Pregnancy Stress!

IS MY STRESS AFFECTING MY BABY?

	Research has shown very high levels of stress may contribute to pre-term birth or low birth weight in full-term babies .Other studies suggest that overly high stress levels can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and produce chronic anxiety.
Accepting the fact you are stressed and identifying the situations that produce feelings of stress are the first steps in helping to reduce it. Remember that just as what you eat affects your baby, so too does your stress level and your emotional health. It is important that you minimise your stress and anxiety during pregnancy to provide your baby with an optimal environment in which to grow.

Try and limit stress by:
• Eating a healthy well balanced diet
• Resting when you can, get a good nights sleep or have a power-nap during the day
• Exercising (consent from your LMC first)
• Relaxing by meditating, listening to music or writing in a journal
• Staying away from stressful people and stressful situations, when possible
• Talking—to your partner, friends, relatives, health care professionals, and your employer.

If you feel overwhelmed, talk with a trained counsellor or other mental health professional.