Child
Stress
Some
form of stress may affect the baby before it is even born. The
expectant mother may have high stress in a number of cases. These
can include such things as an unplanned, unanted baby, insufficient
income for the baby, a lack of physical space for the baby, other
very young children, poor nutrition, poor prenatal care, physical
complications (things like nausea, swelling,high blood pressure
etc.), a fear of the birth, a fear that a baby will bring about
a loss of freedom and a fear or knowledge that the baby will be
deformed or diseased. One study has shown there can be a relationship
between mother's stress level and baby's temperament at birth.
On the other hand other research has found it very difficult to
measure a link between the woman's psychological state and the
baby's emotionalstate at birth and concluded that nervous, worried
women may digest food less well and smoke more than those who
are more confident and these factors could affect the unborn child
more than the adrenalin or other physiological factors associated
directly with stress. It would appear that a relaxed and safe
pregnancy is good for baby and mother and so it would make sense
that as many as possible of the conditions outlined previously
are avoided.