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A healthy heart depends heavily on a stress-free lifestyle, which is especially important for pregnant mothers carrying an unborn baby. Danish researchers studied the effects of mothers who are stressed, and how that could affect the birth of their babies. While they determined the risk is small, they concluded there is an association.
The study examined 1.8 million Danish children who were born between 1978 and 2008. The research team studied whether heart defects were more common in newborns whose mothers experienced a loss in the family near the time of conception or delivery.
The team determined women who suffered a tragic loss were more likely to give birth to children with heart defects. Researchers believe this added stress can alter the DNA of the unborn baby, and might also affect how women care for their unborn children, such as changing to a less healthy diet.
“This and other studies tell us to take care of pregnant women who experience severe stressful events shortly before or while they’re pregnant,” says co-author Dr. Jorn Olsen.
Enlisting family members to help out can carry out chores goes a long way to reducing stress levels. Many pregnant women also find that taking walks on a regular basis can help reduce stress. Doctors also suggest that mothers rest often, such as napping in the middle of the day, several days a week.