Pregnancy Podcast

The Research on Stress During Pregnancy and How to Manage It

Nov 9, 2025
Pregnancy brings unique stressors that can impact both mother and baby. The physiology of stress affects fetal development, with research linking high maternal stress to complications like miscarriage and preterm birth. Understanding individual stress responses is crucial, as well as implementing effective management strategies. Techniques like breathing exercises, journaling, and building social support networks can significantly reduce anxiety. Additionally, prioritizing mental health screening during pregnancy plays a vital role in maternal and child well-being.
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INSIGHT

How The Stress Response Works

  • Your stress response is driven by the autonomic nervous system with sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) branches.
  • Duration matters: acute stress is adaptive but chronic activation harms many body systems.
INSIGHT

Chronic Stress Harms Multiple Systems

  • Chronic stress disrupts immune, brain, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems over time.
  • Long-term activation changes brain structure, increases inflammation, and impairs digestion and sleep.
INSIGHT

Placenta Mediates Maternal Cortisol Transfer

  • Maternal stress affects placental hormone activity and fetal exposure to cortisol via placental enzymes.
  • Animal studies show high maternal cortisol can reduce enzyme activity, increasing fetal cortisol exposure.
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