Can Stress During Pregnancy Lead to Complications? Doctor Talks

A positive urine pregnancy test is associated with a myriad of emotions! Along with the excitement of beginning a new chapter in their lives, women often experience apprehensions and anxiety about pregnancy and motherhood. Apprehensions about the changes in one’s body, constant worries about the baby and the labour process, and changes in the lifestyle post-delivery can lead to additional stress on a pregnant woman who already deals with hormonal changes in her body and common ailments like vomiting and indigestion.Also Read – What is Salmonella Typhimurium- the Bacterial Infection Affecting Kids in Europe? Is Your Kid at Risk? Expert Explains

It is common for an expectant mother to feel stressed about pregnancy, especially for those who are pregnant for the first time. Being concerned about having a healthy pregnancy is not a bad thing because it can push people to take action in the face of new challenges. Also Read – 5 Reasons Why You Should Include Ladyfinger In Your Diet, Health Benefits Of Ladyfinger Explained | Watch Video

However, when the stress becomes too overwhelming, it could lead to health problems for the mother and the baby. Hence, it is necessary to consult with your doctor for a smooth and risk-free pregnancy. Also Read – Top 5 Amazing Benefits Of Keeping The Beautiful Snake Plant At Home | Watch Video

Understanding the common causes of stress during pregnancy

Finding out that they are pregnant can be a stressful experience in itself for some women. Stress arises mostly in an unplanned pregnancy. Other factors such as fear of pregnancy loss, fear of labour and delivery, financial problems, uncomfortable physical changes like nausea, tiredness, mood swings, and backaches, miscarriage, and fear of taking care of the baby when the baby is born could lead to stress among pregnant women.

It’s important for mothers to keep themselves stress-free

Maternal stress or anxiety during pregnancy can affect the fetus, causing possible long-term consequences for infant and child development. Chronic stress can affect the mother’s health and can cause headaches, problems sleeping fast breathing, and a racing pulse.

Also, it could lead to preeclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, and a low birth rate. Thus, it is important to look after the mental well-being and take care of the physical health of the mother during pregnancy.

Risks of stress to your baby and pregnancy are;

• Preeclampsia: Research shows that if you already have high blood pressure, you’re at greater risk of getting preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure. It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure had been normal. It can lead to complications for both mother and baby.
• Miscarriage: Also known as spontaneous abortion, it can be both physically and emotionally painful. Research shows that women who had major negative life events or psychological stress exposure were twice as likely to have early miscarriages. The stressors of pregnancy can trigger depression in some people. To cope, people use harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These can increase the risk of certain pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.
• Preterm birth and low birth rate: Studies show that mothers who experience more stress are more likely to go into labour early. Stress can increase the chances of having a premature baby (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or a low-birthweight baby (who weighs less than 5 and a half lb (2.5 kg or 2500 g) at birth). Chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the body’s vascular system, hormone levels, and the ability to fight infection. All these can potentially influence labour to start before the baby is full-term.

Post-delivery complications

Some studies show that high levels of stress during pregnancy could lead to a higher chance of the child developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stress may also affect the baby’s brain development or immune system.

Tips to manage stress during pregnancy

Here are some ways to help you reduce stress:

• Remember all the discomforts you experience during pregnancy are temporary. Learn how to manage and deal with the discomforts. One can talk to someone who knows about pregnancy or your doctor
• Eat healthy take enough rest, sleep and exercise
• To help manage the stress, one can try relaxation activities, like prenatal yoga or meditation
• Read a lot about pregnancy so you know what to expect during pregnancy and when your baby arrives.
• Plan ahead and don’t miss any appointments.

(Inputs by Dr N Sapna Lulla, Lead Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster CMI Hospital)