Emotional instability during pregnancy can be caused by the influence of hormones or stress. This can make pregnant women feel sad, angry, or anxious all of a sudden. Drastic emotional changes during pregnancy not only affect the pregnant woman, but also the fetus.
Difficulty holding emotions and often angry are quite common during pregnancy. This can be caused by increased pregnancy hormones or due to other factors, such as discomfort due to body changes during pregnancy or excessive stress.
In some cases, emotional outbursts during pregnancy can also signal a mental health problem and may include depression or anxiety disorders during pregnancy.
If pregnant women often feel stressed or unable to contain their anger during pregnancy, try to calm down for a moment and control these emotions. Not only makes pregnant women feel tired and uncomfortable, the emotions that often explode during pregnancy can also have an impact on the fetus. If not controlled, emotional outbursts and excessive stress can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Emotions During Pregnancy Trigger Various Disorders
The following are some of the effects of stress or being overly emotional during pregnancy:
1. Inhibits fetal growth
When stressed or angry, the body of pregnant women will produce a stress hormone called cortisol.
When the amount of stress hormone increases, the blood vessels in the body will constrict. This reduces blood flow and oxygen supply to the fetus and disrupts growth and development.
2. Increases the risk of preterm labor
Increased stress hormones due to emotional outbursts and stress during pregnancy can also increase the risk of pregnant women undergoing premature labor.
This has been proven by several studies showing that preterm labor is more common in pregnant women with disorders of the brain mood and severe stress compared to pregnant women who are emotionally stable.
If these emotional problems and stress have been felt since the beginning of the pregnancy and are allowed to persist, the risk of the baby being born prematurely will also be higher.
3. Increases the risk of babies being born with low birth weight
According to several studies, frequent anger or stress during pregnancy can also increase the risk of a baby being born with a birth weight lower than the average baby weight, which is less than 2.5 kg.
This shows that the emotions of pregnant women who are difficult to control can make the fetus experience IUGR or growth disorders in the womb.
4. Affect baby's temperament
The psychological condition of pregnant women during pregnancy will also affect the baby's temperament. Pregnant women who experience severe stress or are often angry, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, are thought to make the baby fussy, irritable, and prone to depression after birth.
5. Increases the risk of sleep disorders in babies
A study shows that feeling anxious or depressed during pregnancy is thought to increase the risk of sleep disturbances in babies. This may be triggered by the stress hormone cortisol, which is produced in excess by the body when pregnant women feel stressed.
This hormone can enter the placenta and affect the part of the brain that regulates the sleep and wake cycles of the child.
6. Increase the risk of babies being susceptible to various diseases
Emotions during pregnancy also have an impact on the health of the baby when he grows up. Based on data from several studies, pregnant women who experience prolonged stress can make their babies more at risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes later when they grow up.
Tips for Suppressing Emotions During Pregnancy
Emotional changes during pregnancy are sometimes difficult to endure. If you find it difficult to control your emotions, pregnant women can try the following tips to feel calmer:
- Talk to your partner, friends, family, or psychologist to share things or thoughts that make pregnant women emotional.
- Try writing a diary as a medium for complaining.
- Express your emotions through healthy physical activities or sports, such as walking around the house, yoga, or exercise for pregnant women.
- Expand the time to rest by sleeping at least 8 hours every night.
- Do things you enjoy, such as watching movies, reading books, or listening to your favorite music.
It's natural for pregnant women to feel tense or stressed before the birth of their little one. However, don't let pregnant women react to it too much yes, because it will only have a negative impact on pregnant women and the fetus in the womb.
If the emotional problems experienced are difficult to overcome or pregnant women often feel explosive emotions and are difficult to contain, try consulting with a gynecologist or psychologist to get advice and appropriate treatment so that pregnant women's emotions can be more controlled.