We know just how bad stress can be for us, we hear it all the time. We are told that as part of a healthy lifestyle we should do our part to avoid stress at all costs as it can cause some serious damage to our bodies overtime. This becomes exponentially important when it comes to stress during pregnancy. Though we know that stress is bad for us, we may not realize just how detrimental it can be to an unborn child. There’s a good reason why they tell you to avoid stress during pregnancy, and here are some of the most pressing.
Low Birth Weight and Potential for Premature Birth
We’re not talking about having a stressful day here and there, but rather the type of stress that you are plagued with. The type of stress that you can feel physically impacting you through familiar symptoms. When this type of stress occurs, then there becomes an increased risk for the baby. It has been found through certain studies that a consistent and harmful rate of stress during pregnancy can result in babies that are either born prematurely or that have a low birth weight at birth. Either condition is of course detrimental and can be avoided if the mother keeps her stress level in check.
Increases Your Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is never a good thing, but it becomes particularly dangerous during pregnancy. When your body is overtaken with stress, your heart rate increases as does your blood pressure to compensate with this stimulus. Over time if this happens enough it can cause significant problems such as high blood pressure. This can develop into a condition such as pre-eclampsia which can be devastating for your baby and your pregnancy. You may end up with bed rest, premature labor, or other significant complications. Learning how to manage your stress level can help to lessen these risks significantly.
Can Contribute to Physical and Mental Issues for the Baby Down the Line
When you feel stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This isn’t a big deal until it starts happening often, and then it can wreak havoc on your body. Imagine what that can do when you happen to be pregnant and you have this same effect! If you have prolonged or consistent stress, this can over time contribute to physical and mental issues in the baby later in their life. They also say that a stressed out mom can lead to a stressed out baby, and therefore you want to do your very best to avoid this for the here and now as well as later on.
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