inheritance

Pregnancy, especially for first-time mothers, can be a stressful time because of additional pressure on the body and the amount of change mothers must adjust to. Although occasional feelings of stress are completely normal, some reports have shown expectant mothers with chronic stress inducing detrimental effects on their developing fetus. As mentioned in earlier sections, stress triggers the sympathetic nervous system to release cortisol and other stress hormones as a part of the fight-or-flight response that is primarily designed to go off when the body is presented with danger. An expectant mother will feel a surge of energy being delivered to the muscles of her body and her heart beating faster. If she is able to cope with stress and relax, her body will restore itself to its equilibrium state by the mechanics of homeostasis. However, if she is overwhelmed by stress regularly, the hormones could overwhelm her body’s stress management system, causing it to overreact and trigger an inflammatory response. Studies have revealed that inflammation causes poor pregnancy health and can instigate developmental problems for the fetus as the pregnancy progresses. Women with chronic stress also tend to give birth earlier, consequently to babies with a lower-than-average birth weight. These children also display subtle differences in brain development that may lead to behavioral issues as they grow. Pregnant women should not feel guilty about stress, rather they should try their best to reduce stress by utilizing coping mechanisms such as deep diaphragmatic breathing. This kind of mindful meditation is one of the best ways to manage stress during any stage of pregnancy. Slow, deep, and regular breathing triggers the parasympathetic nervous system and returns stress hormone levels back to normal.