Pregnancy and Stress

I have so many girlfriends who have either had babies within the last six months or who are having babies within the next six months. I am so happy for each of them and their wonderful new blessings. I am even happier that they are saving me $35 a month because they are truly the BEST birth control any single woman could ever have!!

Seriously, some of them are on their very first and a few are already on their second. Each is having different pregnancy experiences than the other, but they are all experiencing one of the most wonderful yet stressful life events ever. One of my girlfriends who is having her first baby asked me to write a post about pregnancy and stress. So this is for her and all women who are planning a pregnancy, are currently pregnant or looking to be pregnant again. I hope the information is helpful.

One can only imagine what goes through a woman’s mind when she first finds out she is going to have a baby. She is probably filled with joy, excitement, anxiety, worry and a maybe even a little fear. In talking to several friends who have a baby or are having a baby, they have shared their fears or anxiety about “knowing what to do.” Who wouldn’t have such fears if you have NEVER done this before. It’s not quite like learning to ride a bike. You are carrying a life inside of you that is dependent on you for everything! Talk about pressure on a soon-to-be mom. The questions she asks herself are endless – - What do or don’t I eat? What do or don’t I drink? How much should I stand or walk? Is the way I’m sleeping hurting the baby? Know that these are very natural questions to ask and yes can sometimes cause you a little anxiety or stress. But do your best not to stress over these things. Perhaps making a list of questions to ask your doctor at each appointment or using a pregnancy guide like Baby Basics (offered by the What to Expect Foundation) may provide answers for some of your concerns.

I am sure you have heard or been told that stress can be harmful to your baby. While true, generally this caution is referring to chronic or high levels of stress. Within the past few years, there have been an increased number of studies that show chronic stress can have a negative impact on pregnancy as it is related to pre-term births and other adverse birth outcomes. Therefore, one of the most important things a woman can do during her pregnancy is to remove chronic or high-level stress from her life when possible. The death of a loved one, change in financial status, or another life-changing event may cause some unusually high stress. When something like this does happen during your pregnancy, there are a few methods you can try to reduce your level of stress.

The March of Dimes suggests a few simple things soon-to-be moms can do to help out with all levels of sress: