We all know about the importance of nutrition for pregnant mothers – the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and so on. And thanks to the tireless work of many scientists and doctors over the decades, we know all about the dangers of smoking and alcohol during fetal development as well.
But there’s another, less visible factor that can also affect how a fetus grows. It’s hard to measure, because it has to do with the mother’s feelings, emotions, and overall well-being. So today, let’s talk about how a pregnant mother’s stress can influence her baby.
Forms of Prenatal Stress
Everybody’s journey towards parenthood is different. Sometimes, it’s very simple and stress-free, with two new parents easily welcoming a baby with open arms. But for many people, the reality is more difficult – and research shows that about 40% of all Canadian pregnancies are unplanned to begin with. That leads to plenty of stressful situations along the way!
Some common forms of prenatal stress for mothers include:
Stress of becoming pregnant when it is not planned for
Stress of trying to conceive with unsuccessful results for long periods of time
Stress of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures and costs
The stress of managing everyday life (finances, relationships, careers) while pregnant
Stress about providing an optimal environment for the baby to grow, and monitoring intake or refusal of certain nutrients and foods
Anxiety about giving birth and what it will be like
A fear of post-partum depression, physical changes to the body after birth, and other conditions after the child is born
All of these, if left unaddressed, can lead to hormonal changes that impact the baby’s development and even their health later in life.
The Effect of Stress on the Body
In Bruce Lipton’s pioneering work in the field of epigenetics, he theorized that the environment in which cells develop can influence their final forms. By growing genetically identical stem cells in different culture mediums, he was able to show that they develop differently in response to the presence of certain hormones, compounds, and other biological materials.
So, what does this mean for pregnant women? In essence, it means that a body system flooded with stress hormones – mainly cortisol, but also including adrenaline, norepinephrine, and others – will foster different growth than one where they are absent. In other words, the prenatal emotional environment very much matters!
Stress – especially chronic stress, which can occur constantly at low levels – puts the mother’s body into a never-ending ‘fight or flight’ mode. This exhausts systems across the body, causing symptoms like nausea, headaches, insomnia, lowered immunity, anxiety, poor focus, depression, and even a desire to engage in harmful behaviours like smoking, among many others.
This is not only exhausting for the mother, but the growing baby gets all the side effects, too: cortisol and other hormones cross the placenta and enter the fetus, and studies show those negative impacts can last a lifetime. These include:
Low birthweights/small body size
Higher risk of obesity
Issues with metabolic function
Insulin resistance
Altered immune system functions
Increased risk of asthma
Endocrine disorders
Impaired cognitive abilities and performance
Nervous system responses to “normal” cues or events later in life (e.g., fear and anxiety responses)
Click here to learn about your baby’s development milestones and red flags.
The Long-Term effects of maternal stress on child development
Beyond birth, a mother’s stress during pregnancy can have lasting impacts on her child’s long-term development. Research has shown that children born to mothers who experienced high levels of stress during pregnancy are more likely to face challenges in emotional regulation, attention span, and social interactions as they grow. This means that managing stress during pregnancy not only supports a healthy birth but also contributes to setting the foundation for your child’s mental and emotional well-being as they enter childhood and beyond.
Overcoming Stress While Pregnant
After reading all of this, it may be tempting to get even more stressed about a pregnancy – it seems like there’s so much to worry about! In fact, we haven’t even touched on the 4 T’s affecting baby health and development here… but remember, with a bit of attention and care in the prenatal period (which can be learned in places like a Calgary prenatal class), most pregnancies turn out healthy. Our bodies are resilient and amazing!
The best thing you can do to manage your emotional health and stress levels while pregnant is to have a solid birth plan - be mindful of your moods, ask for help when it is needed, and do everything possible to set yourself up for success. After all, you’re performing a miracle – growing a whole new person! – and that’s worthy of joy and excitement.
At Cameron Family Chiropractic in Calgary, we believe that there are solutions to every obstacle, and we can find them through the right mix of wellness, mindfulness, and holistic body health. To help with this, we even have pregnancy-specific care, working to accommodate the changes to your centre of gravity, body shape, and biomechanics. We’re also known for helping mothers-to-be develop their own custom 4th trimester plan - if you’re interested in what that entails simply ask!
Get in touch with us today to get started on your new prenatal health journey – we can’t wait to help your pregnancy be the best experience possible!
