Stress Pregnancy Symptoms (Stress and Anxiety in Pregnancy)
Healthful Vitality | 10/24/2021 | By NP Contributor | Stress Pregnancy Symptoms
In medicine, pregnancy is regarded as a normal physiological state and not a disease. For most individuals, it’s a planned event. It brings happiness to most couples. However, for many, it is also a cause of stress. It is especially true for those for whom it is the first experience.
It seems that searching on Google may help. However, that is far from true. Over-information is just making things worse for many.
But that is not all. Pregnancy is also about significant hormonal changes, making a person prone to stress, mood swings, and other issues.
Sources of stress in pregnancy
There could be numerous causes, but the most common is fear of pregnancy loss. There is also a continuous fear about delivery and the pain associated with it. Stress is made worse by morning sickness, changes in taste buds, tiredness, backache, and mood swings.
There could be other sources of stress like poor relationships with a partner. In addition, many are overly worried about taking care of the baby. Further, some are worried about the financial implications of raising a child.
One cannot avoid stress completely. However, continuous and severe stress may increase the risk of pre-term birth. It also increases the risk of other complications of pregnancy. Thus, one should identify the symptoms early to take steps.
Symptoms of stress in pregnancy
Stress is a mental state that can be overcome by knowing its signs and symptoms. All symptoms of stress and anxiety fall into two groups, psychological and bodily. For example, feeling worried is a psychological symptom, but feeling changes in the gut is physical.
Some symptoms of stress and anxiety in pregnancy are:
- Feeling worried all the time, and having difficulty focusing on things, or unable to do various tasks
- Feeling restless
- Too much fear about baby’s health and regarding delivery. It may result in many unnecessary calls to a doctor
- Unable to think clearly, sometimes feeling blank
- Mood swings and high level of irritability
- Sleep issues, which may include falling asleep, staying asleep. It is essential to understand that in some cases, over-sleeping (more than 10 hours) may also indicate stress
- Fear of dying
Physical signs of stress:
- Palpitations, headaches, and feeling that heart is beating faster than normal
- Shortness of breath, or even sometimes feeling as there is a lack of enough air around
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or even feeling faint
- Sweating too much even when the temperature is quite comfortable
- Shaky limbs
- Tingling sensation in hands and feet
- Frequent abdominal discomfort
Pregnancy is quite an emotional experience. Thus, most will experience stress to a degree. However, some may have more severe symptoms requiring medical attention. In many, it may also cause some severe acute panic attacks.
Some women are at greater risk of developing these symptoms, like those with a family history of emotional disorders. In addition, women having a history of substance abuse, family issues, some traumatic experiences, relationship issues, financial issues, to name a few.
Managing stress in pregnancy could be challenging, as many medications are contraindicated. Thus, it is essential to identify its symptoms early, and take measures, seek medical help.
(Related Article: Powerful Coping Strategies for Stress)