Pregnancy and Stress - So How Can Stress Affect Your Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is such a daunting experience and it is onlyto begin naturally. It has been said that working so late
natural to worry. Hormones are flying all over the placein pregnancy is a major factor in the increased number
and incredible physical changes makes it very hard notof women going overdue and needing to be induced
to worry to some extent. There are many reasons aas their bodies don't think they are ready, but how
women may worry during her pregnancy, such asmuch of this is speculation I'm not sure.
impending birth, finances or relationships, these areIf this stress is not managed early on the reality is it
common reasons to worry and in some women itcan have some severe consequences on the mother
may lead to stress during pregnancy. If this is the caseand then consequently her unborn baby. The mother is
it is important to look at ways to reduce the stressputting her body at risk of high blood pressure, panic
levels.attacks, depression, obesity, digestive problems and
Under any circumstances, severe cases of stress canskin irritations such as eczema. Already we know that
be harmful to anyone or anything. It can lead toin certain extreme cases of stress and pregnancy that
disease and a deterioration in health as well as causingthis could lead to a risk of miscarriage early on or if
the mental health to suffer too. Pregnancy and stresslater in the pregnancy the risk is premature labour,
seem to be coupled together, to start with pregnancypremature birth and low birth weight babies. More
can put a women's body under a great deal of stress.recent research suggests that pregnancy stress also
Mentally it is also a worrying time especially for a firstincreases the chance of your baby being born with
time mum but also for additional pregnancies too asasthma or allergies.
the worry then extends to siblings as well. It doesn'tIt is not easy to stop worrying, but action needs to be
help that we live in stressful times worrying about alltaken during pregnancy to reduce stress levels. Some
aspects of everyday life.positive steps are eating healthily, sleeping well, making
In this day and age many women work as close toan effort to take the time each day to relax and taking
their due date as possible to ensure they get as muchsome gentle exercises each day can make a huge
time off after the baby is born. Working so close updifference.
until the birth (obviously depending what kind of job it is)To find out more ways to reduce your stress levels
can put an extra strain on a heavily pregnant body. It isduring pregnancy visit: Pregnancy Stress for some
in the later stages of pregnancy that a women needsideas.
to listen to her body and relax while waiting for labour