Stress in pregnancy

[user1465146157]

I'm pregnant and worried that stress could affect my baby's personality / mood or somehow be 'transferred' to them?

This is more of a scientific question.

Since getting pregnant I've been through a major bereavement, lockdown (haven't we all..), many stressful family situations and then just general life things - all having left me not breaking down but certainly with moments of literal heartache and worry and that sinking stomach feeling, all of which can't be good for the baby.

Some situations are unavoidable but I do try and keep positive - I'm now worried that the baby could possibly feel emotionally what I feel.

Any thoughts on this?

Thank you

Stress can impact on the baby, however it is only very extreme stress that does this - think directly experiencing a terrorist attack (there's a study on women who were pregnant and were involved in the September 11 attacks) or having to escape a war torn country. Even then the risks are only seen if you are in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Babies are amazingly resilient even before they are born.

The stress that most of us experience whilst making us feel awful shouldn't impact on our baby. It sounds like you have had a rough ride recently have you anyone you can talk to about it all?