Nervous breakdown in pregnant women consequences for the child. Why pregnant women shouldn't be nervous

We know why! As always, during pregnancy everything is to blame for the hormonal background, or rather, its hurricane changes that literally take the soul out of the expectant mother. These hitherto unfamiliar radical mood swings make her experience more than just positive emotions.

By the way, for many women the signal of pregnancy is precisely:

• unexpected tearfulness,
• sudden anxiety
• a sudden feeling of childish helplessness (which also does not add peace of mind).

It is believed that it is in the first trimester that expectant mothers experience the most severe nervousness, because the female body has just begun to adapt to the recently begun, but already very rapid changes, and reacts to them, including changes in emotions.

There is nothing strange or unhealthy about this: we say “hormones” - we mean “emotions”, we say “emotions” - we mean “hormones” (may Vladimir Mayakovsky forgive me).

Which pregnant women are more prone to mood swings than others?

In the early stages of pregnancy, expectant mothers who:

1. Excessively nervous in life or had neurological diseases before pregnancy.
2. They suffer from hypochondria: they are used to worrying about themselves, and now the health of the unborn child is an inexhaustible source of anxiety.
3. We got pregnant unexpectedly, the pregnancy was not planned.
4. During pregnancy they do not receive moral support from close people: husband, relatives, friends.
5. Even before pregnancy, they had disorders of the endocrine system or acquired complications along this line with its onset.

Possible consequences of nervous breakdowns and hysterics during pregnancy

The question of why pregnant women shouldn’t be nervous, in my opinion, makes expectant mothers even more nervous. During the period of bearing a baby, a woman already has a hormonal storm raging in her body, and she is also constantly reminded: “You shouldn’t be nervous and cry, remember, this will harm the child, forget about your worries, step on the throat of your emotions!”

In my opinion, such advice triggers a mechanism similar to the anecdotal one: to know the truth, drink a specially prepared potion and NEVER THINK ABOUT THE WHITE MONKEY! It’s the same during pregnancy: don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous!

The expectant mother will inevitably become nervous if she is constantly reminded of this. In addition, it is impossible for even non-pregnant people to remain calm all the time, unless 100% phlegmatic people manage to do so. Sometimes even “calm as elephants” people become furious, let alone pregnant women experiencing crazy hormonal changes. Everything is just good in moderation.

Dear pregnant expectant mothers! If you want to cry - cry a little, if you want to get irritated - release your anger. Just do it consciously. Don't give in to extremes. In other words, don't get hysterical, because this is really dangerous.

Yes, you have an excuse: along with all other hormones, the release of the stress hormone cortisol also increases. But please realize that you have the power to cope with negative emotions and refrain from hysterics and nervous breakdowns.

Risk of miscarriage

In the early stages, nervous breakdowns can lead to miscarriage. A sharp release of cortisol tones the uterus and causes it to contract. This is dangerous throughout pregnancy, since at the beginning it can provoke a miscarriage, and towards the end - premature birth.

This, in fact, is the main danger of hysterics and nervous breakdowns during pregnancy - here lies a direct threat to the life of both the unborn baby and the expectant mother.

In addition to “incompatibility with life,” there are a number of negative consequences of emotional incontinence during pregnancy.

Negative impact on the psyche and development of the unborn child

Firstly, a nervous mother makes the fetus nervous, which has a detrimental effect on the formation of the child’s nervous system and psyche. Correlations have already been found between maternal stress during pregnancy and the development of schizophrenia or autism in the infant.

Maternal nervousness especially affects the psyche of boys. Perhaps, the desire to avoid such a prospect for your baby is a good antidote to the need to be nervous during pregnancy.

The risk of developing stress in a baby before and after birth

Secondly, even if we exclude serious mental illnesses in the unborn child, maternal stress during pregnancy can lead to prolonged stress in the baby before and after birth.

While the child lives in the mother's womb, he receives hormones through the general blood supply and through the pregnant woman's placenta. Cortisol changes the chemical composition of the blood and tissues of the placenta, which, in turn, makes it difficult for the fetus to breathe, plunges it into hypoxia and affects the slowdown of development.

When the baby is born, this entire hormonal cocktail received from a nervous mother continues to prevent him from living a peaceful life: the baby cries a lot, sleeps poorly, and has difficulty feeding.

A vicious circle of stress closes: the mother was nervous during pregnancy - the fetus received unwanted hormones. As a result, a nervous child was born; he sleeps and eats poorly, which means he does not allow his parents to sleep. His unstable development upsets his mother - as a result, the woman does not get out of the stress.

The threat of weakened immunity in the unborn baby

Thirdly, an even more distant prospect for the deterioration of the health of a future son or daughter due to the nervousness of the mother is a weakened immune system and hyperactivity, which means a painful childhood and reduced learning ability.

Factors that provoke increased nervousness during pregnancy

Constantly changing hormonal levels

The main factor has already been described by us: unstable hormonal levels. It is hormones that are responsible for emotions, and, consequently, for mood, and not only in pregnant women, it’s just that all this has a stronger effect on expectant mothers.

And then all that remains is to get used to the idea that the body is now pregnant, which means emotions can change, because the endocrine system is being rebuilt, and all this happens inside me while pregnant. This factor is internal.

There are, however, some reasons that can change a woman’s mood from the outside (and again, not only in pregnant women, but in them it is somehow more noticeable).

Meteosensitivity

It is clear that this sensitivity itself is also an internal factor and completely hormonal-dependent, but it is provoked by weather changes: in the rain you want to cry, the wind increases anxiety, temperature changes - headache and melancholy, the sun - quiet happiness.

Or, on the contrary, anger: I, poor pot-bellied one, am suffering here, and this “yellow face” has come out again!

Lunar cycle

Since ancient times it has been known that the menstrual cycle is associated with the lunar cycle, because blood is a liquid, and all the ebbs and flows on earth are controlled by the moon. In pregnant women, menstruation, of course, stops, but, firstly, the body still “remembers” these cycles for approximately the entire first trimester.

And, secondly, the pregnant woman’s womb is filled with all sorts of additional fluids, such as amniotic fluid, plus the volume of blood, lymph and intercellular fluid increases, so the moon has something to control in the pregnant body. And when there are ebbs and flows inside, the mood will inevitably begin to change, if only because of changes in well-being.

Psychological atmosphere around a pregnant woman

Well, here we are talking about well-known things like the support of the child’s father, the parents of the pregnant woman, her various relatives and friends... When all this is there, the pregnant woman feels that both she and the baby are loved, there is somehow more peace of mind in her soul.

Although there are two sides to the coin here: I have more than once heard complaints from young mothers that after the birth of a child everything has changed, the husband and other relatives concentrate on the offspring, and she, the poor thing, no longer receives as much care as she did during pregnancy. So too much of a good thing is also bad.

Unexpected pregnancy

I really don’t want to mention this reason for the hysteria of the expectant mother, but, nevertheless, it exists: the pregnancy was not desired. Awareness of the “unplannedness” of one’s situation, coupled with unstable hormonal levels, increases nervousness in a pregnant woman and can lead to nervous breakdowns.

How to learn not to be nervous during pregnancy?

This is quite easy to do.

1. If possible, do what the pregnant body wants: eat, drink, sleep, walk. If the body just wants to lie down and eat, turn on the brain and take yourself for a walk.
2. Seeing the right doctor, listening to him and following his recommendations: among other things, this is reassuring. In addition, the doctor knows well that you should not be nervous during pregnancy, and will decide what to do as a last resort: prescribe a sedative.
3. Attend classes for pregnant women - gymnastics, swimming, sauna (unless, of course, all this is contraindicated due to the characteristics of your pregnancy). Confidently taking care of yourself and your unborn child also gives you peace of mind.
4. Take care not only of the body, but also of the soul: read interesting books, specialized publications for expectant parents, study your pregnancy. If you are a working pregnant woman and love your job, work for your health, this is an excellent prevention of intellectual stagnation.
5. And finally, one more piece of advice. It is harsh, but often works, which is why this simple method is actively used in sports. If you can’t calm down and you’re literally shaking, think about your child and tell yourself: “Well, pull yourself together, you wimp!”

In our minds there is a certain collective image of a pregnant woman: a sweet, plump lady with a good appetite and changeable mood. And if the first three signs seem obvious in this state, then explaining mood swings can sometimes be quite difficult. But there is a fairly simple explanation for this phenomenon.

Why does the nervous system become less stable in pregnant women?

The very fact of pregnancy can excite anyone. In addition, during this period, a woman’s hormonal background changes greatly, which causes sudden changes in mood. Excessive emotionality is even one of the first signs of pregnancy. This is especially noticeable in the early stages, when the body is just rebuilding and getting used to its new state. Who are the main culprits behind the tears of expectant mothers?

• The pituitary gland, the gland responsible for the functioning of the endocrine system, increases two to three times with the onset of pregnancy.
• In the first three months after conception, the production of prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactation, increases 5-10 times.
• The level of oxytocin, the so-called hormone of love and affection, which is responsible for the production of breast milk and starts the birth process, increases.
• And for fetal implantation and its further development, the production of sex hormones - prolactin and estrogens - increases.

Factors that provoke increased nervousness during pregnancy

An already unstable nervous system is further shaken by experiences that do not leave a woman from the moment two lines appear on the test until the very birth. Awareness of her new position, changes in her usual routine, increasing responsibility for the life and health of the baby, complications during pregnancy and even the result of each test make the woman nervous to one degree or another. Fear of childbirth and the changes that will occur in life with the arrival of a new family member can also deprive even the most balanced person of peace. Expectant mothers expecting their first child are especially susceptible to these experiences.

The lifestyle that a woman led before pregnancy also affects the state of her nervous system.

Negatively affects the health of the nervous system:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• insufficient exposure to fresh air;
• lack of sleep;
• systematic overwork;
• abuse of antibiotics during illness;
• radiation from a computer.

These factors can cause hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body, and during pregnancy they will remind themselves of increased nervousness. A sharp change in habits before conception or with the onset of pregnancy will also be stressful for the body. Therefore, preparations for pregnancy should begin long ago, preferably six months, before the expected conception. This will allow you not only to undergo all the necessary studies, but also to gradually normalize your lifestyle and eliminate issues that could harm the nervous system.

The influence of emotional experiences:

- per child

At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman’s unnecessary worries can cause a miscarriage.

• Strong emotional experiences contribute to the production of large amounts of adrenaline. Once in the blood, it leads to vasoconstriction, and because of this, the baby receives less oxygen and nutrients. This is very dangerous for his health, especially in the first trimester, during the formation of the baby’s organs and systems.
• Fear or other negative emotions experienced by the expectant mother lead to an increase in the level of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) in the blood. It can cause diseases of the baby’s cardiovascular system. In addition, this hormone promotes the entry of excess glucose into the blood, which causes oxygen starvation. Children whose mothers experienced fright during pregnancy are more excitable and fearful, characterized by weak self-control, inattention and passivity. They suffer from depression more often and cry more.
• Frequent stress and anxiety during pregnancy doubles the risk of developmental delays in the child in the future.
• Increased anxiety of the expectant mother can affect the quality of sleep of her son or daughter: there is a high probability that after birth the baby will have difficulty falling asleep, often wake up and cry.
• It has been scientifically proven that nervous shocks experienced by the mother in the last trimester of pregnancy can lead to asymmetry of the baby’s legs and arms.
• Excessive worries can even affect the presentation of the fetus, and, accordingly, the course of labor, and stress in the second half of pregnancy can provoke premature birth.

- on women's health

The health of the woman herself can suffer from constant worries. After all, a person experiences negative emotions with his whole body: the heartbeat quickens, posture, gestures and facial expressions change, the skin turns red or, conversely, turns pale, and tension occurs in the muscles. Some people start crying in a stressful situation, others start screaming or stuttering. Many of us have heard stories about how people, before an important exam or interview, suffer from insomnia or cannot leave the toilet.

If stressful situations enter the system, such reactions of the body begin to undermine human health. The cardiovascular system and liver especially suffer from constant nervous shock. Over time, the risk of developing hypertension increases, heart pain and abdominal cramps may appear.

The body of a pregnant woman, already weakened by the difficult work of carrying a new person, is especially susceptible to the destructive effects of stress.

- for future births

You can recognize overly impressionable mothers even in the delivery room. Increased nervousness can cause weak labor - a pathology in which contractions do not intensify. Because of this, the duration of labor increases, which takes away the strength of the woman in labor and puts the baby’s life at risk. In such cases, doctors use medications to intensify contractions or resort to surgery.

One of the reasons for the absence of a newborn’s postpartum cry is also considered to be the stress experienced by the mother during pregnancy, or, more precisely, hypoxia caused by an excess of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol in her blood.

How to learn not to be nervous during pregnancy?

It is quite difficult to stop being nervous during such a difficult period of life as pregnancy. But for the sake of the health of your unborn child, you should try to follow a few tips.

• Manage your time wisely and don’t plan too many things. This will allow you to be on time everywhere, without fussing and not worrying about being late.
• Find out as much as possible about your condition, because the unknown is always scary. Read scientific literature on the topic, watch documentaries, ask questions to your doctor, sign up for courses for expectant mothers.

REFERENCE! But at the same time, you should NOT register on pregnant women forums and search the Internet for a transcript of each planned analysis and study. The Internet is replete with stories and articles with unverified data. Such reading will certainly give a lot of reasons for unnecessary, completely groundless worries.

• Surround yourself with people who can listen, support and give sound advice. And don’t be shy about telling these people about your experiences and fears.
• Communicate with the closest person - the future baby. Share news and plans with him. This will strengthen the emotional connection with him and help you find another pleasant and reliable “interlocutor”.
• Pamper yourself. Fulfill at least some of your desires - from your favorite treats and a new haircut to major purchases and travel (in the absence of contraindications).
• Eat properly, so that the body does not give unnecessary reasons for concern such as poisoning or allergies, but rather receives energy and benefits. At the same time, occasional dietary breaks can also be beneficial if they are enjoyable.
• Get more sleep and rest. Healthy sleep is the best way to combat stress.

The human body is a very complex and vulnerable mechanism. The body of a pregnant woman needs special conditions more than others. Creating these conditions is the main task of the expectant mother and her relatives, because the health of the unborn baby depends on it.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

One of the important factors necessary for a successful pregnancy is the calmness of the expectant mother. Probably all women expecting a child have heard more than once that you should not be nervous during pregnancy. But few of them know why it is advisable to avoid stressful situations, and what are the reasons for such an excited emotional state of expectant mothers during the period of bearing a baby. Let's figure it out.

Why do women become very nervous during pregnancy?

Of course, in the lives of all women expecting a child, big and small troubles happen. In most cases, pregnant women react to these problems very violently and emotionally, with tears and screams. Even if you just broke a nail. So what is the reason that expectant mothers become so nervous during pregnancy? While carrying a child, the female body intensively produces hormones that are necessary for the normal development of the baby. But these same hormones cause frequent mood swings. It is because of hormonal changes in the body that a woman during pregnancy can cry even over the most trivial reason.

What are the dangers of nervous breakdowns during pregnancy?

The connection between increased nervousness of the expectant mother and complications during pregnancy has been scientifically proven.

If a woman expecting a baby is constantly stressed, this negatively affects her already weakened immune system. As a result, the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria decreases, and the risk of disease increases.

Also, women who become nervous during pregnancy often complain of dizziness, tremors of the limbs, headaches, tachycardia and even skin rashes. An overly excited pregnant woman may manifestations of toxicosis intensify. Constant increased nervousness can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases. Naturally, this will negatively affect the baby’s health.

Frequent nervous breakdowns during pregnancy pose a threat to the health and life of the baby. During a hysteria, a woman's hormonal levels in the body change, and this can lead to hypertonicity of the uterus. In the early stages of pregnancy, this condition is dangerous because it can provoke spontaneous termination of pregnancy (miscarriage), and in the later stages it is one of the causes of premature birth.

Constant negative emotions in the second – third trimester of pregnancy can lead to fetal hypoxia. Hypoxia is a constant lack of oxygen, and, naturally, this will affect the child’s development: it will become slower. Pregnant women should not be nervous in the third trimester, as this can lead to the birth of a low-weight baby.

Also, observations of babies whose mothers were constantly nervous during pregnancy showed that children weak immunity, and they are more susceptible to diseases of the respiratory system, most of them are hyperactive and have diseases of the nervous system.

How to avoid a nervous breakdown

There are two ways to prevent stress during pregnancy: medications and distracting activities.

The medicine should only be prescribed by a doctor: an obstetrician-gynecologist or a therapist. Since no matter what the origin of this drug is: chemical or homeopathic, it has side effects that can negatively affect the development of the baby or the health of the woman. The following drugs are usually prescribed: Magne B6, Persen, Glycine, valerian tablets, motherwort decoction. But once again we would like to draw attention to the fact that the dosage and frequency of taking any medications should be prescribed by a qualified specialist, and not by the expectant mother on her own, having listened to the advice of a neighbor or friend.

To stop being nervous during pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to learn to receive positive emotions from the outside. For example, you can enroll in a group preparing for the upcoming birth, where a woman can communicate with other pregnant women, discuss questions about bearing a baby or childbirth with midwives, as a result, the expectant mother will receive emotional relief and a good mood.

You can attend yoga or gymnastics classes for pregnant women. Everyone knows that moderate physical activity is an excellent stress preventative. And regular performance of a set of exercises designed specifically for expectant mothers will not only help cope with nerves, but also prepare the pelvic muscles for the upcoming labor.

Pregnancy is often associated with stress and anxiety. As a rule, this is due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body, toxicosis – natural phenomena. However, if you are in a position, indulging in the fickleness of your mood is contraindicated - read why.

1. Severe stress, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, can lead to miscarriage.

2. Women exposed to stress are 2 times more likely to give birth to babies with developmental defects than those whose pregnancy was emotionally balanced.

3.Excessive anxiety of the expectant mother can lead to sleep disturbances in the baby, which will have a bad effect on the child’s well-being and, of course, yours, because you will have an additional source of experiences.

4. Adrenaline, released into the blood during strong emotional experiences, constricts blood vessels, as a result of which the fetus receives much less oxygen and nutrients.

5.Irritability and stress during pregnancy increase the risk of heart disease in the child. Constant fears and worries of the expectant mother often lead to an increase in the level of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) in the fetus’s body, which, in turn, can lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases in the baby. The same hormone increases blood glucose levels and leads to oxygen starvation.

6. Stress during pregnancy can cause asymmetry in the placement of the baby's fingers, ears, feet and elbows.

7. Due to disorders in the baby’s nervous system, which are caused by the mother’s strong experiences, negative consequences for his memory, perception and thinking, including mental retardation, are possible.

8. While still in the womb, the baby subtly senses everything that happens to you. All your emotions are certainly reflected on him. By constantly “cultivating” strong feelings, you risk giving birth to a child who is overly excitable and fearful, or inert, inattentive, and with a low level of self-control. These children may even need treatment with antidepressants.

9. Stress in late pregnancy can lead to premature birth.

10. Scientists believe that emotional stress in the form of an increased level of anxiety may be a prerequisite for changes in fetal presentation and, as a result, provoke difficulties during childbirth.

Interestingly, the effects of pregnancy stress on newborn boys and girls are different.

If you are expecting a girl, strong feelings can lead to rapid labor and the baby’s lack of a reflex cry at birth; if it is a boy, the risks are even greater: the severe emotional state of the expectant mother can cause premature rupture of amniotic fluid and the onset of labor.

But what if you are still nervous and need to calm down?

Here are a number of simple, but quite effective ways.

1.Deep and even breathing is an extremely simple and very effective method.

2.Drink valerian/motherwort/melissa/mint tea. By the way, you can drink lemon balm tea after childbirth, because... it increases the amount of breast milk.

3.Essential oils (pine needles, sandalwood, citrus fruits, etc.) provide a good calming effect.

4. Light physical activity. For example, a walk in a park or forest. There are sets of special exercises for expectant mothers.

5.Meditation for pregnant women. It should be performed in the lotus position.

6.Massage the so-called anti-stress point in the center of the chin - movements with the index finger: 9 times clockwise and 9 times counterclockwise.

Of course, all these methods can be used not only for the purpose of calming, but also to prevent stress.

Let us note that sometimes the mental imbalance of a woman in her position is caused by a deficiency of B vitamins in the diet. Do not forget to regularly consume the appropriate foods: yeast, cottage cheese, cheese, milk, sprouted grains, legumes, liver, kidneys, green vegetables, carrots, melon, pumpkin, peanuts, fish, eggs.

So, stress during pregnancy does not bode well for you or your child. Get rid of all negativity from yourself. Enjoy every moment: you will give life to a new person!