Yes, maternal stress is a well-established cause of preterm birth (defined as birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy), especially when a mother's stress is chronic. Stress can also impact a baby's development in the womb, as well as their long-term health. Stress is something we accept so readily in everyday life that alleviating it while pregnant may not even be top of your list of priorities. We hope this article will empower you to make informed decisions about stress management but also serve as a reminder that the burden should not be yours alone.

Pregnancy is not a disease, but it should be respected as a special state of being. Anything that negatively impacts babies affects all of us. Premature birth can come with lifelong complications for the heart, lungs, and brain, as well as a range of other issues. We can all do something to help prevent it.

What can I do to prevent stress causing the preterm birth of my baby?

Here at Unii, we promote maintaining a healthy diet in pregnancy, keeping moderately active, staying in close communication with your healthcare team, reaching out for psychological help when needed, and practicing good hygiene to support your pregnancy. However, we cannot assume that every parent experiences the same stressors in pregnancy or processes stress in the same way.

Unlike other conditions that may cause pre-term birth, such as gestational diabetes, the management plan that's right for minimising your stress may have little in common with any other mother's, and that's OK. Some do well with hypnobirthing techniques and pregnancy-safe yoga, others need to learn personalised coping strategies from a mental health professional. There is nothing close to a one-size-fits-all approach.

How can I prevent stress in pregnancy?

As long as you don't have anxiety issues that may require medication or counselling (your doctor will be able to help you with this), the most proactive thing you can do in your own life may be to take a two-pronged approach:

Limit your exposure to stress as best you can.
Look at how you respond to stress, whether it's isolating, internalising, becoming overwhelmed, or something else, and work on managing these in order to avoid any negative consequences, e.g., losing sleep or having the feelings manifest as headaches.

It is most useful to begin this approach before you start trying to get pregnant, but many of us won't have the luxury of that much time. Neither do we have crystal balls: things can happen in pregnancy that generate entirely new responses from a mum, who is in a unique physiological and mental state during each individual pregnancy. In addition, recent research suggests that social stressors like racism can increase cortisol levels and inflammation in a woman's body, promoting not only preterm birth but maternal death in childbirth. As it is so unfair to expect women to reduce any stress they come by in these ways, we should all work together to better protect maternal health.

One of the most powerful things you can do about your stress in pregnancy is to communicate as much as you can, whether it is with your partner, your healthcare team, or your family and friends. Verbal, written, and creative communication is equally valid. This behaviour is unselfish and can only benefit your baby and their future. Know that you are being a responsible parent simply by telling anyone who can help how you feel. Remember that showing love for yourself in pregnancy is loving your baby.

Watch Unii's Pregnancy: The Three Trimesters Journey video course with Dr. Shree Datta for week-by-week advice on having a healthy pregnancy.

Can stress cause premature birth?

Unii look at how stress and anxiety in pregnancy can lead to preterm birth.