How does stress affect your unborn baby? Can stress cause miscarriage? Can stress cause birth defects? Can stress at work affect pregnancy? Find the answers here.
Many of us imagine pregnancy as a wonderful phenomenon, blissful and carefree. While it is mostly true, there are also some realities we cannot avoid such as stress during pregnancy.
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Your Hardworking Body
During pregnancy, your body undergoes very drastic changes. The total volume of blood in your body increases by up to 2 litres. This translates into your heart having to pump 2 full large soda bottles worth of extra fluid around your body.
In addition, as your uterus grows to accommodate your baby, your organs start to work twice as hard in half the space after they get displaced.
For example, your lungs are pushed higher due to the larger uterus but you still need to have enough oxygen in your blood for both you and your child, hence many pregnant ladies find they have to breathe harder as they progress through the pregnancy.
And as if making your heart and lungs work overtime for nine months is not stressful enough, your hormones also get drastically altered during pregnancy.
Human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone essential for maintaining the early embryo, and also the hormone whose increased levels are linked to nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, is zero in non-pregnant ladies and increases to a peak of up to 100,000 units around Week 10 of your pregnancy.
Stress During Pregnancy
These physiological changes alone are enough to make most women stressed. Adding on environmental pressures like squabbles with the partner and deadlines from work, pregnancy for the modern woman can be nerve-wracking.
A large study from the USA on 2,000 pregnant women in 2010 reported only 16 per cent of all the women saying they had no stress during the pregnancy, while 78 per cent reporting low to moderate amounts of stress and up to 6 per cent reporting high amounts of stress.
Such statistics mean that if you were in the doctors’ waiting room with other pregnant ladies, you are 5 times more likely to meet a pregnant lady who is stressed than one who is stress-free.
Stress in and of itself is not bad. In fact, stress is a survival tool that our body has retained as we evolved as a species. The stress reaction, as it is formally known, is a mechanism by which the body responds to impending danger.
By releasing chemical mediators such as adrenaline and cortisol, the body primes us for “fight or flight” situations like spotting a lion charging towards us and starting to run.
5 Surprising Factors That Cause Stress During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting and transformative time, but it can also bring about unexpected stressors. Understanding the factors that contribute to stress during pregnancy can help expectant mothers navigate this period with greater ease. Here are five surprising factors that can cause stress during pregnancy.
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Financial Pressures
Money matters can be a significant source of stress during pregnancy, as the cost of prenatal care, childbirth, and preparing for a baby’s arrival can add up quickly.
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Physical Discomfort
The physical changes that accompany pregnancy, such as nausea, fatigue, back pain, and hormonal fluctuations, can take a toll on a woman’s well-being and contribute to increased stress levels.
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Relationship Strains
Relationship dynamics can become strained during pregnancy, as both partners adjust to their new roles and responsibilities, leading to stress and emotional challenges.
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Anxiety About Labour and Delivery
The anticipation and fear of labour and delivery can create anxiety for expectant mothers, causing stress throughout pregnancy.
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Social Pressure and Expectations
Societal expectations and judgment surrounding p
Pregnancy, parenting choices, and body image can place undue stress on pregnant individuals, leading to feelings of self-doubt and anxiety.
Remember, stress during pregnancy is common, and seeking support from healthcare professionals, loved ones, and support groups can make a significant difference in managing and reducing stress levels.
Negative Effects of Stress During Pregnancy
Stress is a part of life, especially in pregnancy and as mentioned earlier, it is not exactly bad. Yet as with most things, too much of anything can be harmful. Research shows that repeated activation of the stress reaction puts a significant amount of strain on our body.
Adrenaline, for example, is meant to increase the overall function of our heart, good when you need to make a quick escape but prolonged stimulation of the heart cells with adrenaline has been shown to lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Similarly, cortisol increases our metabolism to break down fat for energy but can lead to chronic conditions such as diabetes when secreted in excessive amounts.
Can stress affect a baby during pregnancy?
Yes, stress can indeed affect a baby during pregnancy. When a pregnant person experiences high levels of stress, their body may produce stress hormones like cortisol, which can cross the placenta and reach the developing baby. This can potentially impact the baby’s growth and development.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recognises that stress is an independent risk factor for preterm birth. Data from large hospitals have found that pregnant ladies who are more stressed were 4 times as likely to have preterm labour.
Further studies have also drawn causal links between prolonged stress to other major complications such as:
- maternal hypertension
- low birth weight
- delayed neuropsychological development in the child later on in life
What trimester does stress affect a baby?
Stress can affect a baby throughout all trimesters of pregnancy. However, research suggests that exposure to significant stress during the first trimester, a crucial period for organ development, may have a more pronounced impact on the baby’s long-term health.
Moreover, when you’re stressed during pregnancy, your body can release too much cortisol, and that can amp up those pesky contractions, potentially causing preterm labour.
How does stress affect your unborn baby?
When you’re super stressed, your adrenaline levels can go through the roof, which isn’t great either. It can make your blood pressure spike by constricting blood vessels, even the ones in the placenta. Less blood flow to your baby means they might end up with a low birth weight and possibly some other developmental hiccups down the road.
Studies showed that higher levels of cortisol in mothers were linked to structural changes in the baby’s amygdala, an area of the brain involved in a child’s emotional and social development.
It found that children whose mothers had high levels of stress during pregnancy were more likely to have emotional issues growing up.
Chronic Stress During Pregnancy
Can stress at work affect the baby?
Chronic stress during pregnancy can have a significant impact on both the expectant mother and her developing baby. Chronic stress refers to a prolonged and ongoing state of stress that persists over time. It can result from various factors, such as ongoing financial difficulties, relationship problems, or job-related stress.
For example, if a pregnant woman experiences ongoing work-related stress, such as long hours and a demanding workload, it can lead to prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system. This, in turn, may increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as preterm birth or low birth weight.
Chronic stress can also affect the baby’s development, potentially leading to long-term health and behavioural issues later in life. Therefore, it is crucial for pregnant individuals to manage and reduce chronic stress through self-care, stress-reducing techniques, and seeking support when needed.
Can stress cause a miscarriage?
While the link between stress and miscarriage isn’t entirely clear-cut, some studies suggest that extreme stress may increase the risk of miscarriage. However, miscarriages are often caused by chromosomal abnormalities or other factors, and stress is just one potential contributor among many.
Can stress cause birth defects?
High levels of stress during pregnancy are not typically associated with causing birth defects directly. Birth defects are usually the result of genetic or environmental factors in the early stages of fetal development. However, stress can indirectly affect the baby’s health by influencing the mother’s behaviours and health habits, such as smoking and consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, which may increase the risk of birth defects.
Can Stress Cause Bleeding During Pregnancy?
Stress itself is not a direct cause of bleeding during pregnancy. However, excessive stress can indirectly contribute to certain complications that may lead to bleeding.
For instance, chronic or high levels of stress can potentially increase the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure or preeclampsia, both of which can cause bleeding during pregnancy.
Additionally, stress can also trigger physical reactions in the body, such as muscle tension or increased heart rate, which might aggravate certain conditions that could result in bleeding.
It’s important to note that if you experience any bleeding during pregnancy, it is essential to consult your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate medical attention.
It doesn’t take an expert to know that excessive stress during pregnancy is harmful to both the mother and her unborn baby. Numerous studies have proven it. So what can you do to prevent this?
How to Deal with Stress While Pregnant
It is important for pregnant women to learn how to manage their stress levels for their own well-being and that of their babies. Here are some things you can do to minimise stress while you’re pregnant:
1. Identify when you are stressed.
There is a range of verified tests specific to pregnant patients to help doctors assess the level of anxiety and stress in a patient such as the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale. However, no test can replace the patient’s insight into her own situation.
Recognising that you are stressed enables you to seek help. Good social support is essential in reducing stress, especially during pregnancy. You are going through a drastic change in your life and should not hesitate to reach out to friends or relatives.
2. Rationalising your outlook towards pregnancy.
Rationalising your outlook to one that truly represents how you feel can reduce the stress of performing to expectations we impose on ourselves.
Social media tends to ingrain in us an idealised version of pregnancy, I have noticed that this leads to several of my pregnant patients saying that they feel guilty if they do not “enjoy” the pregnancy more and if they “complain” about how difficult it is. Pregnancy is amazing but it is also challenging. There is no shame in saying it is tough.
3. Learn safe ways to cope with stress.
Dealing with stress during pregnancy is a must, and one thing you definitely want to steer clear of is unhealthy coping habits. It might be tempting to turn to things like smoking, alcohol, or junk food when you’re stressed, but trust me, those aren’t good pals for your pregnancy journey.
Instead, try some healthier stress busters like prenatal yoga, deep breathing exercises, or chatting it out with friends and family. Remember, what you do now can have a big impact on both you and your baby’s well-being, so choose those stress-busting strategies wisely!
4. Choose activities to help yourself relax.
Relaxation can be thought of in 2 categories, active and passive. Exercise is an example of active relaxation, low-intensity exercise such as walking is a good activity to maintain throughout the pregnancy.
Passive relaxation is another means of de-stressing, particularly when you are tired from a long day at work and do not really feel like exercising. Passive relaxation focuses more on decreasing the mental aspect of your stress, meditation and deep breathing techniques are some of the ways to achieve this.
In a nutshell, pregnancy is quite the physical journey, and it’s no cakewalk even without any extra hiccups. But when environmental stressors come into play, they can trigger a whole bunch of not-so-great reactions, especially when you’re expecting.
So, it’s crucial to spot those stressors and tackle them early on to make sure your pregnancy stays on the healthy and smooth track. Your well-being and your baby’s depend on it!
This article was written by Dr Matthew Tan, a resident doctor at DTAP Clinic. He is an avid advocate for the accessibility and inclusivity of health care and firmly believes that every person should be given the chance to understand their medical conditions and work together with their doctors to achieve their health goals.
Updates by Camille Eusebio
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