Table of contents:
- 1. Premature birth
- 2. Fetal development and growth are inhibited
- 3. Infection of the fetus
- 4. Low birth weight
- 5. Affect food for the fetus
Stress is commonplace for everyone, including pregnant women. But what if the stress experienced by pregnant women actually endangers the fetus they are carrying?
Stress is a "silent" disease. It is called that because not many people know that stress can cause various bad things for the body, including the development of the fetus. Stress in pregnant women, not only increases the risk of preterm birth, but also affects the health of the child after birth.
Gynecologists say that babies born are "molds" of their parents' genes and DNA. Therefore, the stress experienced by the mother, can cause a "stress syndrome" also in the fetus. When pregnant women experience stress, various physiological functions of their bodies will change, including changes in hormone levels. These various physiological changes affect the health of the fetus. So what are the effects of stressful pregnant women?
1. Premature birth
When the body feels stressed and stressed, the body will automatically release stress hormones, namely cortisol. Cortisol will also increase when pregnant women experience stress. As mentioned earlier, changes in the function of the mother's body will affect the health and development of the fetus. Likewise, when the cortisol in the mother's body increases. Increased cortisol will trigger the release of other hormones in the body, namely corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). This hormone has the responsibility to regulate the duration of pregnancy and the maturation of the fetus. Normally, the CRH hormone is released by the body when the fetus is 'ripe' and ready to be born. Whereas in stressful pregnant women, due to high cortisol levels, the CRH hormone is released by the body so that the body means that the fetus is ready to be born and this is what causes the potential for premature birth in stressed pregnant women.
2. Fetal development and growth are inhibited
Anxiety and stress experienced by pregnant women trigger the emergence of the hormones epinephrine and norepineprine which are responsible for regulating mood. The release of this hormone is bad for the fetus because it can cause constriction of blood vessels so that oxygen and intake do not reach the fetus properly. This causes fetal growth and development to be disturbed and not optimal.
3. Infection of the fetus
A stressed body will stimulate the emergence of the hormone cortisol. If this hormone increases and cannot be controlled by the body, it will affect the mother's immune system. A study states that pregnant women who experience stress and abnormal cortisol levels in the body, are prone to bacterial vaginosis. These bacteria can also infect the fetus. Cortisol also plays a role in controlling the immune system, when there is too much or too little cortisol in the body, it makes the body very susceptible to infectious diseases. Pregnant women are susceptible to various infectious diseases because their immune system is compromised and of course it will interfere with the health of the fetus they are carrying. Infection that occurs in the fetus, puts the risk of preterm birth. In addition, it is known that abnormal cortisol levels can affect brain and lung development in children.
4. Low birth weight
Stress is closely related to high blood pressure. Even for pregnant women, if they experience stress, it is not impossible for them to experience hypertension. A study involving as many as 10 thousand pregnant women conducted by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children shows that mothers who are pregnant and experiencing depression, mostly give birth to children with low birth weight. Children with low birth weight are at risk of having less cognitive function, slow brain and mental development, and the risk of developing degenerative diseases such as diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease as adults.
5. Affect food for the fetus
People who experience stress tend to have unhealthy diets and lifestyles. It could be that when he is stressed, he eats less or even overeats, but he eats excess foods that are high in sugar, high in fat and high in protein. Of course, the food that the mother eats when pregnant will affect the health of the fetus. In addition, the consumption of foods high in calories and fat during pregnancy causes the mother to experience it overweight. Mother who experienced overweight when pregnant is at risk of giving birth to a baby with a large size. This will put the child at greater risk of experiencing it overweight and obesity as a teenager and developing various degenerative diseases as an adult.
