For some years now, it has been analyzing and studying how the mental health of the pregnant woman influences her and her baby. Stress, for example, we know can increase the likelihood of certain risks and complications, both in the short and long term.
Now, a study with data from more than 65 million women has found that having high levels of stress during pregnancy affects more than previously thought , and its effects can impact the entire life of the baby.
Published in the journal Midwifery , this new research consisted of a systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 73,000 studies, of which 42 were those that met the inclusion criteria.
Analyzing the information of more than 65 million women and their babies from different countries in Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, the study aimed to analyze how stress affected pregnancy, both during pregnancy and on the mother’s health. and your baby .
In their review, they found that having a high level of stress at this stage increased the risk of developing complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, as well as certain psychological disorders after the baby was born, such as postpartum depression.
Regarding the health of the baby, the researchers mention that stress increases the probability of being born prematurely or with low weight. But according to their analysis, the consequences on the baby’s health go far beyond delivery .
For example, suffering from high levels of stress in pregnancy is related to the risk of developing autism, infant colic or obesity throughout their lives, which, although they depend on several factors, stress is also one of them, since it crosses the placenta and is capable of altering various hormones and neurotransmitters in the baby .
Let’s not forget to take care of mental health
When we are expecting a baby, all the attention is focused on our physical health, because naturally we are interested in the baby developing well and without complications or risks for him or for us.
However, we must not forget to also take care of our mental health at this stage, because as we have seen with this and other studies, it is something very important and that can also influence the health of both .
At this stage, it is important to do everything possible to have a generally calm state , avoiding stress or keeping it at a low level. We can do this by dedicating special time to self-care, a very necessary part in all stages of life, but which is even more so when we are mothers or are about to be.
Some things you can do during pregnancy to stay relaxed and avoid stress can be to resort to prenatal massages, practice meditation and relaxation exercises or read books that allow you to disconnect. These kinds of things can help you feel positive and calm in the face of all the physical and emotional changes typical of pregnancy.
Remember that, if despite taking care of yourself and staying positive, you have negative feelings such as sadness, worry, nerves or stress, you should discuss it with your doctor so that he can give you the guidelines to follow according to your case.
Photos | iStock
Via | Yahoo News
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