Cortisol effect on baby-opinions anyone?

[here we are]

Just reading another post about ultrasounds &a bunch of stuff came up, got me thinking. When i think, i tend to stress, so i will keep it short. I have decided that i am doing the best i can & have various relaxation routines , b/c why worry about cortisol? Its funny to hear myself say it, you should see me when i am undecided or panicking, but even if i have a bad day, i fit in slow down time. I will not allow myself to do anymore research on cortisol, readingabout it is enough to get me pumping! If they dont get me one way, its another. Whos with me ? I say we know whats best for our babies &this is an oportunity to develop confidence & build on stress reducing skills without any guilt or blame.

[here we are]

Bumping for fun.

[familycastle]

I think a little stress is normal and even healthy, but I did just write a paper on how maternal stress can influence the baby's development. Here's one study......http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039791. 

[here we are]

Thanks familycastle, though the link said "article could not be found". I was hoping to read &maybe discuss, &hoping it wouldnt have an alarming tone that i kept finding. I agree with you about a certain amount of stress being too much& when i wrote what i wrote i wasnt trying to make any assumptions for anyone. I was boosting my own confidence that not thinking about stressful things was good for me right now & hoping others could find their own rythums to cope with stress. In other words, why worry MORE about stress effects in the past, like from my first trimester when i cant change it now except to focus on the future? I read how it was one of the worst times for stress for developing certain conditions & then third trimester with its own conditions as outcomes. Then another article emphasized week 18-20 as the very most important so -i just fed up. Sometimes it seems like it might not be that easy to measure too, like science. I am so interested in your study or links.

[Quinalla]

I think we all are going to have some stress during pregnancy and that's ok, especially when it is balanced by lots of positive, happy feelings and relaxation. I am not a worrier, but if I think I've been a bit over-stressed, I'll make it a point to do something relaxing/fun/etc. to provide balance. I think that is the best thing you can do to balance out your unavoidable stress!

[familycastle]

Let me try again....http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19876832 and http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0039791.

[familycastle]

These links seem to work. I do want to point out that although maternal stress can influence the developing fetus' methylation, it usually occurs under prolonged exposure to stress. I have an interest in how maternal stress can go on to cause developmental issues, and how later on the epigenetic effect may be undone.

I agree that worrying about stress is not beneficial, but it actually helps me to de-stress knowing that it is important for my child's health. Even more reason to take time for myself and unwind