Stress is a natural reaction of the body to a threat, any negative factors or events. This mechanism allows you to mobilize reserves at the right time to avoid danger. But, being in a state of stress for a long time, we expose the body to a constant additional load. This can negatively affect the physical and psychological state of a person in any situation, but during pregnancy it is especially dangerous, as it can affect, among other things, the development of the child.

Causes of stress during pregnancy

Despite the fact that every pregnant woman is told from the first days that it is impossible to be nervous in her position, it is not always possible to just take it and stop experiencing stress. There can be many reasons for its occurrence, all of them are individual. Therefore, we dwell on those of them that occur most often:

1. Hormonal changes. The restructuring of a woman's body during pregnancy is associated with the production of a whole range of new hormones, which, in addition to their direct functions, can also cause unpredictable reactions: mood swings, increased irritability, depression, etc. The instability of the hormonal background in itself is a stress for the body, various psychological reactions only exacerbate the situation.
2. Fear and insecurity. It does not matter whether this is the first child for a woman or not, during pregnancy, few manage to remain absolutely calm and not be afraid of anything. Fears can be different, for example, fear of childbirth, fear for the health of the child, insecurity in a partner (especially if his reaction to the upcoming replenishment is not unambiguous). You can also add the fear of spoiling the figure and getting stretch marks, an unstable financial situation associated with going on maternity leave, and any other negative thoughts, the constant presence of which leads to unrelenting psychological stress.
3. Physical changes in the body. Pregnancy is a difficult period in a woman's life. An increased load on the body can lead to an exacerbation of various diseases, even if they were not previously diagnosed. It can be anemia, hypertension, diabetes, problems with the cardiovascular system or the gastrointestinal tract. But, even if the pregnancy proceeds without complications, in the early stages, almost half of the women suffer from toxicosis, and in the later stages - from heartburn, back pain and shortness of breath. In addition, a rapidly growing belly makes it difficult to move and significantly limits physical activity. All this can also lead to long-term stress, both on a physical and psychological level.
4. External factors. A pregnant woman, as a rule, does not live in isolation, she continues to go to work and communicate with other people. In such conditions, there is always a chance of conflicts and stressful situations, moreover, not all people have a positive outlook on life. Even if, before pregnancy, a woman effortlessly coped with such situations, in the new position, everything can change significantly.

In addition to the main causes, stress can be caused by any negative life situations: separation from a partner, death of a loved one, poor test results, etc.

How do you know if you're stressed during pregnancy?

Our lives are rarely stress-free, and one single episode can go unnoticed. But, when tension accumulates, sooner or later it will affect the physical and psycho-emotional state of a pregnant woman. Here are the main signs:

• insomnia at night and drowsiness during the day;
• decreased concentration, memory and performance;
• apathy and chronic fatigue;
• mood swings, irritability;
• depressive states, despair, feeling of hopelessness;
• tachycardia (rapid heartbeat);
• drops in blood pressure;
• obsessive thoughts, causeless anxiety;
• headaches and dizziness;
• itching and skin rashes.

In addition, prolonged exposure to stress can cause causeless pain, exacerbation of chronic diseases and allergic reactions.

Why is stress dangerous during pregnancy?

Stress leads not only to a deterioration in mood and a decrease in performance. If left unchecked, it can lead to much more serious consequences, cause serious damage to the mother's body and negatively affect the development of the child.

- danger to the child

Babies whose mothers suffered severe stress in early pregnancy can be born with serious malformations, since at this stage the basic systems of the body are laid down and any negative impacts can lead to irreparable changes. At a later date, stress is no less dangerous. Prolonged stress can lead to developmental delays, problems with the nervous and cardiovascular systems, diabetes and autism. Babies can be born prematurely, with a weakened immune system.

In addition, severe stress can cause premature birth, miscarriage or missed pregnancy, even if the mother’s body is otherwise in perfect order.

- danger to the mother

Prolonged exposure to stress can lead to the formation of full-fledged depression (including postpartum), which will be much more difficult to cure. In addition, stress affects the functioning of the nervous system, disrupting sleep, memory and brain function. Often there is a complication of chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, blood pressure rises, immunity decreases.

All of the above is aggravated by a depressed or unstable psycho-emotional state.

How to deal with stress during pregnancy?

The advice “not to be nervous” can be dismissed immediately as absolutely useless, especially if you have already begun to be nervous. But this does not mean that there is no way out of a stressful situation. Here are a few tips, you don't have to use them all, a combination of just a few can help:

In most cases, realizing the presence of stress in time, you can avoid really serious consequences and deal with it yourself, without resorting to professional help or serious medications. The main thing is not to withdraw into yourself, not to be afraid to ask relatives and friends for help, and do everything possible to normalize your life and, if possible, exclude all negative factors from it.

The period of pregnancy has many physiological and psychological nuances. Doctors play it safe, prescribe a lot of tests to prevent any detrimental changes in the condition of the mother and child, prescribe rest and advise to be careful. But, like any person, a woman in a position under the influence of various life circumstances can feel stress. There are many causes and manifestations of stress during pregnancy. What consequences does it threaten? How to deal with it? Do I need to see a doctor? Let's answer these questions.

Everyday and medical understanding of stress

People often describe their condition in medical terms. Moreover, in the modern world, oversaturated with available information, this is sometimes done with complete confidence in the correspondence of the chosen word to the present state of affairs.

But you can't self-diagnose. In addition, juggling with concepts, we often put inaccurate meanings into them or even interpret them in our own way. Hence, there are differences in understanding between professionals who have relevant knowledge in this area and ordinary people.

Thus, stress in the common sense is a state of tension, usually negative.

From the point of view of medicine, stress is a non-specific reaction of the body or an adaptation syndrome that develops under the influence of various intense or new influences (strong physical exertion, psycho-emotional trauma).

There are several types of stress.

• Eustress caused by positive emotions.
• Distress. It occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to an adverse factor or a strong shock. The most detrimental type of stress, as the body is unable to cope with it on its own, which leads to severe physical and psychological consequences.
• emotional stress. Psycho-emotional experience by people of various life situations, when the satisfaction of social and biological needs is limited for a long time.
• Psychological stress. The state of extreme psychological stress and disorganization of behavior in society as a result of exposure to extreme factors.

From the classification it can be seen that the differences between the ordinary and medical understanding of stress lies in the following:

• non-specialists often refer to stress as ordinary nervous excitement or emotional excitement, which are inherent in emotional people prone to mood swings and outbursts;
• on the other hand, most do not recognize the stress of positive emotions, believing that only negative experiences adversely affect a person. But if you're so excited about an unexpected gift that you can't help crying or crying, you're medically experiencing eustress;
• people believe that stress is always caused by objective life circumstances. But it's not. After all, different people have different attitudes to the same case. For some, buying a house is a lot of stress, while for others it is a welcome event, comparable to pleasant chores. The emotional reaction of the body is born as a result of the analysis of one's own thoughts and assessments.

Symptoms and signs

Stress has its own symptoms. Among the signs there are common, characteristic for all people, and there are additional, specific ones that appear in pregnant women. The complexity of diagnosis lies in the fact that sometimes signs of stress are taken for a normal, typical pregnancy condition.

Tearfulness is a sign of stress in pregnant women

All symptoms can be divided into two groups: physical and behavioral.

physical symptoms

• weight loss (if it is not caused by toxicosis);
• headaches as a result of a pressure drop, which is also a sign of stress;
• stomach cramps, sometimes even vomiting. Unlike toxicosis, attacks are infrequent and more controlled;
• insomnia. It differs from that which is often observed in women in the last months of pregnancy and is associated with inconvenience when the stomach presses on the internal organs;
• rash, redness, itching and severe peeling on the skin. As a rule, in such situations, the results of the analyzes do not show the presence of any abnormalities;
• breathing difficulties. They are easier to identify in the early stages, since the child does not yet put pressure on the internal organs;
• panic attacks accompanied by increased heart rate;
• pressure surges;
• muscle tone. A very dangerous symptom, especially in the last months of pregnancy, as there is a risk of premature birth;
• the behavior of the baby in the tummy: he stops moving or, on the contrary, shows strong activity;
• lack of appetite or, conversely, a strong craving for food. Often a pregnant woman gains a lot of weight, which also affects the birth process. Properly selected diet is very important;
• frequent exacerbations of SARS. They are due to a weakened immune system.

behavioral signs

• depression. It is very difficult to recognize and diagnose it. Here again there is a big confusion with concepts. Go to a psychologist if you feel that you have reached a dead end, it will not be superfluous. They will listen to you, help you find a way out of a difficult situation;
• irritability. Slight irritability is inherent in all women in a position, but systematic explosions are not the norm, no matter what stage of pregnancy you are;
• difficulty concentrating;
• tearfulness. In general, the release of emotions is not bad. The nervous system is unloaded, the person becomes better. However, tears for no reason are an alarming sign;
• emergence of suicidal thoughts. It can be observed after severe shocks. It is better, of course, to immediately consult a doctor at the first prerequisites for this;

It is important to be able to distinguish when a symptom is a real consequence of the stress experienced, and not just the action of progesterone. Analyze recent events in life and your state before and after a certain event. If you understand that a rash on your hands appeared after, for example, a quarrel with your husband, and the test results do not reveal any abnormalities, then this is most likely the body's reaction to the situation experienced.

The reasons

The causes of stress can be different. Here the main role is played by the so-called psychological threshold, up to which a woman considers the course of any case to be the norm. The psychological state at the moment is also important. After all, even the most bad news in high spirits is perceived more easily.

However, the specificity of stress in pregnant women is such that, in addition to psychological reasons (quarrels with her husband, jealousy of an older child, fears due to financial situation), physiological ones also appear. Here is a list of the most typical reasons for waiting for a baby:

• fear of the upcoming birth. This is the most common of all fears. Due to the scarcity of knowledge in this area, as well as the stereotypes imposed, far from reality, this process seems to be the quintessence of pain and danger;
• fear of pregnancy and fears in connection with its course. This is what the vast majority of women face. Even with a planned pregnancy, it takes time to get used to the new role of a mother, to plan further actions. But nature foresaw everything well and allocated 9 whole months for preparation;
• physiological changes. The problem of figure and excess weight for a woman is always relevant. Fear of gaining extra pounds, losing attractiveness can unbalance even the most persistent. The rapid pace of change is also frightening. Remember that everything is reversible and temporary!
• family and domestic problems. Nobody is safe from them. Of course, the appearance of a new family member will force you to make some adjustments to your usual lifestyle. This is especially true if the parents are expecting their first child. But it may also be that the cause of severe stress will be a minor domestic conflict;
• problems at work. Unfortunately, up to 30 weeks, a pregnant woman is forced to work and, as a member of the team, participate in a complex system of internal relationships;
• concern for the baby. In the first trimester, many are afraid of a miscarriage, in the second they worry that the baby is moving a little in the tummy, in the third - that they will be born early. These are normal manifestations of maternal instinct;
• any unforeseen circumstances.

Possible consequences

Bad health of the mother is transmitted to the child

Pregnancy in women develops in stages. Each month of gestation is very important, as there is a gradual development of internal organs and skills (the ability to squeeze fingers into a fist, open eyes). Any intervention in these processes threatens with serious consequences. The table shows the possible complications associated with each trimester of expectation.

Effects of stress in early and late pregnancy (by trimester)

Period	Private Consequences	General Consequences
1 trimester	Miscarriage. The development of schizophrenia in a child. Weakened immunity. Frequent SARS. The appearance of such anomalies as a result of improper development of the embryo at 8-9 weeks, such as "cleft lip" and "cleft palate".	Intrauterine fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen). It can cause both developmental disabilities and suffocation (asphyxia). Violation of the uteroplacental blood flow. Consequences: hypertension, the threat of miscarriage, a severe form of preeclampsia (in the mother), immediate delivery by caesarean section (2-3 degrees). intrauterine developmental delay. Increased toxicosis, which can lead to early discharge of water or leakage.
2 trimester	The development of congenital autism. Also, children can get used to society worse, not want to communicate with their peers. An increase in blood sugar, as a result of which the appearance of diabetes, postpartum hemorrhage is possible; the birth of a large child (more than 4 kg).
3rd trimester	The normal cycle of pregnancy is interrupted. Early labor is often provoked (up to 36 weeks), but it is also possible to carry it out (42 or more weeks). Prolonged difficult labor, which can lead to emergency delivery by caesarean section. There is a risk of anomalies in the development of the nervous system of the baby. There may be a delay in psycho-emotional development: the child will start talking later than his peers, it will be difficult for him to concentrate. There are frequent cases of entanglement of the umbilical cord of the baby.

Can Stress Cause a Missed Pregnancy?

There is no reliable evidence that even severe stress is the cause of missed pregnancy. In general, this relationship is poorly understood. Among the main prerequisites for miscarriage, doctors distinguish genetic or gynecological diseases in the mother, autoimmune disorders. However, some scientists tend to believe that indirectly stress still provokes an unfavorable outcome of pregnancy.

For example, the famous British obstetrician Grantley Dick-Read, who changed the negative opinion of most fellow citizens about natural childbirth in the middle of the 20th century, wrote:

I believe there is something in the mother's blood that changes according to her mood. When the psychological and emotional state of the mother changes, the endocrine glands produce substances that enter the blood, which nourishes not only the mother, but also the child. Thus, the state of the child cannot remain the same. Today we know that when the emotional state of the mother changes, it is possible to register an increase or decrease in the fetal heartbeat, that is, it can be definitely stated that the development of the child also depends on the mood of the mother during pregnancy.

Ways to overcome

There is an opinion that the most effective way to deal with the effect of stress caused by negative factors is with the help of rest or maximum relaxation, that is, you need to distract yourself from the problem. Yuri Burlan, the creator of the modern methodology for studying the unconscious person, believes that this is not entirely true. In his opinion, this approach is not universal, and a person who has severe psychological stress or is diagnosed with depression cannot do without professional psychological and medical assistance.

Solving problems and dealing with strong fears

• It is important to identify the specific cause of stress and try to cope with it.. The very solution of the problem in this case will bring satisfaction.
• If stress is generated by fears, then it is urgent to fill in the information gaps due to which fears arose. After all, the unknown is what scares me the most. Now there are many courses and trainings for pregnant women, where they simply and in detail explain what happens in the body during the process of gestation and childbirth. They will give advice on how to alleviate the condition. The waiting period for a child is natural for a woman, so it should not bring much discomfort.
• If there is chaos in your head and you lack certainty, then turning to special psychological techniques and spiritual practices can help. Understand yourself, find a foothold, sort out all the past and expected events “on the shelves”.

Proper nutrition

Firstly, a woman's mood can directly depend on the discomfort caused by toxicosis or heartburn. Both of these symptoms can be alleviated by adjusting your diet. Secondly, the widespread belief that during pregnancy you can afford everything you want is wrong. In addition, there is no reliable evidence of a connection between the desire for a certain product and the actual lack in the body of the microelement or substance contained in it. And to maintain the vital activity of a growing baby, it is necessary to eat an average of only 300-500 kcal per day more than the usual norm.

Diet calories by week of pregnancy

Until 15 weeks, you do not need to change your usual diet at all. From weeks 15 to 28, doctors recommend increasing food calories to 25-30 kcal per kilogram of body weight, and from weeks 28 to 30 - up to 35 kcal per 1 kg of body weight. Moreover, the nutritional value of food should not be regulated with the help of sweet or starchy foods.

Healthy lifestyle and positive attitude

• Yoga or light exercise. It is known that during exercise, the body produces a hormone that improves mood..
• Regular outdoor walks.
• Elimination of stress factors. No need to complicate things. If loud music bothers you, just turn it off.
• Communicate as much as possible with people who are sincerely disposed towards you, with those with whom it is easy and pleasant.

Help medicine

Abroad, there has long been a practice of turning to private psychoanalysts, who help to “work through” difficult life situations so that there is no understatement, especially in front of oneself. Russian people, due to their mentality, often perceive this as an excess, which, moreover, not everyone can afford. However, we also have all sorts of free psychological help hotlines. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you really need it!

As a rule, doctors prescribe to pregnant women the use of herbal sedatives: tincture of valerian or motherwort, Persen, Novo-Passit. More serious drug treatment is used only in particularly difficult situations. Antidepressants are resorted to only when the harm from stress to the health of the mother is more devastating than the possible consequences for the unborn child.

Gallery "How to deal with stress"

Serious effects of stress are successfully treated with special drugs. Tell your doctor about your condition The less unresolved everyday problems, the less stress. Solve them together, do not take everything upon yourself Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are the key to a good mood Yoga can help you find peace and self-confidence. You can get all the necessary knowledge at free courses for pregnant women, which are available in every antenatal clinic.

Stress prevention

Quite ordinary life circumstances can become stressful for a pregnant woman. And if it is not always possible to ignore them, then you should at least try to reduce the possible damage.

• Take a look at your surroundings. Perhaps there are people in it that it is better to refrain from communicating with, at least for a while.
• Write down in a column those things that spoil your mood the most. In the other column, instead, write down your ideas on how you can reduce the impact, and then try to follow this plan.
• Evaluate situations and people's actions calmly and rationally. A pregnant woman does not lose the ability to think and does not become incapacitated. Hormones play an important role, but the mind is not turned off.
• Control your emotions. Do not exaggerate and do not "wind" too much.

Remember! For a whole 9 months, not only your own life, but also the fate of another person depends on your decisions.

Video "Stress during pregnancy"

Most people understand that a woman is very vulnerable during childbearing. In a civilized society, there are certain traditions, for example, giving way to pregnant women in transport or letting them out of the queue. Nevertheless, stress factors are diverse and unavoidable. To overcome stress, a woman first of all herself must prioritize and soberly assess any critical situation.

Many people know that the emotional state of a pregnant woman has a strong effect on the health of an unborn baby. In this case, the impact can be short-term or long-term, bring both benefit and harm. Stress during pregnancy is normal. But you need to understand what stressors have an impact, and take into account how a woman tolerates it.

Definition

Stress is the body's response to intense excitement. This means that the person was very frightened, surprised, upset or indignant. Medical professionals see this concept a little differently. What was presented above, namely mental confusion or nervous tension, refers to neuropsychological stress.

There are several main types:

• emotional;
• physiological;
• light;
• temperature;
• hungry;
• neuro-psychic.

That is, such a state can be caused by a variety of factors. Carrying a baby is a very responsible task, so every mother needs to know how stress affects pregnancy.

Peculiarities

When a woman is in an interesting position, a huge number of changes occur in her body, there are disturbances in metabolic processes, hormonal disruptions, so the organs function differently. Everything affects the expectant mother - not only the environment, but also other personal factors:

• a pregnant woman has rapid fatigue;
• limited freedom of action;
• there is constant irritation;
• there is constant fear for the child.

Symptoms

How stress during pregnancy affects a woman, all expectant mothers should know in order to avoid such a condition, since the fetus reacts very actively to all experiences. It should be noted that such problems can take place in several forms:

1. Acute - it flows quickly enough and ends in the same way.
2. Chronic - this is a sharp depressive state that lasts constantly.

Due to the fact that the girl is nervous, her body produces the following hormones:

• adrenalin;
• cortisol;
• norepinephrine.

This increases the tone of the uterus, significantly constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure, as a result, the pregnant woman's heartbeat accelerates.

It is almost impossible to get an unambiguous answer to the question of how stress affects pregnancy, since a short-term emotional outburst is also the best workout for the body. But it is very important that such a condition does not develop into a chronic form. After all, if such shocks are constant, a woman may have problems with breathing, her skin will begin to turn pale, then blush. Also from the symptoms can be noted wet palms, greatly dilated pupils and pain that periodically occurs in the chest area.

In the case, a woman cannot restrain her emotions, she becomes fussy, absent-minded, she has problems with memory, appetite, headaches and eating disorders.

The reasons

It is already known whether stress affects pregnancy, so you need to know the factors that contribute to the appearance of the problem:

1. Lack of support from loved ones.
2. Continuous problems with sleep, because a woman gets tired so quickly during pregnancy.
3. Feeling of constant dissatisfaction with everything.
4. Nervous and difficult work or study at a university.

You need to know that severe stress is dangerous, as it can threaten the life of the fetus. It occurs when a woman worries about something for a long time and accumulates a huge amount of emotions in herself. Due to such troubles, the body cannot develop the required protection, therefore, such factors negatively affect the process of bearing the fetus.

How to relieve stress during pregnancy?

It is extremely important to get rid of nervous experiences in a timely manner. Although sometimes it is difficult to do, it is worth closing your eyes to the problems and thinking about the health of the unborn child. To overcome trouble, you need to strengthen your body:

1. As prescribed by the doctor, vitamin complexes should be taken. Especially necessary are vitamins C and E. With their support, you can not only strengthen the immune system, but also rejuvenate the entire body as a whole, as well as protect the nervous system. It has been proven that with the help of vitamin C, you can get rid of provocateurs that cause a feeling of panic. Thanks to vitamin B, the nervous system will be thoroughly protected, it can be easily found in marine products.
2. Having figured out how stress affects pregnancy, and realizing that this can leave a negative mark on the health of the baby and mother, you should perform specially designed yoga complexes that include breathing exercises, relaxation and simple physical exercises.
3. It is advisable to do your favorite thing as often as possible, knit, read, that is, calm your mind and be distracted from various problems.
4. Those who know how nervous stress affects pregnancy and how difficult it is sometimes to get rid of it, recommend seeking help from a psychologist if you cannot get out of this state for a long time. The doctor will advise effective methods, and the patient will feel better.
5. Pregnant women are calmed by listening to romantic and calm music.

Danger in different trimesters

Every woman who intends to become a mother should know how stress affects early pregnancy, because negative experiences can end in miscarriage. If problems catch a girl in the second or third trimester, then there is a threat to the mother herself. The vital major organs begin to strain, then the pressure rises, a large number of edema appears and it is possible to see protein in the urine. In the placenta, blood flow worsens and, as a result, the fetus will have a lack of oxygen.

Possible consequences

Why is stress dangerous during pregnancy? A similar question is asked by many girls to their doctors. The presence of additional experiences often leads to health problems for the baby. He can be absolutely healthy at birth, and troubles will begin to appear further. The most common disorders in children are:

• increased distraction of attention and activity, which further affects learning;
• problems with the speech apparatus, as well as difficulties in learning to write;
• phobias, fears, urinary incontinence, neuroses;
• weakness of the immune system and cardiovascular ailments, which provoke an increased susceptibility of the child to various diseases;
• the appearance of defects in appearance, which require surgical intervention to correct;
• autism and developmental problems.

Pathologies while carrying a fetus

As you can see, a woman needs to know how it affects during pregnancy, as well as how it affects the mother's condition:

1. Often there is a problem of hypoxia - lack of oxygen. Because of this, it is more difficult for a woman to endure and give birth to a healthy baby. In the most severe cases, suffocation and fetal death may occur.
2. In the placenta, blood circulation is disturbed, problems are formed with the exchange processes between the child and the mother. Therefore, the baby is born premature and late in development.
3. Childbirth is difficult, and the woman in labor quickly loses her strength.
4. Due to the fact that a woman constantly has fears, her pregnancy is disturbed. Sometimes everything ends even with a miscarriage. Girls are born much earlier, and they walk with boys.

Another indicator of how strong stress affects pregnancy is the threat of early discharge of amniotic fluid as a result of it, and this is quite dangerous for the life of the child.

Stress medications

Special psychotropic components for the treatment of stress are used extremely rarely and only at a time when the body's adaptive mechanisms are unable to cope with emotional stress. At the same time, the doctor will definitely weigh all the possible risks for both the baby and the mother and select the most harmless medicines.

Many drugs adversely affect the fetus and lead to the formation of malformations in the development and circulatory disorders. So, expectant mothers should understand that drops such as Barboval, Corvalol, Valocordin, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, are categorically contraindicated for pregnant women. Experts also do not recommend self-medication and taking herbal-based combination preparations - Nottu, Novo-Passit, Persen - since their effect on the fetus has not yet been fully studied.

The safest remedy is the preparation of valerian.

Prevention

How stress affects pregnancy is already known, so this condition is best avoided. There are several types of stress: moderate, which is standard for all women in labor, and strong, arising from mental shock leading to prolonged depression.

A factor for the appearance of the last stress can be a strong excitement or the loss of a loved one, work, property. Lack of attention, cynicism, rudeness, as well as sharp statements of doctors about any problems of a woman in labor lead to a similar state.

As a preventive measure, a pregnant woman can be offered to undergo special tests with a psychologist that show a predisposition to nervous shocks. Such a procedure should only be carried out by a specialist. Based on the results of the survey, a conclusion is drawn for psychologists and doctors to help the expectant mother.

A storm of emotions lies in a woman during pregnancy, it is very, very difficult to figure out what she finally wants. She may get angry, cry after a few minutes, and then smile. How can a pregnant woman learn to remain calm again?

The reason for the storm of emotions in pregnant women.

The mood of pregnant women is changeable, while various little things can irritate them. It should be noted that the woman did not even pay attention to these trifles before. The reason for this behavior is the production of a large amount of female hormones necessary for the normal bearing of a child. Gonadotropin should be attributed to the main hormones of pregnancy: in the early stages of pregnancy, a high level of the hormone, the maximum concentration at 7-10 weeks of pregnancy, an increased concentration causes nausea, and this causes increased irritability; progesterone: a hormone that affects the process of bearing a child, the level of the hormone is high, it is the cause of a woman's rapid fatigue; Estriol: A natural antioxidant produced throughout pregnancy.

The most changed hormonal background affects the emotional state of a pregnant woman in the first trimester. Pay special attention to yourself when:

· you were predisposed to mood swings before pregnancy;

· you lost a baby during a previous pregnancy. During a new pregnancy, a woman will listen to her body and look for signs of danger, and this increases irritability and serves as a reason to lose her temper. Keep in mind that negative emotions can provoke a threat of termination of pregnancy, we get a vicious circle.

· pregnancy came under the persuasion of her husband or relatives, then you may not understand why you are pregnant, as a result, the pregnant woman begins to take out her anger at her loved ones, who made her decide to have a baby.

· you are used to commanding to be obeyed, you are used to keeping everything and everyone in submission, but closer to childbirth, your performance decreases, often those around you start to help you out of good intentions, but such care seems to be a signal to a strong woman - I have become weak, and this is the basis of nervous stress .

How nervous breakdowns affect pregnancy.

Hormones change throughout pregnancy, so there will be mood swings throughout pregnancy. However, it is worth remembering that severe stress can provoke the risk of a threatened abortion (uterine hypertonicity), cause problems with sleep, appetite, exacerbation of chronic diseases, skin problems, ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract.

You can determine that you are having a nervous breakdown if:

· rapid fatigue sets in, frequent errors in work appear;

· cannot concentrate;

· suffering from insomnia, nightmares;

· tormented by irresistible anxiety;

· there is an increased heartbeat, pain in the neck, headache, pain in the neck, back.

You have a nervous breakdown - what to do?

It is difficult to cope with emotions on your own, you should seek help from a specialist. First, inform the gynecologist about your nerves and he will prescribe you: valerian, motherwort infusion, Glycine, Person, Magne B6. Only a specialist will prescribe the necessary dosage for you, tell you how long you should take them. If the measures taken are not enough, the doctor will refer you to a psychologist, psychotherapist.

How to cope with nervous stress during pregnancy.

1. Throw out emotions - anger, anger overtook you at work, you can go to the toilet and wash yourself with cold water, open the faucet to the full and hit the jet of water with the edge of your palm;

2. Train yourself to relax

3. Sleep is the best medicine. If you have a lack of sleep, then this is a direct path to stress. You need to try to sleep for 8 hours a day, and if possible, you can take a nap for a couple of hours during the day. Give yourself a SIESTA!

4. Talk about problems. You were rude at work, pushed in public transport, etc. It is worth saying the situation, if there is a problem, then it will be easier for you to understand the reason and solve it.

5. Seek support from your husband. Do not take out your anger on your husband, this will only aggravate the situation. It is worth explaining to him that you are having a difficult period and you need help. Ask him to help you, even pull his mustache or beard (if it makes you feel better). Believe me, your husband, just like you, wants you to be calm and cheerful.

Pregnancy is a time of change. The body of a woman, her emotions, the life of the whole family are changing. These changes can be joyful, or they can add stress to life. Everyone experiences excitement during pregnancy, but too much stress can cause inconvenience:

• provoke sleep disturbances;
• cause headache;
• cause loss of appetite or overeating.

Chronic stress can lead to health problems, high blood pressure and heart disease. In pregnant women, a life of stress increases the chances of having a premature baby (delivery before 37 weeks), a baby with low birth weight. Prematurity and low birth weight are common causes of poor health in children.

The reasons are different for every woman, but there are some common factors:

• many are nervous due to physical discomfort - nausea, constipation, fatigue, backache in the later stages;
• disturbing thoughts about the upcoming birth and child care;
• working women think about the upcoming maternity leave and talk about it with the employer.

Hormonal changes in the early stages provoke mood swings, so stress is more difficult to cope with.

How stress can hurt

Not all stress can lead to problems during pregnancy. The usual dissatisfaction experienced in a traffic jam will not complicate the state of health. However, severe stress can lead to preterm delivery.

Most pregnant women who have experienced a major shock have healthy children. But you should be careful under such circumstances:

• serious illness or death of relatives;
• loss of a job or home;
• catastrophes like an earthquake, hurricane or terrorist attack.

Prolonged stress is usually associated with financial problems, poor health, significant changes in everyday life. This is a medical condition where a strong feeling of sadness lasts for a long period and interferes with a normal life.

Pregnancy is a cause for nervous tension. For some women, pregnancy itself is a major stressor. They are worried about the possibility of a miscarriage, the health of the unborn child, how they will cope with childbirth and parental responsibilities. Those who suffer from such fears should tell their doctor about the disease.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of disorder occurs in those who have experienced a terrible event - rape, natural disaster, terrorist attack, death of a loved one. People with PTSD experience:

• severe anxiety;
• memories of events;
• nightmares.

Physical manifestations: palpitations, sweating from memory.

Statistics show the presence of post-traumatic disorder in 8% of pregnant women. They are more likely to have a miscarriage, premature birth, and have a low birth weight baby. In addition, they are more likely to resort to health-threatening behavior: smoking, alcohol abuse, drugs.

How Stress Causes Pregnancy Problems

Bringing a new person into the world is not an easy task. You can worry about everything: is the diet healthy enough, is the environment safe, how to combine parenthood with work. Therefore, stress for pregnant women is the same norm as at any other stage. But if it is chronic, it can affect negatively. As you know, the fight or flight regime - the consequences of stress - is the release of cortisol and other hormones. They mobilize the body, prepare the muscles and heart for physical effort.

If the situation has been dealt with, the tension will recede and the body will regain its former balance. And chronic stress can cause inflammation, premature birth. A woman should not feel guilty about stress, but should try to control her emotions. The mechanism of the influence of stress on the course of pregnancy is not yet fully understood. But some stress-related hormones can make you feel worse. Chronic anxiety weakens the defense system, which can lead to infection of the uterus and premature birth. Under the influence of stress, women cannot cope with various difficult situations, some resort to smoking and alcohol.

Can high levels of stress during pregnancy harm the baby later on?

Many are interested in whether stress can harm a child. Some studies show that high levels during pregnancy can cause problems for the newborn and growing child, affect his sociability and fears, brain development and immune system.

At each stage of development, the organism analyzes environmental signals in order to optimize genetic parameters. Mother's stress is an irritant to which the child reacts, tries to adapt to it. When a mother's levels of stress hormones rise, the baby may be susceptible to a number of stress-related pathologies after birth.

Preterm birth and low weight are recognized consequences of stress, established over many years of animal and human studies. Recent research suggests that children who experience stress in the womb are at risk for chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The most recent results suggest the effect of prolonged stress experienced by the mother on the child's temperament and neurobehavioral development. Babies whose mothers experienced high levels of stress, especially early in pregnancy, showed signs of depression and irritability.

Doctors say that the baby bathes in all the substances produced by the mother's body, so the level of anxiety and stress affects the temperament of children. If the woman's nervous system stimulates the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine, the blood vessels that feed the fetus narrow, limiting the access of oxygen to the uterus. And the placenta increases the production of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which regulates the duration of pregnancy and fetal maturation.

CRH is one of the most interesting recent scientific discoveries, called the "placental clock". Its high level from 16 to 20 weeks may portend preterm labor. It turns out that stressful events occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy are crucial. It used to be thought the other way around: women are the most vulnerable when approaching their due date. Modern data show that in the later stages of women become psychologically stronger.

Doctors emphasize the link between stress and problem pregnancy. They also say that different women deal with stress differently and do not want to add guilt to someone who is already stressed.

Those most at risk are not those who have experienced a tragic event during pregnancy, but generally anxious people whose stress lasts for weeks and months.

How to reduce stress during pregnancy

Here are some ways to deal with stress:

• find out the cause of anxiety, talk about the disease with a partner, the attending physician; having thought everything over, it is easier for a woman to assess her strength and accept the upcoming tasks;
• realize that the discomfort associated with pregnancy is temporary;
• monitor health and appearance - eat healthy food, sleep enough and move;
• perform a simple set of exercises, take walks;
• temporarily abandon tiring activities;
• enlist the support of family, friends, relatives;
• accepting help when offered (for example, cleaning the house or organizing leisure activities);
• relaxation, yoga, meditation;
• visiting the school of expectant mothers.

Music and singing help control cortisol levels. Relaxation will help a warm bath, herbal tea, reading. Stress is initially an asymptomatic disease. Pregnant women should be able to recognize that they are experiencing nervous tension, to do simple things to relieve stress.

Optimism, a sense of humor and self-esteem, control over one's own life help to cope with fear. Medicine today is increasingly focused on controlling not only the test results and pressure of the expectant mother, but also awareness of her lifestyle, mood and home atmosphere in order to reduce the number of premature births and complicated pregnancies.