Anyone had a stressful pregnancy and a lovely baby?

[Stressingabtstress]

I've had a very stressful time at work lately and am now worried this will be damaging to my baby. I'm in my first trimester and everything I read seems to say this is the most vulnerable time for the effects of cortisol on the programming of the baby brain, emotions etc.

I've been sleeping well, eating healthily and functioning normally but for 8 hours a day at work I've had a tight feeling in my chest, occasional crying and heart palpitations.

Would this be considered a considerable level of stress? I'm so worried. I need to be able to put this behind me to not cause even more stress for the next 6 months...

I had an extremely stressful time in my first pregnancy. I was experience bullying at work by the leadership team, was working ridiculous hours and had a complete breakdown about 5 months in (was under mental health in pregnancy team). I cried constantly for 9 months.

I unfortunately had an extremely traumatic birth too and developed awful PND and PTSD.

My son is the funniest, most wonderful child. He is so laid back, sociable and doing extremely well at school (he's 6 now).

In a nutshell.....please try not to worry too much!

Yup! Hyperemesis, suspected ectopic, torn uterine wall from endo and spd then shitty birth however the most chilled 6mo who sleeps all night and laughs all day!

Thank you so much both, your responses made me cry with relief. Sorry to hear you both had a difficult time though.

The work situation is now resolved so I just need to get out of this overthinking cycle and just enjoy things. My first was the easiest baby and a really good sleeper and I just keep worrying that any difference in the pregnancy is going to completely change the outcome and I won't cope.
But in fact I'm just my own worst enemy!

I had an extremely stressful pregnancy and also the clingiest baby in the world. However, could be coincidence and nothing using a carrier often couldn't fix!

I had 2 extremely stressful pregnancies and had 2 very easy, happy babies.

Hi, I went through separation from cheating ex and started divorce proceedings during pregnancy no. 3. Stress was out of this world, but one delightfully chilled happy baby.

My first trimester of my first pregnancy I was travelling to remote industrial sites in tiny planes, serving really challenging (high-maintenance, political, sometimes racist) clients. I was sleeping as little as two hours a night because of the insane workload, and had terrible morning sickness to boot. I had to tell every person at work (client and my own firm) that I was pregnant within minutes of confirming the pregnancy at 5 weeks, because there were parts of the industrial sites that were off-limits to pregnant women. So... overall pretty stressful. My now-3.5-year-old is and always has been a delight. :-)

Yes horribly abusive relationship, several incidences of reduced movement after big arguments lots of anxiety, stress and upset.
Calm, lovely, happy baby who is now a bright, happy 5 year old x

Same here. Very stressful first trimester. Stress induced insomnia, had my first ever panic attacks etc...

Baby boy is very chill, only cries if there's a problem like teething (even then he doesn't cry much), hungry (he cries a lot when hungry lol) etc. Otherwise happy - everyone always comments on how smiley he is.

Extremely stressful pregnancy. DH left me in the first couple weeks of pregnancy, I immigrated to a new country, and suffered with HG and a million other complaints while working 16 hours a day 7 days a week to try and bankroll this pregnancy. DS was born prematurely but they don't think it's connected (I just don't seem to tolerate pregnancy well, stressed or happy) and he's absolutely wonderful happy little guy.

These are so helpful, thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It also puts my stress in perspective, I just need to put it out of my mind.

@Smiling89 that's particularly helpful as I had a couple of anxiety-filled weeks at the beginning where I constantly felt on edge of a panic attack. I think it was hormone related and quickly settled but I have been so worried about the damage it may have done. Enjoy your lovely boy!

I hope it doesn’t affect things too much! I’m worried about this too, I’m 7 weeks and having a stressful and worrying time at work, I keep worrying that the cortisol will affect the baby. These stories are reassuring xxx

Op I was pregnant with my son 4 months after I lost a daughter at 31 weeks pregnant. I had had the traumatic time of my life and the pregnancy was triggering and oh so scary for me. If ever a baby was going to be affected by stress it was mine. He was a dream, an absolute dream and still is. I have lots of other loss mum friends who also found their pregnancies so difficult and stressful. Their babies were absolutely fine.

Yes! Hyperemesis, a suspected ectopic, needed an amino and had loads of family drama in those 9 months. So stressy!
DD is the happiest and most chilled child ever!

I had the opposite with my first - calm trouble free pregnancy and highly strung super high maintenance baby- it was a complete shock. My 2nd baby (more stressful pregnancy) was much more chilled, then the 3rd was in between... I think it's pretty much just luck of the draw!

Yes - with DS I was under the care of a consultant from the get go due to DD being born very prematurely before him. So I was anxious enough to start with. When I was around 16 weeks pregnant D-MIL passed away and then at 30 weeks I developed cholestasis and was in and out of hospital frequently for the rest of the pregnancy. DS then came at 35 weeks! He was (and still is) the loveliest, happiest little boy with such a sunny disposition

Try not to worry op (though I know it’s easier said than done!)