nervous” can be immediately dismissed as absolutely useless, especially if you have already started to get nervous. But this does not mean that there is no way out of a stressful situation. Here are a few tips, you don’t have to use them all, a combination of just a few can help:

1. Don't keep your emotions to yourself. If stress is caused by negative experiences, there is no need to try to suppress them, forcefully switch to something good, or pretend that everything is fine when it is not. This behavior will only increase tension. The best way to get rid of such worries is to talk it out, it doesn’t matter to whom exactly, friends, relatives, a cat, a psychologist or a personal diary. The main thing is to share your thoughts and emotions and free yourself from them. If you want to cry, it’s better to cry, it will definitely make you feel better.
2. Healthy sleep. Ideally, a pregnant woman should sleep at least 8-9 hours a day. Lack of sleep significantly reduces the body's ability to withstand stress. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is establish a daily routine and ensure proper rest.
3. Walks in the open air. If your health and weather permit, you should spend at least an hour outside your home or office every day, walking at least 2 km. If walking is difficult for some reason, in warm weather, instead of walking, you can simply sit on a bench in the park; moderate sunbathing will also be very useful (the main thing is not to overdo it).
4. Balanced diet. It has been said more than once that a pregnant woman’s diet should be complete and varied. But, in order to cope with stress, it is important to make sure that the body receives all the necessary vitamins in sufficient quantities. It is worth paying special attention to B vitamins and vitamin C, since with constant stress the need for them increases significantly.
5. Moderate physical activity. Unfortunately, not all pregnant women can afford to exercise. But, if there are no medical contraindications, it is worth giving the body at least a small load. This could be swimming, yoga or special classes for pregnant women. In any case, muscle activity promotes the production of serotonin, which, in turn, helps to cope with stress more easily.
6. Positive communication. When experiencing stress, people often withdraw into themselves, trying to protect themselves from additional experiences. But this tactic is obviously losing. You need to continue to maintain contact with friends, family and colleagues. At the same time, it is imperative to exclude from your social circle those from whom negativity comes. Conflicts, horror stories about pregnancy and childbirth, a constant flow of negative emotions - all this is absolutely unnecessary for the expectant mother.
7. Breathing practices and relaxation methods. Knowing how to breathe properly can not only be useful during childbirth, it is also a great way to calm yourself in any stressful situation. In addition, you can try meditation, add aromatherapy, relaxing massage (be sure to consult your doctor first) and other relaxation methods.
8. Hobbies and free time. Be sure to regularly set aside time for relaxation and favorite activities. This could be watching a TV series, an interesting book, embroidery, knitting, drawing - anything that brings pleasure and positive emotions.
9. Sedatives of plant origin. Do not neglect proven methods - valerian, motherwort, lemon balm and some other herbs relieve tension and have a relaxing effect. Before taking any, even natural, remedies, it is imperative to consult with your doctor during your pregnancy.
10. If all of the above methods did not help, and you could not cope with the problem yourself, do not be afraid to seek professional help. Going to a psychotherapist does not make a person psychologically unstable or “sick.” But denying the problem and prolonged exposure to severe stress can lead to exactly this result.

In most cases, by recognizing the presence of stress in time, you can avoid really serious consequences and cope with it yourself, without resorting to professional help or serious medications. The main thing is not to withdraw into yourself, not to be afraid to ask family and friends for help, and to do everything possible to normalize your life and, if possible, eliminate all negative factors from it.

Especially for beremennost.net – Elena Kichak

The impact of stress on pregnancy and consequences for the child

The period of bearing a child is a delightful stage in a woman’s life. She finds herself the center of care and attention, but at the same time she has a huge responsibility for the little man. Preparing for the arrival of a baby, resolving work issues, and everyday chores occurring against the backdrop of hormonal storms can provoke a full-fledged stress reaction. The magazine “Together with You” figured out how stress affects pregnancy, whether you should worry about the health of the child, and how to minimize this impact.

photo from the site https://queen-time.ru/