Stress and pregnancy don't mix
In this story:
What type of stress is most detrimental?
Effects of stress during pregnancy don't end at birth
Don't despair, take control
******************************************
By Rochelle Jones
(WebMD) -- These days stress begins in the womb. Long before birth, life's steady onslaught of beeping cell phones, work deadlines and long commutes can take a toll on a mom-to-be and, in turn, on the fetus growing in her womb.
A growing body of scientific evidence is confirming what pregnant women instinctively know: Stress during pregnancy should be avoided. Researchers have found that stress can have serious consequences for the developing fetus. Among the most common repercussions of prenatal stress are premature birth and a lower-than-normal birth weight, both of which may lead to developmental problems. While researchers are confident that a link between maternal stress and premature births exists, they have yet to document the biological relationship that creates this cause and effect.
What type of stress is most detrimental?
Scientists who study prenatal maternal stress have concluded that the fetus is most affected by persistent stresses in the mother's life -- the common hassles of day-to-day living -- rather than major life traumas such as death and divorce.
'Stress is stress. What's important is how a woman perceives stress,' says JoAnne Herman, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina's College of Nursing in Columbia. Herman has presented numerous papers on this topic in the last few years at conferences of the Southern Nursing Research Society. 'But the kind of stress that really seems to be detrimental to the pregnant woman and the fetus involves the daily irritants that are epidemic in our society,' she says.
Effects of stress during pregnancy don't end at birth
Infants born to mothers who feel as if they're under chronic stress during pregnancy -- the kind of unrelieved stress that lasts for a month or so -- begin life at a definite disadvantage.
'Babies who experienced stress before birth continue to have a hard time in life,' says Marci Lobel, Ph.D., director of the Stony Brook Pregnancy Project at the State University of New York. 'It's a continuing cascade. The infants that were born disadvantaged in this sense tend to continue to be at a disadvantage.'
In her research, Lobel found that infants who are born prematurely to mothers under psychological stress tended to have fewer interactions with their parents, doctors and nurses than preemies born to mothers who weren't under chronic stress. 'It became a self-fulfilling prophecy,' Lobel explains. 'There were not many expectations about what these premature infants could do, and so the parents began to expect nothing from them.' For example, parents of these babies selected toys that were far below their children's psychological and intellectual ages.
Don't despair, take control
The research may seem discouraging, since pregnant women can't retreat into a stress-free bubble for nine months. But moms-to-be should realize they do have some control over their environment and that, most importantly, they can control their reactions. Here are some ways to keep stress at a minimum during pregnancy and beyond:
Learn to control your responses. An event that could devastate one woman might have only a limited effect on another. The difference depends in large measure on personalities and coping mechanisms. 'You can't control the uncle who drives you crazy, for example, but you can control your response to him,' explains Herman.
Redefine the events in your life that produce stress. 'Since stress is subjective, change the way that you perceive things,' says Herman. 'A long commute, for example, can become an opportunity to listen to tapes of books that you'll never find time to read.' In other words, as clichéd as it may sound, try to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.
Educate your partner about pregnancy. 'Pregnancy itself can put stress on your relationship,' says Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, director of the High Risk Pregnancy Program at Baltimore's Mercy Hospital. 'Your partner should know that it's normal for a woman to cry for no reason when hormones are surging.' And don't hesitate to ask your partner, friends and family for help during this crucial time.
Incorporate meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques into your routine, even if it's simply spending 20 minutes each day basking in the sun or curling up with a favorite book.
Finally, try not to stress out about stress itself. Nearly all women experience some type of stress during the nine months of pregnancy, and the majority deliver healthy babies.
Of course, this advice is easier said than done. Often the mother-to-be may require professional help. When poor coping skills have been practiced for years, or when a mother is clinically depressed, making a change will take some time and is best undertaken with the help of a therapist.
© 2000 Healtheon/WebMD. All rights reserved
What type of stress is most detrimental?
Effects of stress during pregnancy don't end at birth
Don't despair, take control
******************************************
By Rochelle Jones
(WebMD) -- These days stress begins in the womb. Long before birth, life's steady onslaught of beeping cell phones, work deadlines and long commutes can take a toll on a mom-to-be and, in turn, on the fetus growing in her womb.
A growing body of scientific evidence is confirming what pregnant women instinctively know: Stress during pregnancy should be avoided. Researchers have found that stress can have serious consequences for the developing fetus. Among the most common repercussions of prenatal stress are premature birth and a lower-than-normal birth weight, both of which may lead to developmental problems. While researchers are confident that a link between maternal stress and premature births exists, they have yet to document the biological relationship that creates this cause and effect.
What type of stress is most detrimental?
Scientists who study prenatal maternal stress have concluded that the fetus is most affected by persistent stresses in the mother's life -- the common hassles of day-to-day living -- rather than major life traumas such as death and divorce.
'Stress is stress. What's important is how a woman perceives stress,' says JoAnne Herman, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina's College of Nursing in Columbia. Herman has presented numerous papers on this topic in the last few years at conferences of the Southern Nursing Research Society. 'But the kind of stress that really seems to be detrimental to the pregnant woman and the fetus involves the daily irritants that are epidemic in our society,' she says.
Effects of stress during pregnancy don't end at birth
Infants born to mothers who feel as if they're under chronic stress during pregnancy -- the kind of unrelieved stress that lasts for a month or so -- begin life at a definite disadvantage.
'Babies who experienced stress before birth continue to have a hard time in life,' says Marci Lobel, Ph.D., director of the Stony Brook Pregnancy Project at the State University of New York. 'It's a continuing cascade. The infants that were born disadvantaged in this sense tend to continue to be at a disadvantage.'
In her research, Lobel found that infants who are born prematurely to mothers under psychological stress tended to have fewer interactions with their parents, doctors and nurses than preemies born to mothers who weren't under chronic stress. 'It became a self-fulfilling prophecy,' Lobel explains. 'There were not many expectations about what these premature infants could do, and so the parents began to expect nothing from them.' For example, parents of these babies selected toys that were far below their children's psychological and intellectual ages.
Don't despair, take control
The research may seem discouraging, since pregnant women can't retreat into a stress-free bubble for nine months. But moms-to-be should realize they do have some control over their environment and that, most importantly, they can control their reactions. Here are some ways to keep stress at a minimum during pregnancy and beyond:
Learn to control your responses. An event that could devastate one woman might have only a limited effect on another. The difference depends in large measure on personalities and coping mechanisms. 'You can't control the uncle who drives you crazy, for example, but you can control your response to him,' explains Herman.
Redefine the events in your life that produce stress. 'Since stress is subjective, change the way that you perceive things,' says Herman. 'A long commute, for example, can become an opportunity to listen to tapes of books that you'll never find time to read.' In other words, as clichéd as it may sound, try to see the glass as half full instead of half empty.
Educate your partner about pregnancy. 'Pregnancy itself can put stress on your relationship,' says Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, director of the High Risk Pregnancy Program at Baltimore's Mercy Hospital. 'Your partner should know that it's normal for a woman to cry for no reason when hormones are surging.' And don't hesitate to ask your partner, friends and family for help during this crucial time.
Incorporate meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques into your routine, even if it's simply spending 20 minutes each day basking in the sun or curling up with a favorite book.
Finally, try not to stress out about stress itself. Nearly all women experience some type of stress during the nine months of pregnancy, and the majority deliver healthy babies.
Of course, this advice is easier said than done. Often the mother-to-be may require professional help. When poor coping skills have been practiced for years, or when a mother is clinically depressed, making a change will take some time and is best undertaken with the help of a therapist.
© 2000 Healtheon/WebMD. All rights reserved
