Introduction
Feeling stressed during pregnancy is common because many women experience strong emotions of sadness, frustration, anger, and guilt. These emotions during pregnancy can have a negative influence on the mother’s health and well-being. On top of the emotional impact, stress can impact pregnancy, and that prolonged stress can harm prenatal development. Internal and external factors cause the type of stress that can affect pregnancy. Some of the most common sources of stress are financial concerns, relationship issues, health issues, and personal life changes. As a result, the mother can conclude that the baby is stressing her out. The first step to alleviating maternal stress during pregnancy is recognizing that it is a problem. When a pregnant woman recognizes stress, she will acknowledge it and find ways to manage it. Chronic stress during pregnancy increases a woman’s chances of premature birth; a woman should try relaxation activities, such as prenatal yoga, and recognize some signs of maternal stress to alleviate maternal stress.
Types o Stress that can Affect Preganacy
The type of stress that can affect pregnancy is chronic stress. Chronic stress results from a repeated physiological response that revolves around the “fight-or-flight” method of dealing with challenges with no way for the body to return to homeostasis. Chronic stress has been linked to depression and anxiety disorders during pregnancy. According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2018), the impact of chronic stress on pregnancy is that it can lead to several complications, including miscarriage, pre-term delivery, or even stillbirths. Another type of stress that can impact pregnancy is acute stress. Acute stress is short-term mental and emotional turmoil brought on by a new situation. It can also result from ongoing stressors such as work deadlines or relationship problems (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2018). The impact of acute stress on pregnancy is that it can trigger the release of hormones known as catecholamines, which can lead to a miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight. Therefore, pregnant women must be provided with consistent guidance from experts on remaining calm during their pregnancy.
Natural Ways to Alleviate Materal Stress
There are ways to alleviate maternal stress during pregnancy naturally. Kail and Cavanaugh (2018), argued that one way is to recognize signs of stress and talk with someone about feelings. It may be a friend or family member who feels comfortable discussing maternal stress. Often women do not want to burden their friends or family, so they do not discuss the problem but talking about the issue could help alleviate some of the stress. Another way to reduce stress is to develop ways to cope with stress in the best way possible. For example, a pregnant woman can take a childbirth education class to know what to expect during pregnancy. According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2018), this coping mechanism makes mothers feel more comfortable and confident about their pregnancy and lets them know about any abnormalities in the unborn child. It helps them understand what they can do to avoid any problems with pregnancy. A mother can also try relaxation activities, such as prenatal yoga. Kail and Cavanaugh (2018) established that, this coping mechanism is important because prenatal yoga helps with back pain, feeling energized, and staying fit during pregnancy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, long-lasting stress, such as chronic and acute stress during pregnancy, can affect a woman’s health and the development of the baby resulting in many complications, including miscarriage. The natural ways to alleviate stress during pregnancy are to recognize signs of stress and try relaxation exercises, such as prenatal yoga and attending childbirth education classes. Therefore, maternal stress should be reduced by providing pregnant women with constant guidance on remaining calm during gestation.
Reference
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2018). Human development: A life-span view. Cengage Learning.