Can Stress Affect Your Unborn Baby? - By: Irene Sherwood

Recent studies have shown that stress affects unborn babies in a negative manner. Pregnant mothers who are suffering from stress are able to transmit the effect to their unborn child as early as 17 weeks according to scientists. Previous research also suggest that stress hormones may have an effect on the child's future behaviour as well as the development of the foetal brain but the new British study indicates it happens at a much earlier stage of pregnancy.
British studies conducted by Professor Vivette Glover at Imperial College London, and Dr Pampa Sarkar of Wexham Park Hospital in Berkshire found levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the samples of blood and amniotic fluid taken from 267 pregnant women. The results of the study were published in the British Journal Clinical Endocrinology.
The stress results when hormones transferred from anxious mothers reach the baby through the placenta. The stress hormone, cortisol, causes the baby to have a lower IQ at 18 months compared to other children of the same age if the mother is exposed to high levels of cortisol. High levels of cortisol doubles the risk of a child developing hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by the age of four.
Studies at Edinburgh University have shown that high levels of cortisol can cause the mother to have high blood pressure or diabetes and these health problems can be passed on to the unborn baby who may develop serious health issues as a result.
In addition another stress hormone, adrenalin can be found in the blood and amniotic fluid of pregnant women who are under stress. Researchers at Harvard Medical School feel that stress may not only affect the mother's immune system but also her unborn baby and may cause the baby to be at greater risk of asthma and other allergic disorders. Adrenalin has widespread effects on circulation and muscles, and causes an increase in blood glucose levels.
Stress hormones change when a person has anxiety and they help a person cope with stressful situations through the fight or flight response but when the stress is long term it can have a negative impact on their health causing them to be constantly tired, depressed and even leads to illness.
Although it may be difficult to do at times a pregnant woman should try to avoid stress. Pregnancy causes changes in a woman's emotions so it is extremely important for her to have emotional support from her family and friends.
If you are pregnant and under a high level of stress or if you feel depressed or constantly anxious you should contact your doctor or health care giver. It is difficult in today's society to avoid stress but there are numerous ways to cope with it. Music Therapy, Visualization or Relaxation Techniques are just a few methods that can be used to help cope with stress. Don't try to do everything yourself but ask for someone to help you. There are a lot of things that you have to do in preparation to having your baby but sometimes it can be fun to have someone helping. In addition it's very important for pregnant women to eat properly and to have proper sleep and exercise.

About the Author

Irene Sherwood is a minister, counsellor and author who has written numerous family-related articles. Her best selling eBook - The Secrets of Making Your Child a Genius - is available at http://www.genius-child.com and her articles at http://www.jil-designs.com.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Irene--Sherwood/47063

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