Can stress cause premature birth of your unborn?
Stress hormones play a huge role in the development of your unborn child. These hormones hit the roof when you are stressed or depressed. Studies reveal that higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and estradiol (E2) are known to trigger labour. 
A normal pregnancy lasts for a period of 40 weeks. If your child is born before the ideal 37 weeks of gestation, you have yourself a preterm baby. According to the World Health Organization, about 15 million babies are preterm, which means that there is a 1 in 10 chance that your baby could arrive earlier than expected. Many other factors like sex during third trimester, swimming etc. have said to result in premature babies. However, thanks to modern medicine, advanced premature baby care, and awareness, you can rest assured that your little one will be safe and sound.
Prevention is always better than cure, so here’s a list of 6 things that could help you get past the stress and avoid a premature delivery.
1. Talk about it: Worries about having a normal delivery, the health of your child, and the looming expenses that come with having another mouth to feed could cause stress. Talking to your doctor and loved ones will reassure you.
2. Pinpoint the stressor: Try and isolate the thoughts and factors that are causing stress and address them individually. It helps to identify the cause so they can be effectively dealt with and, thus, minimize stress levels.
3. Get some sleep: Adequate sleep could be just the thing you need to stay calm and happy. Sometimes a quick nap can do wonders to ward off any negative emotions.
4. Get a massage: Your body is currently sheltering your little one, and it’s probably weary from all the changes taking place. A massage could go a long way in putting your tired muscles to rest.
5. Yoga and meditation: Yoga and meditation will cause your stress levels to plummet tremendously. Mind-body techniques trigger the body’s relaxation response, and when you’re relaxed, the physiological processes are at their smoothest.
6. Ask for help: Stress is common among pregnant mothers, and there is no shame in asking for help when you feel overwhelmed. You will be surprised by how eager your friends and family are to help.
Premature birth is amongst the main causes of infant death. It ranks second after pneumonia for claiming the life of children under five. Stress during pregnancy is found to be among the major factors linked to it. This gives you all the more reason to keep calm and surround yourself with positivity.
