| Stress is caused by many different factors, such as: work, a death in the family, or a diagnosis of a serious illness. Pregnancy itself brings many forms of stress from morning sickness to backache. Furthermore, worries about delivery or possible income loss due to the pregnancy add to the mother�s stress level (March of Dimes p.1). What does all this stress do to the fetus? Are there any ways to alleviate the stress level in expecting mothers? This paper will answer these questions. Biologists once thought if the mother had proper nutrition and avoided harmful substances, the baby would be born healthy. They thought genetics were the only thing that affected the developing fetus. Causes for pre-term delivery were completely unknown. However, biologists have since realized that the environment, affects the growing fetus at each stage of development. The first trimester is critical as far as stress contributing to premature delivery. If the mother experiences high stress, her body produces an elevated level of the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is a normal hormone produced in the brain to regulate the body�s responses to internal and external challenges. It seems it also regulates the delivery date in the expectant mother. The higher the level of CRH in the mother�s blood system the earlier her delivery date will be (Blecher, 2002 p.2). CRH is what links stress to premature delivery. Patrick Wadhwa, M.D., PH.D., explains: Preterm birth is one of the most significant problems in maternal-child health in the United States today, [�]. It is the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity and has a high incidence in the United States � 10 percent of all births, the highest rate in all developed nations. Although advances in medical technology have improved survival, the rate of pre-term delivery has not decreased in 40 years ( Docguide 1998 p.2 ). In animals, stress causes the body to produce higher concentrations of noradrenaline, this is what decreases blood flow to the uterus (Teixeira, 1999, p.7). Although studies haven�t been done on humans, scientists speculate whether this is the reason there are higher incidences of birth defects, premature deliveries and miscarriages in women that are under high stress. The decreased blood flow could be why severe stress has been linked with pre term delivery as well as abnormalities such as a cleft lip and palate or spina bifida. Comparing 3,560 women with high levels of severe stress to 20,299 women with normal levels of stress, malformations were twice as high in the mothers with an elevated level of stress (Pregnancy Stress, 2000, p.1). Autism has been linked to a high level of stress later in the pregnancy. The cerebellum develops before the 32nd week of pregnancy. A high level of stress at this time �may lead to structural changes in the brain,� causing the neurological disorder that will stay with the child throughout their life (Boatman, 2001 p.2). This is usually stress caused by a major stressor such as the loss of a loved one or the diagnoses of a severe illness. Blood flow restriction at this critical time could be the culprit. |
 |
 |