Pregnancy is a beautiful experience for many women, but it can also be the source of extreme stress and physical discomfort. Every woman – and every woman’s pregnancy – is different. Her body, emotions and life changes rapidly over the course of nine months and beyond.
Although stress is a fact of life, undue pressure over an extended period of time can have an adverse effect on a woman and her unborn child.
Women who are pregnant and feeling especially stressful can contact our team of caring, qualified caregivers at Eagles Landing OB/Gyn for an appointment. Call 770-474-1919 to speak with someone on our team.
What are some side effects of stress for a pregnant woman?
Pregnant women under stress may have trouble sleeping, experience chronic headaches, lose their appetite or even overeat.
Over a long period of time, stress can lead to health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease and immune system deficiencies. During pregnancy, this increases the possibility of a premature birth or a low birthweight baby. In these unfortunate scenarios, the babies themselves are at risk for a variety of health problems that may last for a few weeks – or for a lifetime.
What can cause stress during pregnancy?
Hormones are raging during pregnancy which leads to significant mood changes. These mood swings can often make it more difficult to manage stress. This is coupled with the discomforts of pregnancy – nausea, constipation, fatigue and back pain.
For working mothers-to-be, work-related responsibilities can add even more challenges to the mix. And for women who have multiple children, life can be increasingly busy with unexpected issues that further compound daily stress levels.
What types of stress can be serious?
Serious types of stress can be especially harmful to moms and babies during pregnancy. For example, negative life events like divorce, dire illness, job loss or death in the family can increase the possibility of certain problems like premature birth.
In some cases, financial difficulties, abuse, physical illness and depression are the source of some long-term stress. Depression is a serious medical condition characterized by extreme feelings of sadness that last for an extended period of time. Women are strongly encouraged to talk about these feelings with their doctor and to seek therapy as an outlet for their emotional wellbeing.
How can pregnant women reduce their stress levels?
Talking to a spouse or partner, a friend, a health care provider as well as a therapist can be essential for pregnant women to manage their stress levels. Eating well, getting as much sleep as possible and exercising are also important ways to effectively with the temporary and long-term changes brought on by pregnancy.
A few other tips include:
- Minimize unnecessary activities where possible.
- Ask for help from trusted individuals in your support network including your spouse or partner, family and friends.
- Explore relaxation activities like yoga and meditation.
- Plan ahead at work as much as possible so that you and your employer are prepared for your time away.
