EBN- With so many changes going on during pregnancy, it’s natural to feel nervous about each new stage.
Feeling stressed during pregnancy is common and expected, but the danger is the high levels of stress that a pregnant woman faces, which may cause health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
In this article, we shed light on everything you want to know about stress during pregnancy, its causes and symptoms, and how it affects the fetus, in addition to solutions that will help you get through this stage safely.
What causes stress during pregnancy?
The March of Dimes website identified a number of the most prominent reasons that may increase feelings of stress and psychological pressure during pregnancy, including:
Dealing with the daily hassles of pregnancy
Such as morning sickness, constipation, fatigue, or back pain that may become bothersome as pregnancy progresses.
Hormonal changes
Hormonal fluctuations play a big role in mood swings, making stress management more difficult at times.
Anxiety and psychological stress
Especially about what might happen during labor or delivery, or fear of taking on the responsibility of caring for a newborn .
Stress from daily tasks
If you are working, you may find yourself facing the challenge of managing a business, in addition to preparing for maternity leave.
Feelings of loneliness or lack of support
These feelings may arise as a result of disagreements with a partner or family members, or due to a feeling of lack of emotional and social support.
What are the symptoms of psychological stress in pregnant women?
According to Medical News Today, there are no fixed standards for how much stress a pregnant woman can tolerate during pregnancy.
However, it is important for a pregnant woman to talk to her doctor in the following cases:
Feeling anxious or depressed
Especially if it is continuous, if this feeling continues for more than two weeks, she should talk to the doctor.
Physical symptoms of anxiety
Such as a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, feeling dizzy, nausea, excessive sweating, or diarrhea.
Experiencing panic attacks
They are sudden attacks of intense fear accompanied by strong physical responses.
Engaging in repetitive behaviors
Such as constant checking and counting, as a way to control anxiety or feel better.
Having disturbing and unwanted thoughts
Where the pregnant woman feels unable to control it or get rid of it.
Excessive fear of childbirth
To the point of not wanting to go through the birth experience at all.
How does psychological stress affect the health of the fetus?
A 2019 study showed that high levels of cortisol, a hormone released during stress during pregnancy, may also lead to higher levels in the fetus . This increase may increase the chances of the fetus having developmental problems.
Emotional stress during pregnancy may also negatively affect a child’s cognitive development, which may cause attention difficulties, behavioral problems, or increased negative feelings.
The study also indicated that anxiety or stress before birth may affect the child’s development from childhood to adolescence, as anxiety disorders suffered by the mother may increase the likelihood of the child developing anxiety disorders in later stages of his life.
Do stress and anxiety cause miscarriage or pregnancy problems?
Doctors still can’t pinpoint exactly how stress affects pregnancy, but it’s thought that certain stress-related hormones may play a role in certain complications during pregnancy.
The most prominent risks of psychological stress on pregnant women:
High blood pressure
Excessive stress can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of premature birth or having a low birth weight baby.
Placenta problems
Stress can worsen placental problems such as preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction.
Increased chances of premature birth
Stress is associated with an increased risk of having a premature (born before 37 weeks) or low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg) baby.
Worsening of normal pregnancy symptoms
Such as insomnia, body aches, and morning sickness, which may become more severe as a result of stress.
Negative behaviors resulting from stress
In some cases, women may resort to dealing with stress in harmful ways such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs, which negatively affects the health of the mother and the fetus.
Ways to treat psychological anxiety in pregnant women without medication?
The manage psychological stress during pregnancy and alleviate its effects, a pregnant woman can follow a set of effective steps that contribute to improving her psychological and physical condition.
