Can being upset harm my baby

[Toomanytoomany]

Some things in my life have been really stressful at the moment. I'm not sleeping properly because of it and last night I spent most of the night in a state crying because of the drama thats happening in my life. I dont want go into detail now as I don't want people to judge but I was up until about 5am and still have a splitting head ache. Probably the worst I have ever had. I am really concerned about my baby now because of the stress that I may have passed on. Does anyone know more about this and if my baby will be okay. I am really worried.

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with very upsetting events. It's hard enough when you *don't* have a lot of pregnancy hormones to deal with as well.

In a nutshell, yes, stress can be a risk factor, for high blood pressure, for low birth weight, and for your own ongoing health and wellbeing. Stress can suppress your immune system and leave you vulnerable to infections. That doesn't mean you've done damage to your baby and if there are ill effects it is usually because of prolonged extreme stress, not a one-off traumatic event. What it does mean is that for your own sake and your baby's, you need to do what you can to deal with the stress you are facing in as healthy a manner as you can. Prolonged stress can make ante and post-partum depression more of a possibility.

If you are not finding you are dealing with this horrible situation, please seek further help. Do you have supportive people around you who you can unload to? Is there any possibility of getting some counselling to help you get through this period? Hypnotherapy is a wonderful thing, particularly in pregnancy. You can buy relaxation tapes and CDs - even if you can achieve a state of relaxation once or twice a day, it can help with your general coping. You produce a hormone called cortisol when you are stressed, and your baby is exposed to that hormone. Whatever you can do to lower your feelings of agitation and anxiety, even if you can't make the stressful feelings go away altogether, will be beneficial for you and the baby.

Her words don't become truth because she's said them. I know it's hard to accept that sometimes. I always say to my kids, "If someone calls you a ham sandwich, it doesn't make you a ham sandwich." I've suffered from a severe anxiety disorder for quite some time and it's been a hard long road to get to a point where I can deal with it.

[mustangsachy]

Oh AliBaby - you poor thing!

What a bit@!. I can't believe someone could be so awful. It's good that you have support from your partner and he's sticking up for you. Sounds like she's mentally unbalanced and you've done the right thing blocking her. Just remember it's not your fault or problem.

This should be a really happy and exciting time for you and your partner and she's got major issues to be raining on your parade like she is - i'm sure her other friends have seen what she has written and are thinking the same thing! You'd have to be a monster to act like that.

Just try to relax and block her negative crap out! if she continues to harass you, you an copy and paste it and print it out and go the police, they mightn't be able to do a lot but i had a situation where i was being harassed and followed by an ex friend and they phoned him up and warned him if he continued they would press charges - it's enough to scare most people out of their sickening behaviour.

good luck hun. xo

[ashlukris]

I would say, try not to take her rubbish on as it's just negative energy that you and bubs do not need which can lead to stress. If she is not important to you and does not have a place in your life then just try and forget the nasty things she has said and try to concentrate on other more positive things, like your family. You will feel alot better for it