Secrets From Inside The Womb
It's the little hassles that may add up to big problems. In Asian and other nonWestern cultures, there are strong taboos against exposing pregnant women to worries or stressful situations. It is explicitly believed that stress and anxiety are bad for the baby. Unfortunately, our society doesn't seem to share this belief. But maybe we should, says Janet A. DiPietro, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health. Download these AVI sonograms! 400kb each. Download these QuickTime sonograms! 300kb each. Evidence shows that high levels of stress during pregnancy can contribute to premature births and lower birth weight and may even adversely affect a baby's temperament. And it's usually not the big events like buying a house or a family death that have the most impact on a fetus. It's the daily grind — like getting stuck in traffic, having to do household chores when you're tired and having hassles with in-laws — that could affect the emotional and physical health of your baby. Although stress is not an absolute thing — and what is stressful to one person may not be stressful to another — it's important to understand and manage it during pregnancy to ensure that your baby develops as well as possible in the womb ... and beyond. Predicting Personality Of course, if you don't react strongly to stress, it is not necessarily hazardous. But, says DiPietro, "We found that when women report a lot of stress, the fetus's heart rate becomes flatter, and the fetus moves less frequently. While these signs do not necessarily mean the fetus is in trouble, it may mean that the nervous system is developing less well." It seems likely that chemicals that are released during times of stress can affect the temperament of the baby later on. "We have evidence that differences among babies' temperaments — how much a baby cries, its activity levels, etc. — can actually be detected before birth. Anyone who has more than one child, or has spent time in nurseries, knows that babies are different right from birth." In fact, she continues, "We have been able to predict some aspects of temperament from before birth through the first year. If mom's emotions affect how the fetus behaves, her emotions during pregnancy may contribute to the shaping of his or her temperament and, possibly, the baby's development." How can you use the knowledge in this area to help your baby develop before birth? The same advice that is good for parenting babies after birth can apply before birth, too. Here's what DiPietro recommends: Take Time To Know Your Baby — Before Birth Instead of shoving stimulation at your fetus in an attempt to make him or her into an ideal, take time to observe who your baby is.
Advice: Take time to relax quietly for some time each day (say 30 minutes or so) and notice how and when the baby moves. This gives you the opportunity to focus on the baby and decompress during a busy time. If you feel a fetal foot sticking out, press it gently and see if the baby responds. Fetuses move about 50 times per hour in the third trimester, although women usually can't always feel it. If you are concerned that the baby suddenly moves much less often than it did previously, or in ways that seem unusual, you should contact your physician or midwife immediately. Be persistent if you're not taken seriously, because sudden decreases in fetal movement may be a warning sign. Usually, however, the fetus will be found to be moving normally. Put Yourself And Your Family First Among the biggest stressors that could affect your baby in your last trimester are those from the workplace. It's not uncommon for pregnant women to be deliberately exposed to additional demands in the workplace as they prepare for their maternity leave.
Advice: If you think your job demands have become unreasonable, don't take on extra burdens. Women tend to be altruistic; sometimes it is easier to say "no" if you think it's for the baby's benefit, rather than yours. Don't Sweat The Small Stuff Saying that stress may be bad for pregnancies is a double-edged sword. If you are under unavoidable pressure, dwelling on how bad it is for the baby will make you feel worse.
Advice: Instead, use this knowledge to make choices that lessen your worries. Pregnancy is a remarkable time, and the fetus is a remarkable creature. Enjoy it as you prepare for your future together!
Last updated June 22, 2001
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