Stupid question - can stress actually start labour?

[Flamesparrow]

Last few weeks have been very hectic. People keep telling me to calm down or the baby will come early.

It is just one of those things that "everyone" knows, and it only occurred to me today - is it fact or old wives' tale?!?!?

Part of me thinks rising blood pressure etc isn't good, but does it actually trigger labour?

[Flamesparrow]

seriously - no-one??

[mummy2t]

i am not sure to be quite hst. my first arrived at 36 weeks, 2 days after a very stressful event. after i swore blind the stress of th day brought on labour but then dc2 was born at 37 weeks with no stress around at all, so now i am not so sure. i think it is sensible to try and stay calm but it isnt always that easy.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

I do believe it can, but it has to be absolute mega stress.
I'm pretty sure on that, though I couldn't back it up.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

rising blood pressure/hypertension - yes i believe THAT can

[vanimal]

Yep - I am convinced DD2 arrived early due to stress - just back from a w/e away, our house sale was about to collapse on the same day, I had a terrible hospital appt about the pregnancy, and 3 unexpected very lovely but high maintanence visitors, and went home telling DH I couldn't cope with the stress I felt I was under.

That evening I went into labour.

[izzybiz]

Not sure its very good for the baby but I don't think so.

My SIL's Dd1 was taken into hospital with meningitis when SIL was 28 weeks pregnant with her Dd2.
Dd1 died 2 weeks later.

That surely has to be the most stress a person could ever have to deal with, she didn't go into labour untill 38 weeks.

Try and reduce stress for your own well being, the baby will take everything it needs from you regardless.

[Meeely3]

izzybiz - how awful!!

I had my twins at 28/29 wks, depending on whose dates you go by.....2 days after an exam at work, which I passed but was super stressed leading up to.

DC3, was right on time, no stress throughout pregnancy, other than the usual dealing with twins stress....no medical reason was found as to why the twins came early - labour was easing off til I had a show in hosp and my brain said "oh shite" and bam I had the biggest contraction ever and 40 mins later ta da, mummy to two babies!

[MrsHappy]

I don't know, but when I was pregnant with my DD I got majorly cross and contractions kicked off a few hours later. I was 40+10 by then though so she was ready to come anyway!

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Like most things it will depend on so many things.

It is possible but not certain.

[sausagerolemodel]

There has been shown to be an association between stress during pregnancy and pre-term birth but it is a relatively low association I think. i.e. just because you are stressed, that doesn't mean you will definitely have an early birth. My dad died suddenly in an accident when I was beginning of 2nd trimester, so my whole prgnancy was a traumatic time (and was being monitored by perinatal mental health team) but my baby was two days late. If you can try and keep your stress levels down however, that is best for both of you.