Experiencing too much stress during pregnancy is risky, for both Mom and baby, spending time on a yoga mat is one way to bring a little stress relief.
Modern day living is STRESSFUL. This stress does not disappear when you become pregnant, in fact, the shifts in physiology, coupled with the apprehension and responsibility of pregnancy, often mean pregnancy is more stressful than normal.
And you’re not just eating for two, you’re stressing for two, too.
The stressed out Mama
So stress management in pregnancy, is a priority, because babies exposed to serious stress in utero,
- often come early,
- have lower birth weights and
- tend to have more emotional disturbances as they grow up.
And a stressed out Mama, is at risk of developing postnatal depression.
But, stress management options available for pregnant women are limited. A glass of wine at the end of a rough day, just isn’t an option and too many sweet treats, can cause undesirable weight gain.
So, what are the options ?
Researchers from Manchester University, suggest taking up yoga.
Yoganini Baby
Being mindful of the dangers of stress during pregnancy, the team decided to explore whether yoga classes could help stressed out Mama’s, de-stress.
To do this, they enlisted the help of 59 first time about-to-be-Mom’s living in the Manchester area. The Moms were all asked how they were feeling, taking several standardized tests, designed to assess anxiety and depression levels.
Next, the ladies were randomly allocated into one of two groups.
- Group 1 – just carried on, carrying on
- Group 2 – headed for the yoga mat, breathing and stretching each week, for 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 weeks, the women were once more asked to put pen to paper and report, how they were “feeling”, using the same standardized tests.
Oummmm stress is gone
The ladies taking the yoga class all reported that they felt LESS STRESSED.
The de-stressing effect was not just a matter of FEELING less stressed, when the team measured stress hormone levels, these were down too.
So if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed during pregnancy….
Head for the mat
The relaxation, breathing techniques and comrade of a yoga class, will help you to de-stress, a little. Make sure your yoga instructor knows that you’re pregnant, so she shows you poses that you can cope with.
The less stress will mean better body chemistry for you and the precious cargo you’re carrying.
PS. If you want to stress proof your baby – be sure to start your day with a eggie breakfast
Further reading
If you are an expectant Mom or know someone that is – invite them to participate, so they can create Better Body Chemistry during their pregnancy and raise a HAPPY HEALTHY little one.