Stress During Pregnancy

          My stress level is the number 79 which is a low susceptibility to a stress related illness. I can reduce stress in my life by regularly making time for fun and relaxation. This will put me in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come. I can do this by going for a walk, exercise, have warm coffee or tea, read a book, listen to music, or watch a comedy.

High stress levels have a gargantuan impact on both the mother and child during the pregnancy and it can be very harmful. There are many negative side effects of stress during pregnancy. Studies show that very high levels of stress may contribute to an increased risk of premature delivery or low birth weight babies. Overly high stress levels can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and produce chronic anxiety. Ones stress level and emotional health also affects the baby so it is important to properly cope with or manage ones stress for the good of both mother and child. it is important that you work to reduce your stress and anxiety levels during pregnancy as much as possible. Fortunately there are many simple ways to reduce stress levels. One way to reduce stress is to eat a healthy diet. This will provide the energy needed to get through the day, especially when feeling tired. The junk food will increase the stress level in ones body so it is best to avoid it. Another way to reduce stress levels during pregnancy are to get a lot of sleep because the less sleep one receives the more stressed they are likely to be. Use a comfortable body pillow or buy new sheets and even a It is helpful to take a relaxing bath before bed and also avoid eating up to one hour before bed to prevent heartburn, which can disrupt your sleep and increase your level of stress. Exercise is an ideal way to help cope with daily stressors because it gives you energy to deal with daily stress stimulators. Women find that exercising after work helps provide them the time they need to distress from work. Exercise can also help ease labor and alleviate some of the anxiety associated with the upcoming delivery. Biofeedback, yoga or meditations are non interventionist ways to help one focus, identify stressors and release stress in a healthy, safe manner. Your partner can help you work through your anxiety and help comfort you in times of high stress sp talk to them often. Lastly reducing ones workload will reduce stress significantly. Carrying a baby for nine months is a lot of work so be sure to reduce work level if possible.

http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/preg_stress.htm

Pregnancy Articles

          The article “'Pregnant Man' Gives Birth to Girl” tells the story of how Thomas Beatie gave birth. Born a woman, Beatie, 34, who had had his breasts surgically removed and legally changed his gender from female to male, leaped to prominence around the world in April when he revealed he was pregnant. Despite years of taking hormones and living outwardly as a man, Beatie maintained that he retained his female sex organs because he intended one day to get pregnant. Beatie was impregnated with sperm from a donor. His wife, Nancy, inseminated him at home with a device she said was like a syringe without the needle. They bought it from a veterinarian and it is typically used to feed birds. Before reading this article I did not know that transgender men could have children or would even want to. It is extremely surprising to me that Beatie was allowed to have a child after taking many hormones to become a male. This article changed my view on pregnancy very deeply.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5302756&page=1

          The article “Forcing Pregnant Women to do as They're Told:

Maternal vs. Fetal Rights” deals with the issue on if pregnant women should be forced to undergo medical care. Research in medicine continues to reveal more and more ways in which a baby's health can be jeopardized by what a woman does during pregnancy. Most women welcome these developments but some are unwilling to avoid those activities or behaviors that could harm their offspring and who refuse to undergo medical treatments that would prevent birth defects. Almost half of the maternal-fetal specialists surveyed in a recent national study thought that pregnant women who refused medical advice should be detained in hospitals and forced to "follow doctor’s orders." A growing number of legal cases throughout the U.S. show a trend toward forced treatment of pregnant women. I learned from this article that what the mother does can drastically affect the lives of their children. I think these women should be forced to follow medical care because it is not just about their lives anymore it is for the better of the child. It surprises me that women refuse medical care even if they know it is what’s best for their child. Now I believe that the right of the fetus overrides the rights of the mother.

 http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v1n2/pregnant.html

          The article “Natal wonders: Local baby born with teeth” tells the story about newborn baby Jayce was born with teeth. Jayce was delivered naturally. He weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces, was 21 inches long and when he was placed on his mother’s stomach, 26-year-old Ashley Padgett noticed that her baby had two lower front teeth.  Jayce’s doctor isn’t concerned about his natal teeth. Mother is advised to watch them closely and to make sure there aren’t any changes. In many cases, natal teeth become loose because the root isn’t formed completely. There is a risk of the tooth falling out and a newborn inhaling it, which is usually why they are removed. There also are potential pitfalls with breast-feeding. As of right now, Jayce doesn’t need to have his teeth pulled. His gums have swelled around one of the teeth, covering it up some. I had no idea before this article that children could be born with teeth and this is what surprised me the most. Now I see that there are many oddities that occur with children besides major birth defects or diseases.

http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/jayce-42191-born-ago.html

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman who previously had normal blood pressure.Preeclampsia develops only during pregnancy. Risk factors include: history of preeclampsia, first pregnancy, new paternity, age, obesity, multiple pregnancy, prolonged interval between pregnancies, diabetes and gestational diabetes, history of certain conditions, having other health conditions, vitamin D insufficiency,  and high levels of certain proteins. Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to fatal complications for mother and child. The only cure is delivery of the baby.No one knows  how to prevent preeclampsia. A number of studies have looked into whether taking extra calcium, vitamins, or a low dose of aspirin can help.when preeclampsia is severe, it can affect many organs. Preeclampsia causes the blood vessels to constrict, resulting in high blood pressure and a reduced blood flow that can affect organs in your body, such as your liver, kidneys, and brain.When less blood flows to your uterus, it can mean problems for your baby, such as poor growth, too little amniotic fluid, and placental abruption. In addition, your the baby may suffer the effects of prematurity if you need to deliver early to protect your health. People should make commericials or doctors should make sure to tell their patients so more parents can become aware of this issue.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/preeclampsia/DS00583
http://www.babycenter.com/0_preeclampsia_257.bc#articlesection2

Prenatal Hazards

There are many potential hazards to prenatal development. Many of these harmful agents are a direct result of drug and alcohol use. However, there are many other factors that can cause detrimental effects to a child during prenatal stages. These factors cam include maternal diseases and environmental problems. Prenatal care is especially important as it can reduce the risk greatly of encountering any problems and result in a happy healthy baby. The use of teratogens should be avoided as they can negatively affect the child during the prenatal stages.

For a pregnant woman, drug and alcohol abuse is very dangerous. First, drugs and alcohol may harm her own health, interfering with her ability to support the pregnancy. Second, some drugs can directly impair prenatal development. Virtually all illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, pose dangers. Legal substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, are also dangerous, and even medical drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, can be harmful. At the prenatal stage, certain drugs and alcohol may damage organs that are still developing, such as the eyes, as well as the nervous system. Drug and alcohol use also increases the risk of miscarriage and premature delivery. The greatest danger drugs and alcohol pose at this stage is their potential to interfere with normal growth. Alcohol breaks down chemically to a cell-damaging compound that is absorbed by the fetus. Drinking during early pregnancy greatly increases the risk of birth defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome. While pregnant, women should avoid the use of all drugs and alcohol to prevent damage to themselves and the child. Radiation, chemicals and other hazards in the environment can endanger the fetus. Chromosomal abnormalities are higher among the offspring of fathers exposed to high levels of radiation. Environmental pollutants and toxic wastes are also sources of danger to prenatal development. The dangerous pollutants can include carbon monoxide, mercury and lead. Cats are common carriers of toxoplasmosis, especially outdoor cats that eat raw meat and mother may pick up the virus through the cat litter box. Toxoplasmosis is a mild infection that causes cold-like symptoms or no apparent illness in adults, but can cause eye defects, brain defects and premature birth in the fetus. Maternal diseases and infections can produce defects by crossing the placental barrier. Maternal diseases and disorders that can affect prenatal development include Rh factor incompatibility, high blood pressure, diabetes, rubella, and sexually transmitted diseases such as toxoplasmosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, and AIDS. The effects of maternal diseases rely on the stage of fetal development during which they are contracted, and the length of time that they last.

Teratogens are the broad range of substances (such as drugs and pollutants) and conditions (such as severe malnutrition and extreme stress) that increase the risk of prenatal abnormalities. Abnormalities include physical problems (such as missing limbs) and impairments such as brain damage that first appears in elementary school. Specific teratogens may damage the body structures, the growth rate, the neurological networks, or all three. Development can be compromised and the effects of that impairment last a lifetime. Prenatal care is extremely essential for a healthy baby. One can see an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) for prenatal care, or a family practice doctor, a certified-nurse midwife or other health professional. It helps you and your health provider monitor how your pregnancy is going. It also helps spot any potential health problems before they become serious. Regular prenatal care helps to better manage any health issues that may come up.

http://www.acde.org/parent/Pregnant.htm

http://www.saskschools.ca/~psychportal/Psych30/Ejournal-Prenatal/influences_on_prenatal.htm

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072820144/student_view0/chapter4/

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/prenatalcare.html