Could Stress Be Affecting Your Baby’s Development?

Reading about stress is probably the most stressful thing you can do 😅

Turns out, science has been all over this topic, and the findings are pretty fascinating. For my stress head readers I'm gonna save you the details and get straight to the point, the answer is ......it depends ( i find this is a common answer from anything to do with people in lab coats).

Lets keep it simple

• Normal Stress = good ( Stress that passes quickly once the situation has changed )

  • Pregnancy Checkup's

  • Organising a baby shower

  • Waiting for your partner to get back with the ben and jerry's

• Unhealthy Stress = bad ( Chronic Stress or Traumatic Events that are intense and long lasting)

  • Constant Financial Worries

  • Relationship/Family Issues

  • Chronic Birthing Fear (I know about this one all to well)

Okay, lets take a breather.

If you are easily stressed please skip these next sections where I cover

• How to identify unhealthy stress

• What effects does unhealthy stress have on your baby

and jump to the zen palace that is How to kick Stresses butt!

How to identify unhealthy stress

I know when I was pregnant everything felt like an unhealthy stress, the little stresses became big stresses and the big stresses became debilitating stresses. So here is a (hopefully) easy way to identify what is normal and what is unhealthy.

Follow S.T.R.E.S.S

• S - Severity and Duration

• T - Troubling Physical Symptoms

• R - Recurring Emotional Signs

• E - Effects on Daily Life

• S - Struggle to Find Relief

• S - Sleep and Appetite

Severity and Duration

• Normal: Brief stress in specific situations (like before an appointment).

• Unhealthy: Intense stress that doesn’t go away, feeling constantly anxious or overwhelmed.

Troubling Physical Symptoms

• Normal: Mild, occasional tiredness or headaches.

• Unhealthy: Persistent issues like trouble sleeping, frequent headaches, rapid heartbeat, or ongoing fatigue.

Recurring Emotional Signs

• Normal: Temporary mood swings or mild emotional changes.

• Unhealthy: Frequent feelings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety that interfere with happiness and balance.

Effects on Daily Life

• Normal: Able to function normally, with occasional tiredness or distractions.

• Unhealthy: Difficulty completing daily tasks, managing work, or practicing self-care.

Struggle to Find Relief

• Normal: Relaxation activities (like a walk or chat with a friend) ease stress.

• Unhealthy: Nothing seems to relieve stress, making it hard to relax or calm down.

Sleep and Appetite

• Normal: Minor disruptions, like occasional restless nights.

• Unhealthy: Consistent sleep issues or significant appetite changes, feeling overly tired or unmotivated.

If your stress feels unhealthy and ticks some of these boxes we have some tips for your later in the post in How to kick Stresses butt!

What effects does unhealthy stress on your baby

Final warning to the easily stressed, skip this section and go to How to kick Stresses butt!

Let's speed over this part and get to the facts.

Stress effects babies in the whom in 4 main ways.

1. Growth and Development

When you are constantly stressed, the body releases cortisol (the stress hormone), which can reach your baby. This can causes:

• Lower Birth Weight: Stress can mean smaller babies, which can come with more health concerns.

• Premature Birth: Stress may lead to an early arrival, which can impact baby’s immune system and growth.

2. Baby’s Own Stress Response

Babies are super aware of their mum’s stress levels, which can influence how they handle stress as they grow:

• Extra Sensitive: Stressed-out mums can have babies with heightened stress responses, meaning they may get upset more easily.

• Emotional Regulation: High prenatal stress has been linked to babies who struggle to calm down, even as toddlers.

  
  

3. Behaviour and Brain Development

Unhealthy stress can also impact how babies learn and behave as they grow:

• Learning & Memory: Chronic stress may affect areas of the brain tied to learning and memory.

• Behavioural Challenges: Babies exposed to high stress in the womb might struggle with focus or behavioural issues down the line.

  
  

4. Lifelong Health Effects

Lastly, stress now could impact your child’s long-term health:

• Immune System Sensitivity: They might be more prone to allergies or asthma.

• Mental Health Risks: High prenatal stress has been linked to increased risk of anxiety and mood issues in the future.

How to kick Stresses Butt!