How is emotional stress effecting my unborn baby??

Question

In the last two weeks I've been extremely emotionally stressed. I am trying to relax and keep myself calm when I can so as not to harm the baby, but my personal circumstances along with my already hormonal state are causing frequent bouts of crying. I am fearing that I have been causing stress for my unborn baby too.

Answer 1

Your baby feels what you are feeling as you are sharing the same body right now.  We all know that life can get the best of us sometimes but you have to try to keep yourself calm, but a week or two of stress I don't think will cause any major damage at all..  

Answer 2

I would try to talk to your doctor and see if there is any kind of  medication that will be safe for you and baby to help with the emotions.  I think it will cause stress on the baby and I would hate that to happen.  Please talk to your doctor.  

Answer 3

Ok, despite some of the answers here, please rest assured that stress itself will not harm your baby.   Every pregnant woman gets stressed and anxious from time to time for a whole variety of reasons, real or imagined.  Intermittant periods of stress (sometimes lasting several weeks) will have no effect on your baby.

If there is no physical reason for your stress (a specific illness, chemical depression, schitzophrenia, psychosis etc) and it really is just emotional then maybe your doctor or midwife can arrange for you to visit with a counsellor who can help you with coping techniques to get on top of things.   If there is a physical reason for your stress then your doctor is the best one to consult to manage your condition during the pregnancy.

There are some people who believe that long term severe stress over months and months can increase your chances of complications with the pregnancy - but that's more to do with you than your baby.  High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia for example.  But having said that though many respected OB GYNS and midwives question the results of this research, especially since there are many women who experience these conditions who are not in the least bit stressed.

There are also people who belive that stressed mothers have babies that develop ADHD and other hyperactivity disorders but there really is very little evidence to support this.   Again, a lot of children with such disorders have mothers who had normal pregnancies.

The best thing to do is to figure out what's causing the stress and deal with THAT rather than worrying about whether it's harming your baby, which will only make you worry more.  Your baby will be fine.

Answer 4

it is said that when your stressed out..then your unborn baby is stressed out. do you sometimes feel your baby extra active.......during your times of distress?.........

there are profecionals out there..and books....and horror stories that will frighten the daylights out of you....but some people are easily stressed out...some ppl take things in their stride.......

on the up side...your concious of your stress and make a concious decision to try to relax.....which is great. and because of your hormonal state...is can lead you to be extra jumpy..so it like a vicious circle............

im sure you and your baby are gonna be just fine.......you dont need to stress...about  your stress....if that makes sense!...........

chill out....take a bath every night......and relax when you can..take advantage of the quite times...and above all else.......enjoy your pregnancy..........

(if things are bothering you. write them down in a journal.......assess them from there....trust me..it helps)

chin up :)

Answer 5

Of course, we all know stress is bad for the baby. I don't know your situation. If you can avoid the stress factor, do it. If you can't, well try to find people around you to help you and support you through these hard times. Also, maybe it would be a good time to spoil yourself with a professional pregnancy massage, or whatever that could relax you.

Try to find a couple of minutes during the day where you clear your mind and just relax -with music or in the bath tub.

If you feel like you need to cry do cry. It will release the pain and pressure. Take care of yourself mommy. x*x

Answer 6

Depending on how severe your stress is, and where you are at in your pregnancy you could miscarry if it's early on and the stress is very severe. Pregnancy is supposed to be a special time. Please talk with your doctor at your next visit and see if it's something out there you could do or take to get you through this. Keep your chin up, I know it's hard..maybe try to find some hobbies or new ones to keep you busy and your mind off things. Think positive...good luck! :)