Consequences of stress during pregnancy
Stress during pregnancy affects not only the mother but also the child. How strong the consequences are depends on the extent of the stress perception. Light stress is primarily only perceived by the mother and has no serious effects on the child.
However, if the intensity of stress increases, this has an effect on the care of the child in the womb. Stress leads to an increase in blood pressure. This should improve the maternal blood circulation in the muscles and brain.
This is achieved by reducing the diameter of the blood vessels. The blood vessels therefore contract to increase the flow rate of blood. This can be compared to a garden hose.
The smaller the diameter, the higher the pressure with which the water is transported out. For the mother this measure of the body is very useful. For the child, however, it means a changed situation of its blood supply.
On the one hand, part of the mother’s blood volume is increasingly directed to the muscles and brain at the expense of the child’s usual blood supply. On the other hand, the blood vessels of the placenta are also constricted, since stress affects all blood vessels of the body. If this situation only lasts for a short time or in a moderate form, it has no lasting effects on the child.
However, if it lasts for a long time or in extreme form, this leads to an undersupply of the placenta. In extreme cases, this can lead to tissue loss.The baby then does not get the nutrients and oxygen it needs from the mother, so it cannot develop normally. Depending on the extent, this can lead to slower growth to incomplete development.
However, pregnant women are very sensitive to physical sensations and often feel changes in their child. Intuitively, they often change their everyday life and thus prevent possible damage. Nevertheless, it is also important to prevent stress during pregnancy and to have regular check-ups. Smallest changes can be discussed and if necessary prophylactic measures can be taken.
