Pregnant women can often have stressed, anxious, or depressed during all the the pregnancy Travel as a pregnancy can be overwhelming for many women, but several studies suggest that stress not only affects pregnant women but also their babies. Babies of women who were extremely stressed were often angry, crying or fussing when put in the crib and also showing distress when tired.
Stress can also affect a baby’s overall growth and development. Not only this, children of depressed mothers are known to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol as preschoolers, which can lead to anxiety and social isolation and the child may end up feeling lonely and avoiding interacting with others .
How stress can affect the baby:
Speaking about how stress and depression can be worrying for your little one, Dr. Pratima Thamke, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Kharghar Maternity Hospital, shared in an interview with HT Lifestyle: “Those pregnant women who are stressed, their children will have self-esteem issues.” -control, poor peer relationships, school problems, depression, agitation, and aggression, along with attachment disorders, conduct problems, depression, and other mood disorders. Babies can become fussy and sad, display violent behavior, be stubborn and continue to cry constantly.”
Tips to de-stress during pregnancy:
Ahead of World Mental Health Day 2022, Dr. Pratima Thamke suggested tips on how pregnant women should try to stay stress-free, recommending:
· It is the need of the hour for pregnant women to do deep breathing exercises from time to time. did you know Abdominal breathing can be helpful for these women. You can do it after consulting the expert. If she does, it can help slow her heart rate and calm her down. Aside from that, exercise in the form of walking, aerobics, or yoga can also be helpful. You can exercise for 5 days a week without fail. Try to talk to your gynecologist before following any exercise routine.
· Women need to stay composed during pregnancy. Avoid stressing over little things. Try to do what you like. Set aside some “me” time. You can do activities like painting, gardening, cooking or listening to music.
· Bonding with babies after birth can also help keep them calm. Therefore, mothers should practice the kangaroo method.
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