Stress During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms And Tips To Manage

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Stress during pregnancy is usually harmless, but prolonged or severe stress may not be good for the mother and the baby (1). It is common for pregnant mothers to stress over their baby, body, life changes, and many other things.

Research shows that around 8% to 13% of women are diagnosed with anxiety during and before pregnancy (2). It also indicates that constant stress may lead to sleeping difficulties, headaches, and depression. (3).

Read about the types, causes, symptoms, effects, and management tips for stress during pregnancy.

Causes Of Stress During Pregnancy

For some women, discovering their pregnancy could be stressful as they might not be ready for the new challenges that come their way. The possible reasons for stress could be (4) (5) (6):

• Conceiving after several pregnancy failures or previous negative experiences, such as miscarriage or the death of a baby.

• Dealing with a complicated or high-risk pregnancy and experiencing discomforts, such as nausea, constipation, fatigue, gestational diabetes, or pre-eclampsia.

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• Stressful life events, such as domestic violence, divorce, or having relationship difficulties.
• Long-lasting difficulties related to job change, financial situation, or health problems.
• Going through emotional stress, such as past anxiety, depression, death in the family, or drug and alcohol addictions.
• Facing tragic events, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or terrorist attacks.
• Exposure to racism may also be a reason for maternal depression. It has been found that African-American women in the US had more premature births or delivered more lower birth weight babies than any other race (7).
• Pregnancy-specific stress is also common in women, where they worry about neonatal health, labor, or how they would cope with the new life. Moreover, hormonal changes due to pregnancy increases mood swings.

Point to consider

Having an unplanned pregnancy and being a single parent could also be a reason for stress during pregnancy (4).

Symptoms Of Stress During Pregnancy

The following are some common symptoms in mothers dealing with stress. Knowing and understanding them may help you to cope with stress (8) (9) (10).

• Constantly worried, confused, or anxious
• Living a constantly busy life
• Worried even about the positive changes in life, such as a job promotion
• Increased heart rate and nervousness
• Trouble in sleeping
• A mind preoccupied with thoughts
• Having headaches and body aches
• Lack of energy and focus
• Overeating or undereating
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Drug and alcohol abuse

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• Experiencing nightmares and memory loss
• Isolation from social interaction

Be watchful

An unsettled stomach, skin conditions including acne, rashes, and hivesⁱRed and itchy bumps on the skin caused due to an allergic reaction to food or medication , and an easy temper are some signs of stress (9).

Effects Of Stress On Pregnancy

Chronic stress may adversely affect the health of expectant mothers and their pregnancy in several ways.

Some effects are (2):

• Preterm labor
• Low birth weight
• Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure or pre-eclampsiaⁱA pregnancy disorder characterized by high blood pressure, water retention, and protein content in urine

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• A weakened immune system (11).
• Women who smoke or drink alcohol to reduce stress may increase their risk of pregnancy complications (5).

Effects Of Stress On The Baby

Stress and anxiety during pregnancy may affect the baby’s behavioral, physiological, or immunological functions

(2).

• Chronic stress during pregnancy may result in intrauterine growth restriction, with poor growth of the unborn baby (12).
• Stress hormones during pregnancy alter the neurobiological (related to the nervous system and brain) development of the fetus, which may result in decreased cognitive development and behavioral issues in the child.
• Infants of mothers who experience stress during pregnancy may be temperamental and more difficult to soothe.
• Studies show that stress in mothers during pregnancy may cause children to develop an irrational fear or have trouble paying attention (11).
• There is also a risk that unborn children may develop mental illness or physical illness, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorderⁱA neurodevelopmental disorder in children affecting their ability to pay attention, control impulses, and making them hyperactive or cardiovascular disease, if the mother experiences prolonged stress during pregnancy (13) (14).

Emotional Stress During Pregnancy

High levels of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy (especially in the first trimester) may cause mood swings and emotional changes, such as feeling tearful and easily irritated. The symptoms usually wear off as pregnancy progresses because the body adapts to the hormonal changes. However, some women may experience strong emotions throughout their pregnancy. They may feel vulnerable, anxious, and overwhelmed due to the changes in their lives. This is particularly true if the mother has been through a pregnancy loss or has conceived after fertility treatments. Stress from such emotional changes may cause one to become emotionally vulnerable, forming a vicious cycle. Emotional stress may distract pregnant women from self-care and deteriorate the situation (15) (16).

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Tips For Managing Stress During Pregnancy

High levels of stress are manageable if you understand what triggers it and learn ways to handle them. Some stress-management tips and techniques of coping mechanisms that you could include in your prenatal care are (4) (11):

• Eat a well-balanced diet that helps you stay healthy and energetic.
• Take breaks and rest well as it lessens your stress.
• Do some regular pregnancy-safe exercise.
• Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. You may even join yoga classes or download suitable podcasts and videos.

• Engage in hobbies that keep you interested and ensure emotional well-being.
• Talk about your concerns with people you trust or who make you feel good.
• Do not take up more work than you can do.
• Take childbirth classes that help you stay informed and better prepared for the future.

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• Talk to a therapist if you have been dealing with anxiety and depression during pregnancy.
• Practice self-care. Relax by taking a bubble bath, reading a book, pedicure, or anything else that calms you. Techniques such as mindfulness meditation may be of great help (15).

Quick tip

Making to-do lists can help you stay organized and manage your time between work and home. You can manage stress by keeping a journal or just listing what you are grateful for. These easy techniques can improve how one manages and deals with stress (9).

Infographic: Recognizing Stress Signs In Expectant Mothers

Expectant mothers must acknowledge and handle stress adeptly. This infographic reveals prevalent stress symptoms during pregnancy. By understanding these symptoms, pregnant women can take proactive steps to prioritize their mental health and enjoy a smoother pregnancy experience.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Stress During Pregnancy: Causes Symptoms And Tips To Manage

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Delve deep into this video to find aswers as to how you can manage your pregnancy stress and enjoy this wonderful journey

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Ng Kai LynMMed (O&G), MRCOG

Dr. Ng Kai Lyn is a Singapore-based obstetrician and gynecologist, specializing in urogynecology, minimally invasive surgery, and clinical interest in fertility. She has an experience of 12 years managing and treating benign gynecological conditions, including uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometrial polyps, and endometriosis.

Read full bio of Dr. Ng Kai Lyn

Pragya BhargaviMSc, BEd

Pragya Bhargavi has been in the field of content research, writing and editing for over six years. Her passion for academics and science has enabled her to write creative as well as research-based articles. She has completed her Masters in Microbiology from Bangalore University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education (BEd) from Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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Apoorva KMSc (Counseling Psychology)

Apoorva is a certified psychological counselor and NLP practitioner. The assistant professor-turned-writer believes that her experience as a teacher, psychologist, and researcher enables her to guide MomJunction readers on child development and mental health.

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