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Does stress really effect my baby?

11/25/2014

 
You found out that you’re pregnant.  You probably have a millions things running through your mind. You begin to stress out and wonder how this affects your unborn child?  Does stress really affect your baby?  Is there good stress and bad stress?   How can I eliminate the amount of stress in my life?

Some stress during pregnancy is normal, just as it is during other times of life. But if stress becomes constant, the effects on you and your baby could be lasting. When you’re stressed, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode, sending out a burst of cortisol and other stress hormones. These are the same hormones that surge when you are in danger. They prepare you to run by sending a blast of fuel to your muscles and making your heart pump faster. If you can deal with your stress and move on, your stress response will recede and your body will go back into balance. In fact, constant stress could alter your body’s stress management system, causing it to overreact and trigger an inflammatory response. Inflammation, in turn, has been linked to poorer pregnancy health and developmental problems in babies down the road.

So if you are already feeling this here are a couple of suggestions you may do to help elevate that stress.  Reach out. Talk to your doctor, family or trusted and supportive friends about what’s causing you to feel stressed. Together you can look for solutions, which might include meditation, prenatal yoga, massage, or talk therapy. Pregnancy appropriate exercise like walking and stretching are excellent stress reducers.  Sing a song even if you can’t carry a tune, hum in your head. Music helps control cortisol levels. Last but certainly not least, relax take a warm bath. Have a cup of tea. Curl up with a book. You’ll have precious few chances to pamper yourself once your baby arrives.

 Story Adapted from: http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/stress-marks

A Healthy Start for Babies

11/3/2014

 
Adapted from http://www.marchofdimes.org/

November will be Prematurity Awareness Month:   A premature or preterm baby is born before completing 36 weeks of pregnancy.  An average pregnancy is 40 weeks, so a premature baby is born at least 3 weeks early. Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as the weight of live born infants less than 2,500 grams.

One of the goals for Prematurity Awareness Month is to stress to the public that prematurity is a serious health problem.   In Texas, 1 in 6 African American babies is born too small and too soon.   Premature births lead to increased risk for newborn health complications, lifelong disabilities, and even death.  Lifelong disabilities may include cerebral palsy, mental retardation, learning problems, chronic breathing problems, vision and hearing loss.  Other health complications can include low blood sugar, Jaundice, feeding problems, and difficulty maintaining their temperature.

Prematurity Risks: 

The health of the mother, particularly during the pregnancy is very important.   The following risk factors among many others can be treated or avoided to reduce having a premature baby.    If you are a mother who is smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs then your risks are greater.  A few other factors include:

  • Stress
  • Domestic violence
  • Multiple births
  • Infections
  • Gum disease 
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Underweight or obese
 
What can I do to reduce my chance of having a premature baby?

It can be difficult to predict which woman will deliver prematurely.  However, there are some steps to take to reduce your risk which include:

  • As soon as you become aware you are pregnant, begin prenatal care early and keep all your appointments.
  • Take a multivitamin every day that contains 400 mcg of folic acid. Start before you are pregnant. 
  • Plan your pregnancies and allow time between pregnancies.
  • Lastly, try to reduce stress. Seek help and support from family and friends.
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    Welcome to the Baby Blog!

    Healthy Families Network hosts this blog, with content provided by the lead organization, San Antonio Healthy Start and other Network members.  We are thrilled to bring you news, events and tips on having a healthy, happy pregnancy and a healthy start to the new life you've just created.

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