A stillbirth can happen because of a number of factors during pregnancy. And one of the most common questions is “Can stress cause stillbirth?”
Medically reviewed by Jobelle Ann Dela Cruz Bigalbal, MD · General Practitioner
A stillbirth can happen because of a number of factors during pregnancy. And one of the most common questions is “Can stress cause stillbirth?”
Read on to learn more about the relationship between stillbirths and stress, and to know what moms can do in order to lower the chances of it happening.
A stillbirth happens when a baby dies after the 20th week or 4 1/2 months into pregnancy. In contrast, a miscarriage happens before the 20th week. In some cases, it’s possible for the baby to die during labor, but these situations are fairly rare.
Even now, doctors don’t always know why stillbirth occurs. In fact, an estimated 1/3 of stillbirths cannot be explained. However, there are certain possible causes, which include1:
However, there is one more possible cause of stillbirth, which is stress. But how can stress cause stillbirth, and can it be avoided?
Stress is something that a lot of us deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes, the stress that we experience can be too much, so we start to feel overwhelmed. This can manifest in different ways, such as constantly feeling tired, easily getting angry, or getting anxious all the time.
If stress affects us this much, you can just imagine how big of an impact it can have on pregnant women. Pregnant women deal with a lot of things on a day-to-day basis that can cause stress, such as the changes that happen to their body, worrying about the health of their baby, or even worrying if they will be a good mother.
Studies done about stress and stillbirth have shown that mothers who suffer from psychological stress during pregnancy are more prone to stillbirths. Some examples of stress that pregnant mothers experience include having problems at work, money problems, losing a loved one, or even having an unhealthy relationship with their partner2.
It’s still unclear why exactly stress has this effect, but it could have something to do with the fact that a mother’s psychological state can affect the fetus. Aside from this, researchers have also found that psychological stress can increase the risk of preterm birth and placental abruption3.
So with regard to the question of “Can stress cause stillbirth?”, the answer is yes, it can be a contributing factor4. This is why it is important for pregnant mothers to also focus on their mental health, and not just their physical health.
Dealing with stress isn’t always easy, but there are some things that pregnant mothers can do in order to better handle their stress. Here are some tips5:
Learn more about Complications and Giving Birth here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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