Stress and Pregnancy

You are having a baby! It starts out exciting and then the panic sets in... Of course stress and pregnancy go hand-in-hand. There are many things to be stressed about when you are pregnant -- finances, work, family issues -- and that is on top of the day-to-day stresses you were already dealing with before the big news.

We know that stress can affect your health in a negative way, but pregnant women need to be especially conscious of minimizing their stress as it has potential to affect the baby.

Studies suggest that stress during pregnancy can cause long term problems for the baby -- even once the baby is born. No one is completely sure how much harm does occur to the baby, but stress is very bad for your health so it cannot be good for the baby.

Science is still inconclusive on what the exact effects are, and many studies are unreliable or inconclusive, but below are some potential problems that may arise when stress -- particularly severe stress -- is experienced during pregnancy.

Potential complications in pregnancy:

• miscarriage
• birth defects
• pre-term birth

Effects on child's health after birth:

• weakened immune system
• asthma
• allergies
• stress or depression

The same harm that is occurring in your body is likely experienced by the baby, so it is best to reduce and relieve your stress as best you can. Click here to try some suggestions for decreasing your stress levels.


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