Stressful during pregnancy effect baby ????

Question

My daughter is constantly stressed and fighting with her boyfriend(father of baby)...her whole pregnancy...

Do you think it will have an effect on the baby ???

Answer 1

The baby may have severe colic.

Answer 2

Yes! There have been many medical studies on the effects of stress (both good stress, eustress, and bad stress, distress) during pregnancy.  Women who are stressed (distressed) during their pregnancy have a higher rate of premature labor, false labor, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. Tell her that even though she may be in a stressful situation, she has to calm down and maybe walk away from a situation, to make things better for her pregnancy.

Answer 3

yes stress effects the baby, makes them more prone to being born stressed and having health problems. plus it can make her go into premature labour. she needs to relax and think about her babies health and stop fighting with the father its not fair on the child.

Answer 4

Yes, stress can have an affect on the pregnancy and on the baby, before and after birth.  Some studies now suggest (though I don't think they prove beyond a shadow of a doubt) a link between stress during pregnancy and low birth weight, colic, ADD/ADHD and other learning disabilities, fussiness, sleep problems, and so on.  I am convinced that stress during my first and third pregnancies contributed to those two children being very intense, extremely emotional, and more difficult children overall.  I love all my kids dearly, but the one child I had with an easy, stressless pregnancy is very mellow and has always been an easy kid.  I don't know.  It makes sense to me, since chemicals of all kinds can affect the developing baby in a miriad of ways, why not a person's own body chemistry, too?  I belive adrenalin and other chemicals in excess or in continuous exposure can affect the baby.

There's always the possibility of stress, though how it's dealt with by the mother can have a positive affect.  If she is good at letting things go and calming herself down and able to find time to "chill", then she may be able to help herself and her baby alot.  If the stress is constant and hard for the mother to combat, then it's more likely to have a detrimental affect.  They need some counseling and the baby's father needs to help both mother and baby by learning some better communciation skills and probably grow up some.

Answer 5

Yes. Extreme, or prolonged stress can cause  a low birth weight, an inability to pay attention as an infant, and the baby is prone to behavioral problems as preschoolers. Stress causes hormones to be released that can reduce the flow of oxygen to the fetus. This can increase the baby's heart rate and activity level. Finally, stress weakens a womans immune system. Women who have stress are less likely to take care of themselves properly while pregnant (eating right, exercise), that may "endanger prenatal development." (somewhat of a citation below.)

The best thing for her to do is take some time away from the baby's father if she can. Let her stay with you for the rest of her pregnancy and for a couple months to take care of baby. (if you can). Space can give them both time to think their relationship through and it will give him time to get his stuff together before the baby comes. Hopefully he will be a man and shape up. Since they aren't married, push child support if you can. Tell her that no matter what he says, it is important to have this safety precaution for the child. If they decide to get married (if he gets his stuff together) then the payments will no longer need to be made. Make sure that if he pays her it is through the system to protect his butt and hers.