Stress and PregnancyHow Does Stress Affect Pregnancy?
Stress and Pregnancy - How does stress affect pregnancy? Three phases of pregnancy: After conception the prenatal development begins. Three phases of pregnancy are included during the 38 weeks of pregnancy: the zygote, the embryo and the fetus stage. As the baby develops through each stage they are vulnerable from prenatal environmental influences. Environmental influences. Teratogens is the name for the environmental influences that could cause damage during the prenatal period. This includes prescription and non-prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pollution, radiation, infectious disease as well as things such as poor nutrition and emotional stress.Emotional Stress puts the baby’s health at risk. Severe emotional stress during pregnancy may have detrimental affects. Stress and pregnancy: If the mother experiences extreme anxiety and stress the baby is at risk in developing many different types of difficulties. Chronic anxiety is related to an elevated rate of miscarriage, low birth weight, prematurity, infant respiratory sickness, digestive problems and possible physical defects such as a cleft palate or lip. How does stress affect our body and the prenatal stage? When we experience extreme emotions such as fear and anxiety our bodies react by going into a state of ‘fight or flight’. Hormones are released into our bloodstream preparing our body to take defensive action. The main parts of our body that are used during a defensive situation are pumped with blood – the larger muscles, our brain and heart. As the blood is being directed to these, the other systems of our body experiences reduced blood flow. Pregnancy and stress: When the mother experiences excessive stress during pregnancy blood flow is reduced to the uterus depriving the fetus of nutrients and oxygen. Mothers who react extremely to stressful situations put the baby at risk in developing health problems. Tips for pregnant mothers:
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