Feeling stressed and nervous is not uncommon during pregnancy, as a woman’s body, hormones, identity and relationships change. Pregnancy is a profound transformation that affects every aspect of a woman’s life. Although small periods of stress have no harmful effect, long-term stress can increase the risk of pregnancy complications and affect the baby’s development in the long term.
Prenates are influenced by their mother’s mood, thoughts and actions – and experience their own range of emotions, including disappointment, anger, fear, love, bliss and belonging.
The key to reducing trauma, anxiety and stress during pregnancy is to adopt the attitude that the baby feels everything the mother does. By adopting this attitude of connection, the mother can position herself as an advocate for the well-being of herself and her baby. And while it is not yet entirely clear how the baby perceives these messages, it is important to be aware of this holistic communication, which includes the ebb and flow of love and stress hormones, neurotransmitters (chemical messages), nutrients and physical activity . which affects the baby’s development.
Fetal programming
In modern pediatrics and developmental psychobiology fetal programming (also called prenatal programming) is the idea that significant physiological responses can be shaped and fueled by environmental events during fetal development. Food, exposure to environmental chemicals, mood, touch, sounds and stress can all affect the baby’s development. Cellular environments can alter gene expression during the construction of tissues and organs, and these changes can influence long-range function throughout adulthood.
Indeed, there is a consensus among neuropsychologists, neurotoxicologists, herbalists and midwives that the mother’s quality of life directly affects the baby’s vitality and mood. The realization that a woman’s emotional state during pregnancy affects her unborn child can be explained by the “fetal programming hypothesis,” which theorizes that disruptive factors can biologically influence the baby.
According to this theory, high levels of worry and stress during a woman’s pregnancy can predispose a child to attention deficits and mood swings. This hypothesis also states that children born to mothers experiencing negative emotions during pregnancy have a lifelong increased risk of mental and mood problems, which may be a result of reduced structural connectivity in the area of the brain that controls emotions.
Tips to promote well-being and relaxation for mother and child
Physical comfort:
Promoting physical comfort is a great way to improve the quality of life for mother and child. Lots of rest, soaking in the bath, using a heating pad and self-massage with oil/belly butter can soothe mother and baby and relieve discomfort.
Spices:
Herbs are rich in mood-boosting ingredients, vitamins and minerals and can help mothers with occasional stress and insomnia. Creating a ritual with herbs can nourish mother and baby and promote relaxation. Drinking herbal teas and having remedies on hand can help the mother with the emotions, fears and transformation she experiences during pregnancy.
Exercise & Prenatal Yoga:
Following a yoga routine can improve flexibility, strength and mood during pregnancy. Researchers have studied the effects of yoga and found that it can reduce stress and negative feelings in expectant mothers. Professor John Aplin notes: “Yoga involves relaxation and breathing techniques with postures that can be adapted for pregnant women. There is some evidence that yoga can reduce the discomfort of labor and the risk of delivery by caesarean section.”
Meditation:
Meditation techniques are helpful in calming the heart rate, breathing, and stress response that can affect your baby’s day-to-day and long-term development. Learning to clear the mind and follow the breath is a powerful technique that can be used during pregnancy, birth, and the developmental years.
Loving touch:
Touch is a powerful way to support another person’s body, mood and mind. Loving touch stimulates feel-good hormones such as… oxytocin which help the bond between mother and baby and promote a harmonious birth. Foot massages, back massages and gentle affection are an effortless and rewarding way to support the mood and well-being of mother and child.
Herbal strategies to promote mood and relaxation
Passionflower
Calming and rich in brain nutrients such as GABA, passionflower provides sleep and relaxation support and calms the mind. Choose Passionflower in the formula with other nervous system herbs to soothe excitement, nervousness and tears.
Hop
More than 1,000 properties have been identified in hops, making it a dynamic agent for sleep, relaxation, digestion and lactation. Please note that hops are very bitter and are much tastier in formulation than on their own. Hops are a reliable aid to promote sleep, calm nervousness and support healthy breast milk production.
Catnip
This soothing mint family plant can promote healthy digestion, relieve stomach pain, and help relax a worried and tense body. Delicious as a tincture, tea or fresh from the garden, catnip is a beautiful and useful remedy for mother and baby to have on hand to soothe irritation and the physical response to stress.
Chamomile
Reach for this soothing tea or tincture to calm irritation, nervousness, and physical discomfort. Chamomile also gently promotes digestion and is an age-old remedy for teething and colic in babies.
Skull cap
Is a restorative and calming herb, both mentally and physically. Traditionally, Scullcap is used to normalize the central nervous system, soothe physical tension and nourish and protect the neurons. Use Skullcap for a physical response and tension to stress and to increase the sense of comfort and well-being for mother and baby.
References
- More than genes I: what is fetal programming? : What Science Can Tell Us, by Dan Agin. October 26, 2009
- Birth PsychologyThe Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health
- Does stress during pregnancy affect my baby? How can I calm down?
- Why pregnant film fans should stick to cheerful films By DAVID DERBYSHIRE
- DiPietro, J. A. (2004). The role of maternal stress in child development. Current Directions in the Psychological Sciences, 13(2), 71-74.
- Monk, C. (2001). Stress and mood disorders during pregnancy: implications for child development. Psychiatric Quarterly, 72(4), 347-357.
Written by Elizabeth Willis, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Certified Medical Herbalist. She is an education and sales project manager at WishGarden Herbs, Inc.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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