Archive for May, 2010
Why Pregnant Women Should be Stressed about Stress
Stress can take its toll on all of us and impact every part of our bodies. The impact of stress can range from minor to severe. Minor side effects may include: heartburn, nausea, aches and pains, acne, lack of energy, decreased or increased appetite, etc. Wow! If you’re pregnant, you’ve probably experienced some or all of these. Stress effects are very similar to the symptoms of pregnancy, so it may be difficult to differentiate whether it is pregnancy or stress that is causing your complications. The best thing for you to do is to try to manage your stress and hopefully reduce some of the side effects.
Yes, we all experience stress, but it is especially important for pregnant women to try to reduce their stress. High levels of stress can contribute to preterm birth or low- birthweight. Refer to our last post to see how you can recognize when you’re stressed.
Sources: Mental Health America ; March of Dimes
Pregnant and Parenting Women: 10 Signs You May Be Stressed
I’m sure your life was stressful before you became pregnant or had children. Now . . . ? Well, I’m going to guess it’s difficult to find time for you. Juggling all of your roles and obligations can make you feel a bit off balance. Recognizing when you’re stressed is the first step to dealing with it.
Stress Signals
- Feeling angry, irritable or easily frustrated
- Feeling overwhelmed*
- Change in eating habits
- Problems concentrating
- Feeling nervous or anxious
- Trouble sleeping
- Problems with memory
- Feeling burned out from work
- Feeling that you can’t overcome difficulties in your life
- Having trouble functioning in your job or personal life*
* If you feel overwhelmed, unable to cope and feel as though your stress is affecting how you function every day, it could be something more, like depression or anxiety. Don’t let it go unchecked. Contact your health care provider.
Once you have identified that you’re stressed, the next step is to find healthy ways to cope with it. In honor of National Mental Health month, we will be sharing with you several stress management tips, signs of post-partum depression, and more. Please visit soon, learn more.
Source: Mental Health America
