Mental Health In Pregnancy And Childbirth

People should never let their anxiety and mental stress take a toll. There is a growing body of research that shows serious mental anxiety and stress, in some women, lead to pre-term child birth, smaller babies, and potential problems later for the child from respiratory illness and developmental delays.

It commonly takes simple steps like; people need to reduce the mental stress or anxiety risk by using techniques from yoga and meditation. The March of Dimes strongly suggests meditation and exercise designed for pregnant women as effective stress techniques. There are CDs available specifically for the mental health of pregnant women that help enormously. They can even be effectively used during delivery and after the baby is born.

Reducing the serious risk during childbirth is a great matter to be considered. Women in the past often talked about the certain need to take it easy during pregnancy. During the year of 1980 and 1990 there was a common tendency to downplay this need as women evolved in the work place. Dr. Calvin Hobel the professor of obstetrics at the University of California, however has found out that chronic stress in pregnancy can raise the likelihood of complications such as pre-term birth, smaller babies, respiratory illness, or developmental delays. Women who work normally very hard in high mental stress jobs may be predisposed of these problems.

People need to develop an attitude of gratitude especially during childbirth. Some women are actually able to operate in high levels of stress without bad effects on their pregnancy. These are some sort of women who have positive attitudes and low anxiety levels about life challenges. Mother Theresa once said the greatest protection is a joyful heart. In fact the techniques of visualization include having the pregnant women picture herself as calm and relaxed. One woman who used these techniques reported that when she did this her baby in utero would become very still. She laughed that the newborn went from crawling around her belly to becoming absolutely still. Using these effective techniques as the child develops can help mom and baby practice relaxation strategies that are known to reduce anxiety and stress.

Some of the physicians used these techniques extensively during their surgery cases. Children are so responsive to relaxation techniques that the newborn would become still and quiet. Women need to keep in mind that they have 30 years left in a career, so she might want to consider taking some down time during pregnancy if she is prone to worry and tension and they must learn to self-soothe. Many women have never actually learned to speak to themselves in kind, loving tones. They may not have received sufficient mothering. Learning to have a compassionate and concerned voice, even when silent, will soothe mom along with her child.

People also need to make connections with their newborn child. Social support and proper nurturing by a partner is linked to higher birth weight and healthier infants. According to Dr. Miles, it is strongly advised to the women to use soft eyes with their partner and continue to make positive connections during pregnancy. It is important for the mother and newborn and it generates healing chemicals.

• Juliana Breckinridge
• 27/02/2009, 4:59 AM
• 0 Comments