Stress during pregnancy - what is dangerous, consequences, how to get rid of it

The period of bearing a child is a delightful stage in a woman’s life. She finds herself the center of care and attention, but at the same time she has a huge responsibility for the little man. Preparing for the arrival of a baby, resolving work issues, and everyday chores occurring against the backdrop of hormonal storms can provoke a full-fledged stress reaction. The magazine “Together with You” figured out how stress affects pregnancy, whether you should worry about the health of the child, and how to minimize this impact.

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Stress during pregnancy: causes

The fact of pregnancy itself is already stressful for the body. In the next 9 months, he will have to go through serious changes associated with increased stress on all organs and systems. Therefore, a woman should avoid any additional stressful situations, and the truism that pregnant women should not be nervous is completely justified.

In reality, almost no expectant mother can do without worries, but how strong the impact of stress on pregnancy will depend on the intensity of the worries. The following reasons may be provoking factors:

Fear for the child. While the baby is inside the belly, the mother cannot control his condition or know whether he is healthy. This is especially annoying for women who have had unsuccessful pregnancies. The fear subsides a little with the onset of movements and the completion of all planned tests.
Contacts with others. Registering with a antenatal clinic is not a task for the faint of heart. The queues, tests, and unfriendly staff shock women who are not accustomed to the realities of our medicine. However, an easily vulnerable pregnant woman can be hurt anywhere, and a trip on public transport or a trip to the store turns into mini-stress.
Working moments. It becomes difficult to work as before, and if colleagues and superiors do not treat you with understanding, it is almost impossible. If your manager is calm about being late due to tests and delaying deadlines due to morning sickness, you can consider yourself lucky.
Shock situations. A woman’s special position cannot insure her from life’s shocks. An accident, natural disaster, death of loved ones, betrayal or divorce can overtake her during this especially vulnerable period.

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Fear of childbirth. It usually overcomes women in the third trimester, closer to the “H” hour. This stress factor intertwines fear of pain, complications, errors of medical personnel and many other, often vague and irrational fears.
Preparatory chores. There is so much to choose from - a stroller, a crib, a mattress, decide whether you need a pillow, and what to take with you to the hospital. Despite the fact that these chores are rather pleasant, they are full-fledged stress for the nervous system.

Bad and good stress

Stress is influenced by both positive and negative emotions. In psychology, a distinction is made between the concepts of eustress (caused by positive experiences) and distress (caused by negative events). Both varieties load the nervous system, although with different emotional overtones.

Don’t think that a scolding from your boss is a meaningless little thing that doesn’t add up to a stressful situation. In practical psychology, an assessment method such as a stress scale is used. At the same time, real disasters, such as the death of relatives, are estimated at 100%, and small episodes, such as not giving up a seat in transport, are estimated at only 5%. All negative emotions received are summed up, and in a couple of days the total degree of stress can exceed far beyond 100%. So multiple small experiences are no better than single strong ones.

What to do when stressed?

1 Treat yourself to something delicious. For most people, food is the main method of dealing with stress. But this does not mean that any troubles in life need to be “eat up” with cakes and other sweets. Especially given the fact that a woman needs to carefully monitor her diet during pregnancy.

The group of food antidepressants, contrary to popular belief, does not include chocolates, ice cream or jam. The ability to improve mood is inherent in products containing B vitamins, manganese and vitamin C.

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Such products are fish, nuts, lean meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit), cottage cheese, natural yogurt, red fruits (apples, pomegranates), berries and dried fruits. These products will not only help improve the mother’s mental state, but will also be very beneficial for the baby.

2 Love and be loved. Scientific experiments have shown that single women are most often exposed to stress. Moreover, a woman can feel lonely even if she is married.

It is important to understand that it is not so much sex that can help get rid of stress, but a feeling of complete understanding in the family. Don’t isolate yourself: you need to share your experiences and thoughts with your other half.

Going together to a film screening, theater or exhibition is a good way to forget about everyday problems and worries. New experiences experienced together will definitely put both you and your life partner in a good mood.

3 An interesting hobby is the best cure for stress. Many women begin to discover new talents in themselves during maternity leave or pregnancy. If at the usual pace of life we do not always have time for creativity, then right now you can do something exciting and enjoyable.

The expectant mother can attend master classes, during which the teacher will give you basic knowledge about a particular form of art in an accessible form. In addition, at such courses you can find new acquaintances: communication with interesting creative people always leaves a positive impression.

By creating something with your own hands, you will be distracted from negative thoughts. The fruits of your creativity will also be an excellent decoration for the interior of your home.

4 Healthy sleep and proper daily routine. Physical fatigue also has a negative effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it is so important for pregnant women to maintain a normal daily routine. Go to bed no later than 22-23 hours. It is during these hours that the body restores its strength as much as possible. Sleep started later is less effective.

And the ideal time to wake up would be 6-7 am. Sleeping too much is no less harmful to health.

5 Work on yourself. There is a certain category of people who can literally invent problems for themselves.

If you also have this property, try right now to strictly forbid yourself from thinking about bad things.

Give yourself a session of positive auto-training. Relax, tune in to a positive mood. And you will understand that all fears and worries are just a figment of your wild imagination. And your favorite aromas and calm, pleasant music, sounds of nature or even mantras will be excellent helpers for relaxation.

Stress during early pregnancy: should you be afraid?

The beginning of pregnancy is a rather ambiguous period. On the one hand, the expectant mother feels quite pregnant, and often experiences unpleasant sensations of toxicosis. On the other hand, nothing is visible outwardly yet, and even close people do not always consider it necessary to treat a woman with reverence, not to mention strangers.

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Any damaging factors, as well as stress, in the early stages of pregnancy act on the child according to the “all or nothing” principle:

On the one hand, the fetus is completely protected from physical influences by the fact that, due to its small size, the uterus is located in the pelvic cavity. There is also no need to worry about the effects of high levels of stress hormones, because the uteroplacental blood flow begins to function only after 10 weeks, and everything that circulates in the mother’s blood cannot reach the fetus.
On the other hand, the organs and systems of the fetus are not yet differentiated, which means that even the slightest damage causes severe pathology, most often incompatible with life.

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Stress during pregnancy itself does not have consequences for the child in the first trimester, but it can provoke changes in the mother’s body:

Increased toxicosis. Against the backdrop of anxiety, mild morning nausea can develop into round-the-clock nausea, leading to vomiting. Women note drowsiness, the desire to sleep almost around the clock and other manifestations.
Stress in the early stages can provoke hormonal changes, due to which implantation of the embryo is disrupted, but in this case the woman will not even know that there was a pregnancy.
The mother's worries and worries lead to an increase in smooth muscle tone, which carries the threat of miscarriage.
Severe stress during pregnancy is one of the likely factors for fetal death.

Frozen fruit

A fairly common pathology in which an absolutely healthy fetus stops developing and dies in utero without any physical reason. This can happen at any time, up to 42 weeks.

If you notice bloody or spotting discharge or feel a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, consult a doctor immediately. A delay of even a few hours can become critical, so do not hesitate to call an ambulance or call the doctor after hours.

Stress medications

Special psychotropic components for the treatment of stress are used extremely rarely and only at a time when the body's adaptive mechanisms are not able to cope with emotional stress. In this case, the doctor will definitely weigh all the possible risks for both the baby and the mother and select the most harmless medications.

Many drugs negatively affect the fetus and lead to the formation of developmental defects and circulatory disorders. Thus, expectant mothers should understand that drops such as “Barboval”, “Corvalol”, “Valocordin”, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy, are strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. Experts also do not recommend self-medication and taking combination medications based on herbs - Nottu, Novo-Passit, Persen - since their effect on the fetus has not yet been fully studied.

The safest remedy is valerian.

Second trimester: keep your nerves under control

With the onset of the second trimester, the woman feels relief. Toxicosis, hormonal changes and the first tests are already behind us, and the time of sluggishness and swelling has not yet come. The tummy is just emerging and looks nice and neat, you rarely need to go to a consultation, so if there are no deviations, it’s time to enjoy your special status. Stress during pregnancy in the second trimester is usually associated with factors beyond the woman's control; more often these are severe shocks than minor experiences.

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Despite the fact that the second trimester is relatively easy for the mother, it is a busy time for the baby. Now the formation and development of all organs and systems is taking place, and the damage at this time is the most severe. Don’t be alarmed, stress during pregnancy will not cause consequences in the form of congenital anomalies, but still it cannot be called absolutely safe:

Under the influence of stressful situations, the uteroplacental blood flow suffers, as a result of which the fetus does not receive enough nutrients and oxygen. Low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation are more common among newborns whose mothers have experienced stress.
Uterine hypertonicity also remains relevant. Up to 22 weeks, it is fraught with spontaneous termination of pregnancy, and after that - with premature birth with the birth of a very premature baby.
Chronic stress leads to constantly elevated levels of stress hormones in the blood. As a result, the fetus perceives such a hormonal background as normal, adapting to it. After birth, such a child unconsciously strives for stressful situations, provoking conflicts and aggression. As adults, such children often get involved in extreme entertainment to keep their bodies in good shape.
Official medicine has also traced the connection that stress during pregnancy has with autism. Such studies have not been conducted in the post-Soviet space, but in the United States, 46% of surveyed mothers whose children suffer from autism noted that they experienced stressful situations while carrying a child.

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If you were unable to avoid shocks during this period, be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe herbal-based sedatives. Also inquire about the possibility of a trip to a sanatorium for pregnant women, if there is one in your city. If measures are taken in a timely manner, stress during pregnancy does not have consequences for the child.

The effect of stress during pregnancy on the fetus and the mother's body

Severe stress negatively affects a person’s mental and physical state.
Acute shock affects the functioning of the immune system, and health and performance deteriorate. Therefore, during pregnancy, the effects of stress are extremely unfavorable. Not only the mother’s body suffers, but also the fetus. Of course, for nine months you cannot completely isolate yourself from exciting situations, but it is the acute and prolonged stress factor that is dangerous. Powerful emotional trauma can cause the development of various pathologies, for example, missed abortion. But it's not all that scary. Scientists believe that small worries are even beneficial for the female body and the baby’s nervous system. Only constant stress and deep emotions cause serious damage. What consequences, besides missed abortion, can be caused by a long-term stress factor?

The last trimester is not the time for stress

If you have crossed the threshold of 28 weeks, you can exhale. The child is no longer in any danger; all organs and systems have developed and are only going through the final stages of formation. The main task of the toddler now is to increase weight, and only stress can interfere with this. If a child is born now, even in shabby hospitals without modern equipment, he will most likely be saved. But it’s still better not to take risks and take care, because mild or severe stress during pregnancy can have the following consequences:

Premature birth. Your body cares about the health of the baby, and if it judges that hormone fluctuations and uterine hypertonicity are more dangerous for it than being born prematurely, labor may well begin unplanned.
Weakness of labor. The process of giving birth to a child is a complex mechanism that is triggered and regulated by hormonal changes. If hormone levels are abnormal during pregnancy, labor will be ineffective and doctors will need to induce labor or deliver the baby by cesarean section.
Light weight. No one has canceled hypoxia and impaired uteroplacental circulation, and since the main process of the third trimester is weight gain, it is he who suffers due to stress.
Malposition. Periodic hypertonicity in various segments of the uterus leads to the fact that the baby cannot take the correct head-down position before birth. Breech and oblique presentation makes it impossible or significantly complicates the course of childbirth through the natural birth canal.

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In addition to the risks listed above, stress during pregnancy has nonspecific consequences. Children in the first year of life often sleep poorly and behave restlessly, and if the stress factor is not eliminated, problems with lactation may arise.

Stressful situations and pregnancy

While carrying a child, a girl becomes more susceptible to negative situations, because of this, expectant mothers face stress, which overshadows the joy of expecting the birth of a child.

Most often, girls who are carrying a baby for the first time encounter this phenomenon, however, to one degree or another, it is also observed in mothers with many children. One of the main causes of stress in pregnant girls is considered to be hormonal changes, which begin in the body from the moment the child is conceived.

This condition can be recognized by characteristic symptoms, which include:

headache turning into migraine;
increased sleepiness during the daytime and lack of proper rest at night due to insomnia;
worsening memory and impaired concentration;
exacerbation of allergic reactions (if they were observed before pregnancy), severe skin itching;
indifference even to what previously brought positive emotions and aroused interest, apathy and indifference to loved ones;
discomfort and pain throughout the body that have no medical explanation;
depression, feeling of hopelessness and strong causeless melancholy;
obsessive thoughts about troubles and accidents;
tearfulness for any reason and an irritated state;
changes in blood pressure.

Stress can be observed not only throughout the entire period of bearing a child, but also after the birth of the baby.

Provoking factors

In addition to hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother, there are other provoking stress factors during pregnancy that can negatively affect the girl and her unborn baby.

Provoking factors include:

tense situation in the family and lack of mutual understanding between spouses;
fear for the upcoming birth, especially if the pregnancy is abnormal and there is a threat of miscarriage;
worries that after the birth of the child it will be difficult for the mother to care for him due to lack of experience (typical for first-time girls);
conflict situation at work, tense relationships with colleagues or superiors;
nervous breakdowns in the past and unstable emotional state;
heredity - if someone in a woman’s family has already encountered stress when bearing a child, there is a high risk that a similar problem will not bypass her;
the age of the pregnant woman is under 18 and over 40 years old;
unwanted pregnancy - if the couple did not plan a child and cannot yet provide for it, this will lead to worries and stress;
the girl’s absence of a husband - in this case, she understands that all the worries about the newborn baby will fall on her shoulders, and worries whether she can cope with this alone.

Why are pregnant women more susceptible to stress?

Girls carrying a baby are more susceptible to nervous breakdowns and stress than other people, and there is a reasonable explanation for this. After conceiving a child, a physiological restructuring begins in a woman’s body, designed to ensure the harmonious development of the embryo and aimed at maintaining pregnancy. Due to an increase in the level of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, the girl’s emotional background loses stability and, as a result, she becomes more susceptible to the influence of negative life situations, to which she would not have paid much attention before pregnancy.

Is stress dangerous for pregnant women in the early and late stages?

Stressful situations have a negative impact on the health of the mother and the development of the child at any stage of pregnancy, but it is most dangerous to be nervous at the very beginning of pregnancy - in the first trimester. At this time, the girl begins to suffer from toxicosis, and stress only intensifies its manifestations.

Also, this condition negatively affects the cardiovascular system and immunity; the expectant mother begins to often become infected with colds.

In the second trimester, the formation of the baby’s main systems and organs ends, but nervous disorders still negatively affect the condition of the expectant mother and child. There is a high risk of increased uterine tone and the development of gestosis in the second half of pregnancy, characterized by severe swelling and increased blood pressure.

Negative effects on the fetus

Stress is especially dangerous for a child, as it leads to multiple developmental defects and diseases that appear after the child is born. The worst thing that can happen if a girl is constantly nervous is the freezing of the fetus in the womb under the influence of stress.

The dangerous consequences of a stressful state in an expectant mother include:

nervous disorders in the baby, inability to concentrate on the task at hand, poor memory, hyperactivity;
psychosomatic disorders, autism at an early age, impulsivity;
enuresis, allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, speech disorders.

If a woman was under constant stress while carrying a child, the baby experiences difficulties communicating with peers in kindergarten and school, has low self-esteem and needs constant attention from parents.

How to cope with stress during pregnancy: useful tips

First of all, calm down. This is not a joke, now nothing matters except the little one that lives under the heart. Your experiences now can result in serious problems for a defenseless creature. Therefore, pull yourself together and implement the recommendations of psychologists:

Stop being afraid. Fear that something is wrong with the child is not constructive. Follow the doctor's recommendations, undergo all examinations, and do not think about the bad.
Find yourself a hobby. It’s best if it’s something creative – drawing, knitting or handmade.
Pamper yourself. Don't deny yourself small joys. One cookie will harm the body less than an angry mother. Eat what you want, just control the quantity.

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The fear of pain during childbirth should recede. Accept that you will have to work hard and be patient during childbirth, but a few hours of pain are nothing compared to the years of joy of motherhood.
Announce your situation to everyone. Often, a pregnant woman strives to keep her secret longer, but if you lack attentive attention, do not hesitate to say that you are pregnant. Let the boss not begin to tremble before you, but at least he will not raise his voice.
Talk about your desires. No man will refuse to give up his seat if you directly ask him to do so and explain that you are expecting a child. Don't wait for your husband to pamper you with a bouquet of flowers; tell him about it directly.

Don't let stress ruin your pregnancy. After all, this wonderful period happens so rarely that you should definitely get the most out of it. Moreover, the course of pregnancy, the ease of childbirth, and the health of the child now depend on your peace of mind.

How to avoid stressful situations

To avoid severe stressful situations, the expectant mother needs to remember that she is responsible not only for her health, but also for the fate of the unborn baby. Being nervous about any reason or without it is not the best solution in her situation.

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Perchatkina Galina Viktorovna

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If there is no mutual understanding at work with colleagues or superiors, and this negatively affects the emotional background of a pregnant girl, it is better to quit and look for another place to work.

During the period of bearing a child, it is worth filling your life with positive emotions, doing what you love or doing a hobby. This will distract you from obsessive worries and thoughts and allow you to feel the joy of pregnancy. You shouldn’t isolate yourself - going to the theatre, concerts and exhibitions will give you a boost of positive emotions and allow you to take your mind off thoughts about your condition and the upcoming birth.

If a woman cannot cope with a stressful condition on her own, she should discuss this with her supervising specialist; she may need the help of a psychotherapist.

Useful advice from doctors

Experts recommend that expectant mothers not lead a reclusive lifestyle, thinking about their new situation for days on end. You shouldn’t radically change your habits during pregnancy and refuse to attend events that will bring positive emotions and help you get rid of stress.

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, you should go to the sea on vacation, visit friends and relatives, or simply travel to forget about troubling problems and disturbing thoughts. If you cannot cope with stress on your own, do not hesitate to contact a psychotherapist, otherwise you may lose your child.

What to do and how to quickly relieve stress

The expectant mother must learn to independently get rid of strong feelings and stress in order to bear and give birth to a healthy baby. Physical exercise, breathing exercises, aromatherapy, taking vitamins and sedatives help to cope with a dangerous psychological state. It would also be a good idea to undergo a course of psychotherapy with a qualified specialist.

Psychological techniques

Simple psychological methods allow you to calm down and get rid of stress without the help of a doctor or taking medications; they can be used at home.

Experts advise abstracting yourself from the situation, that is, looking at the events taking place from the outside. If a pregnant girl is worried about some incidents, she should switch her attention to something else, for example, look out the window at passers-by, count some objects on the table, listen to the sounds coming from the street.

This technique allows you to relieve nervous tension and can be used anywhere, wherever the expectant mother is.

It is recommended to keep a diary and write down in it all the thoughts that come to your mind and the events that happen. In this case, the creative process allows you to escape from problems - real or imagined - and relieve stress. After this, the head clears, and the woman can look at things from a different perspective.

It is necessary to develop the correct reaction to events that lead to a stressful state. Psychologist Susan Krauss Whitbourne recommends using the following rule: “I cannot change the situation, but I can change my attitude towards it.” That is, you should react to any negative event as a positive moment, which allows you to gain certain experience and become stronger.

Cooking your favorite foods can also relieve stress. Since a pregnant woman has a good appetite, it is necessary to choose a recipe that will allow you to eat a tasty dish, but at the same time not gain excess weight. Psychologists recommend going to the store on your own, slowly choosing foods to cook, then just as slowly cutting them up and preparing a tasty and healthy dish. You need to eat it slowly, savoring every bite.

At least an hour a day should be set aside to do what you love - it could be drawing, knitting or any other hobby that allows you to escape from everyday worries and brings positive emotions.

Music helps improve your emotional state and relieve stress during pregnancy. It is necessary to turn off the lights or close the curtains so that the room is twilight, turn on calm compositions, preferably classical ones, close your eyes and plunge into the sounds, visualizing pictures of nature or the sea.

Breath

One of the most effective ways to relieve stress during pregnancy is considered to be breathing exercises, which allow you to relieve negative energy and calm down.

Expectant mothers use the following options:

Take a comfortable position and begin to slowly inhale air through your nose. Hold your breath for 5-6 seconds and exhale just as slowly, but through your mouth, while imagining how all experiences and negative emotions go away with the air. Repeat 10 times.
Take a sitting or lying position (the latter option is not suitable for the third trimester). Place one hand on the chest and the other on the stomach, and relax as much as possible. As you inhale and exhale, the chest remains motionless and the stomach rises. Continue the exercise for one minute, then take a short break and repeat several more times.
Inhale air through the nose with a short jerk and exhale through the mouth in the same way. Repeat from 5 to 10 times.

When doing breathing exercises, you need to carefully monitor your well-being. If severe weakness or dizziness occurs, classes are interrupted. Over time, these symptoms will go away.

Physical exercise

First of all, a pregnant girl needs to take walks in the fresh air every day. Exercises in the pool under the supervision of an instructor will also be useful. Such procedures during stress allow you to relax your muscles and improve your mood.

When engaging in physical education, it is important for a woman to consult her gynecologist so that he can suggest safe exercises that will not harm the expectant mother, but at the same time help cope with stress.

A set of exercises for stress usually includes the following exercises:

raising and spreading your arms to the sides;
warm-up, smooth turns of the body in different directions;
gluteal bridge or raising the pelvis from a lying position;
tilting the body in different directions - in the second half of pregnancy, this exercise is best done while sitting;
exercises on a fitball - bending in different directions, circular rotations of the pelvis, squeezing the ball with your feet.

When carrying a child, women are prohibited from strength training, which involves lifting weights, jumping, sudden movements and jerks, stretching, and high-intensity exercise.

Relaxation and aromatherapy

In the absence of contraindications, a woman should sign up for a massage course, thanks to which it is possible to relax the muscles of the back and cervical region, which become tense under stress. It is important to contact a specialist who has already performed the procedure on pregnant women and will take into account the peculiarities of the child’s position and development.

Yoga is also considered a good means of relaxation. A special set of anti-stress classes has been developed for expectant mothers. At first, it is worth practicing under the supervision of an instructor; besides, by communicating with other pregnant girls in the group, you will be able to get rid of anxieties and fears and improve your mood.

Aromatherapy helps relieve stress, but it can be used if the pregnant woman is not prone to allergic reactions. Essential oils are placed in a special lamp or a few drops are added to a warm bath. This procedure is carried out before bedtime in order to relax and fully rest.

Taking a vitamin complex

When carrying a child, the doctor recommends that women take a complex of stress vitamins designed specifically for pregnant women. As a rule, such drugs contain magnesium, which has a positive effect on the nervous system. Usually, during pregnancy, preference is given to such complexes as Vitrum Prenatal Plus, Femibion Natalker and Elevit Pronatal.

Visit to a psychologist

If all the previous methods have not helped to cope with stress, and the pregnant woman continues to be in a stressful state that threatens the health of the child, it is worth turning to professionals. As a rule, antenatal clinics have a psychologist’s office who helps expectant mothers normalize their emotional state and prepare for childbirth.

You can sign up for an individual consultation, or you can take a course in a group with the same pregnant women. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you should focus on your own feelings during pregnancy. At the appointment, the psychologist will teach you how to deal with bouts of stress, relax and focus only on positive things.

Sedatives

Strong sedatives based on phenobarbital are prohibited for use for stress throughout pregnancy. In some cases, to relieve nervous tension in the expectant mother, the doctor prescribes sedatives consisting of extracts of medicinal herbs. They are allowed to be used starting from the second trimester of pregnancy. In the first trimester, the use of any stress relief pills is undesirable, since their active ingredients can negatively affect the formation of organs and systems in the child.

Among the medications approved for use against stress during pregnancy are the following:

Valerian extract. It is used in tablet form, since the tincture contains alcohol, which is prohibited for women carrying a child.
Motherwort extract. Such tablets are characterized by hypotensive and sedative effects and are taken only as prescribed by a doctor.
"Novo-Passit". Containing extracts of medicinal plants, the drug has a calming effect during stress, fights migraines and headaches, and eliminates insomnia during pregnancy.