Stress during pregnancy - How badly did it affect Baby?

[MagicalCreatures]

Hi
I’m nearly 30 weeks and have been under a lot of stress lately. It’s been going on for about 4 weeks solid and I’m so petrified about the affects it might have had on the baby.
Things have calmed down now and are looking better so I’m starting to try and relax but I’m so worried it’s too late and the damage has been done.
I’m particulary scared about getting pre-eclampsia. Can stress bring this on?
My midwife appt last thursday showed my blood pressure as 130/70. Previously 120/70.
But today I’ve noticed some swelling in my feet. Maybe one a little more then the other.
I know it’s such a crucial time and I really need some positive stories from people that went through the same sort of stress and everything was fine.
Or some stories where it did cause problems because I’m unsure now whether to go get my blood pressure and urine checked again.
Any advice appreciated x

If you get pre eclampsia it won't be due to stress. I was really stressed last pregnancy and it was fine, DS us fine. I'm really stressed this pregnancy too and I'm not worried. I stupidly decide to do stressful things when pregnant it seems

My husband was diagnosed with an extremely serious medical condition when I was about 6 months....emergency surgery etc. Incredibly stressful. Baby is here now and is perfect.

I started to have a really stressful time at work when I was about 25 weeks, I didn't develop preeclampsia and the baby was and is absolutely fine. No bad effects at all.

I did develop high blood pressure from about 30 weeks though, and my swelling was terrible. They didn't say that was due to stress though. I was given a home blood pressure monitor and some sticks to dip my urine which I had to do 3 times a week and text my results to the hospital.

Occasionally they called me in where I had to have my blood pressure taken a few times a day, it didn't result in an overnight stay though and I felt better for being checked out. They said it could have just been my health rather than stress.

I'd see how you go, if the stress is making things difficult then you need to take some time off. You'll be exhausted enough without more to deal with.

Stress doesn’t cause pre-eclampsia - but it can push your BP up, so a higher BP could be because of stress and not a sign of pre-eclampsia.

I’m not aware of any evidence that stress during pregnancy affects babies. I’m sure yours will be absolutely fine.

OP my first pregnancy was really stressful, I was going through a hard time with my partner and arguing loads, I worried so much about how it was affecting her. She was absolutely fine, a happy healthy baby from the start and now a very happy 3 year old.

I had a very stressful time from the week I found out I was pregnant up until about 16 weeks, serious family illness, work and hospital visits every day for months. Baby is chilled out and perfect

There's absolutely zero scientific link between stress in pregnancy and ill effects on the baby.

However, if you can try to relax and take time for yourself you might find things easier once the baby arrives. But you won't give yourself pre-eclampsia by stress.

Thanks girls.
You’ve made me feel abit better already. Knowing that the stress won’t be the cause of it really helps.
I suffer with migraines anyway in general and because of my lack of sleep and broken sleep lately, I’ve been getting them again but I was also worrying that was a sign aswell.
I think I’ll go get my blood pressure checked in the morning just to be safe and I’ll see how my legs look after a night with them elevated.
Why do we do it to ourselves ay?
My life is generally quite non-stressful and yet during the one time I should be calm, I’m more stressed then ever. Sods Law!!!

I had hypertension in my last pregnancy which wasn't pregnant eclampsia (although they suspected it) and my blood pressure was a lot higher than yours. Just keep an eye on it. Might be worth asking about baby aspirin if you're not already taking it - I'm on it this time as a preventative measure and my blood pressure had been fine so far, even a bit on the low side.

Pre eclampsia obviously!

Stress itself isn't a worry but high blood pressure can restrict growth so I'm having extra scans this time too.

I had high blood pressure with dc1 (completely zero stress pregnancy) and not with dc2 (in my own in foreign country when dh got blown up and given 20% chance of survival).
‘Normal’ stress (moving house and whatnot) has zero effects on babies (babies are born to refugees in encampments, to mothers in war zones etc). There is a small body of research into the effects of cortisol on the foetus, but this is not in any way linked to your experiences. You are experiencing perfectly normal late pregnancy symptoms get checked for your own peace of mind and look after yourself, but the stress you are experiencing won’t have any effect on your baby.

I feel as though I was very stressed at some points in my pregnancy, but I had a good labour and a healthy, lovely boy who is now 5 months. Try not to worry too much!

Oh - and my son is the most relaxed little baby, he's very chilled.

Throughout my second pregnancy I was looking after my Mum through cancer treatment and lots of hospital appointments etc. She died at 28 weeks. I was convinced the baby was going to be affected - crazy worried about him. But do you know what? He’s the most gorgeous, chilled out and joyful person you could imagine. Don’t worry OP, your baby is blissfully unaware of your troubles and just quietly and happily growing. x

I am an extremely anxious person. I suffer from GAD and OCD and was worried about the effect on baby. A close friend of mine who works with refugee children reminded me that a lot of the kids she works with were born in war zones (where the mothers were likely to be considerably stressed!), and most are absolutely fine. Lovely, resilient kids.

Your baby will be just fine, I'm sure!

Thanks so much everyone.

So sorry for some of your situations though and what you went through. It’s meant to be such a happy time, it really upsets me to think I’ve spent weeks not really enjoying my pregnancy.
On the up now though and pleased to hear you all have beautiful happy children.
My ankle swelling has reduced so I’m taking that as a good sign x x x