What is the name of the condition of women when they are pregnant. Strong bond. How the psychological state of a pregnant woman affects her unborn child

The reproductive system of women is one of the most sensitive indicators of their state of health, since at the first manifestations of any pathological process, a violation of the specific functions of the female body is often found. The complex effects of various external traumatic factors can significantly affect the reproductive function of a woman and, as a consequence, the health of the offspring. Currently, more and more attention is paid to the influence of the psychoemotional state of women on reproductive function, pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. A lot of facts have been accumulated indicating that the mother's inappropriate behavior during pregnancy, her emotional reactions to the stresses that our life is saturated with, cause a huge number of various pathological conditions in the child, both behavioral, psychological and somatic. ... Also, it turned out that during pregnancy, the influence of adverse factors on the offspring is not limited to one generation. The question arose about the presence of transgenerational effects of antenatal stress recorded not only in the first (F1), but also in subsequent generations (F2-F4).

The beginning of pregnancy is the most difficult period for a woman, both physiologically and emotionally. It is during this period that women suffer from early toxicosis, hormonal changes in the whole body begin, which also affects the emotional background. ... Vasilyeva O.S. emphasizes the psychological role of pregnancy for the mother, child and society as a whole. Pregnancy is viewed primarily as an existential situation that causes profound changes in self-awareness, attitudes towards other people and the world.

• · During pregnancy, not only the fetus ripens in the womb, but the mother herself, that part of the woman's personality, which will subsequently perform maternal functions.
• · It is during pregnancy that those attitudes, behavioral and socio-cultural stereotypes that will determine this or that type of motherhood are actualized.
• · The emotional state of the mother during pregnancy has a significant impact on the course of pregnancy and childbirth, the subsequent attitude towards the child and herself, as well as the formation of his self-awareness, the formation of purely human qualities.
• · The fetus in the womb is not only a biological object, but also the subject of purposeful formative and educational influences, i.e. the pregnant woman is already performing maternal educational functions.
• · The phenomenon of pregnancy as a special socio-cultural phenomenon, integral to human existence, is reflected in various works of culture, traditions, and religious beliefs.

Almost all pregnant women are subject to sharp emotional changes, therefore, the mood of a pregnant woman changes almost every hour. A significant influence on the formation of a woman's emotional state during pregnancy is exerted by the desirability of pregnancy (Table 1), the attitude towards a pregnant woman in the family, the formation of personal qualities , psychological readiness for motherhood, these variables form a certain style of attitude towards pregnancy, the upcoming birth and relationship with the unborn child.

Table 1. Unwanted pregnancy - problems of mother and child.

Psychological characteristics of women with unwanted pregnancies. Psychological problems of unwanted children. 1. Emotional dissatisfaction with the current situation that infringes on self-esteem. 2. Uncertainty in oneself, in the possibility of success, low self-esteem. 3. High feelings of guilt, passivity bordering on masochism. 4. The need to overcome limitations, the desire to get rid of fear, anxiety that is hidden behind the emphasized confidence and independence. 5. High level of self-control with a tendency to lie. 6. Problems of social adaptation. 7. Problems of interpersonal relations. 8. Traits of emotional immaturity, pronounced emotional instability, high anxiety and anxiety. 9. Increased impulsivity, irritability, sensitivity to external influences. 10. Experiencing disappointment and resentment. 11. Distress, hypochondria. 12. Depressive reactions. 1. Decreased cheerfulness, increased excitability and resentment. 2. Decreased self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, in their strengths, abilities. 3. High dependence. 4. Failure in training. 5. Deceit and lack of hard work. 6. Lack of communication or excessive sociability. 7. An extraordinary need for recognition, often the use of criminal ways for its implementation, the presence of asocial tendencies. 8. Lack of understanding with desired children. 9. Envy, hostility towards the success and happiness of others. 10. Indifference, emotional deafness. 11. In parenting - indifference to caring for their children. 12. Sardonic, caustic, ironic. 13. Insufficient stress resistance, masked depression; nervousness, neuroses. Psychotic symptoms.

The mother's attitude to the fetus during pregnancy leaves persistent traces on the development of his psyche. Emotional stress correlates with premature birth, major childhood psychopathology, more frequent occurrence of schizophrenia, often with school failures, high rates of delinquency, drug addiction and suicide attempts.

Physical changes entail changes in her psychological state. This is due to a change in appearance and a new response to the attitude of others. During pregnancy, a woman's sensations, feelings and moods change.

The psyche of a pregnant woman has specific features in each trimester of pregnancy:

• 1. The first trimester is characterized by an unstable mood: on the one hand, a conscious desire to have a child, on the other hand, uncertainty in their maternal capabilities, fear of childbirth. The physiological changes characteristic of many pregnant women during this period are important: nausea, reactions to smells, sounds, colors, changes in taste. Extraordinary sensitivity and tearfulness, increased resentment and moodiness appear, accompanied by a great need for a kind-hearted attitude and attention.
• 2. The second trimester is a period of relative calm. The expectant mother gradually adapts to an unusual image, begins to feel the movement of the child, accepts a new life in herself.

The third trimester is distinguished by such a basic feature as "immersion" in anticipation of the unborn child, which becomes a concentration of interests and activities. A woman can significantly increase her creative potential, and therefore, there is a need for vigorous activity or hypersensitivity in relation to the unborn baby: dreams, premonitions, extraordinary experiences, a feeling of mental contact with the child.

At the psychophysiological level, Hurst distinguishes changes in the following sensory areas:

§Acoustic: Pregnant women often dislike loud, harsh music, preferring classical or meditative music.

§Visual: Many women report changes in visual perception, in particular, emotional responses to visual stimuli; at the same time, pregnant women begin to feel more deeply beauty and harmony.

§Kinesthetic: Most pregnant women become more sensitive to how they are touched and other tactile signals.

§Smell: Many pregnant women have a more differentiated sense of smell. Since strong odors can be harmful to the unborn child, some odors have a healing and calming effect on the mother.

§Taste: Many pregnant women do not like certain foods and drinks, as well as substances that are harmful to the normal development of the fetus, such as nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, etc. However, pregnant women often unconsciously begin to eat foods that have the necessary nutrients.

Psychological changes during pregnancy are manifested in the so-called pregnancy syndrome. The pregnancy syndrome is experienced by a woman on an unconscious level, has certain time boundaries and is characterized by the following symptoms:

• · At the first stage, the affect of being pregnant is most often experienced. Within the framework of this symptom, as a rule, the following difference is manifested: the higher the social and intellectual level of a pregnant woman, the more independent and professionally successful she is, the more questions about the meaning of childbirth she will put before herself, the more difficult it will be for her to decide to become a mother.
• · The next stage in the development of pregnancy syndrome is the reflexive acceptance of a new self-image: "I am in position." This stage is characterized by the recognition of physiological changes in your body. The real biological and neuroendocrine changes that accompany pregnancy can have profound psychological effects on expectant mothers.
• · The symptom of emotional lability deserves special attention, which, to one degree or another, is inherent in the entire period of pregnancy. This symptom refers to emotional maladjustment, which manifests itself in fluctuations in the background mood. In some women, passivity increases and a feeling of higher satisfaction and pleasure appears. Others experience mild depression and physical activity during this time, possibly because the pregnant woman is trying to deny a new sense of her own passivity. Mood swings can be expressed in varying degrees of internal tension: in a feeling of boredom, in slowness, in growing dissatisfaction with oneself, in a verbalized feeling of depression.
• · From the moment of realizing and internal acceptance of herself as a pregnant woman, a symptom of a contradictory attitude towards pregnancy is found. Researchers note that at this time there are characteristic rapid mood swings and the resurrection of previous anxieties, an affect in which joy, optimism, hope and - alert expectation, fear, sadness are simultaneously present. Here are both fears and fears associated with the upcoming birth, reaching panic; and lack of confidence in their ability to give birth and become a full-fledged mother; and fear for the health of the unborn child, concern about the deterioration of the financial situation of his family, about the possible infringement of personal freedom; and finally, the experience of their bodily metamorphosis and the associated sexual unattractiveness.
• · Further, a mental restructuring of a woman's self-awareness, characteristic of pregnancy, occurs with the gradual inclusion of the image of a child in it. At this moment, the expectant mother experiences a symptom of a new life in herself. This stage most often occurs when a woman begins to feel the first movements of the fetus. As the fetus grows, the sensory component of these sensations becomes brighter, acquires a shade of objectivity. During this period, a woman usually begins to interpret the behavior of an unborn baby: "woke up", "having fun", "worried", etc. A meaningful pregnancy inspires the expectant mother, creates an appropriate affective background with which she spiritualizes her future baby, his presence evokes a feeling of tenderness, is painted in warm emotional tones. Some women are so immersed in these experiences that childhood traits also begin to appear in their behavior. They become more sensitive and suggestible, helpless and softened. According to the researchers, during this period of pregnancy, an internal dialogue between the mother and the child usually occurs. A special emotional state contributes to the formation of a child's image, which is included in the woman's self-awareness. The symptom of accepting a new life in oneself is the pinnacle of the pregnancy syndrome, being a kind of indicator of the perception, processing and assessment of a woman's experience of this psychophysiological state. It is characterized by impending responsibility for the fate of the child, dreams, dreams and fantasies about him.
• · During this period of pregnancy, a change in the construct "I am the surrounding world" is clearly traced. Women, in accordance with the changed perception of reality, tend to endow their familiar social environment with new qualitative characteristics against the background of increased exactingness. This tendency can be defined as a symptom of exaggerated claims towards others.
• · Beginning with a period of 20-25 weeks, there is another problem that deserves special attention. Physiological changes occurring in a pregnant woman often make a full sexual life impossible for her, which creates or increases the distance in communication with a man. These factors can contribute to the onset of symptoms of sexual inferiority during pregnancy.
• · The next, and one of the most striking moments, is the symptom of fear of childbirth. Probably, every woman, to some extent, experiences an internal conflict, which, on the one hand, is expressed in the desire to "finally give birth", and on the other hand, to avoid childbirth. On the one hand, she expects the successful completion of the pregnancy, on the other hand, childbirth causes fear and anxiety. The degree of mental vulnerability of women before childbirth is indicated by the ease with which most of them agree to the use of any painkillers, without thinking about the possible consequences for the child.
• · One of the last symptoms a woman experiences during pregnancy is impatience. This stage of pregnancy is characterized by bodily discomfort and fatigue as labor approaches.

Today, it has been proven that during stress, the adrenal hormones of the mother release catecholamines (stress hormones) into the bloodstream, and during positive emotions, the hypothalamic structures produce endorphins (hormones of joy), which, penetrating the placental barrier, directly affect the fetus. Consequently, the mother and child are a single neurohumoral organism, and each of them equally suffers from the unfavorable influence of the external world, which is recorded in long-term memory, affecting the entire subsequent life of the child. Positive maternal emotions induce increased fetal growth, calmness, and increased fetal sensory perception. Its stress leads to low fetal weight, increased mortality, respiratory infections, asthma, and weakened cognitive development.

In the 1960s. renowned pediatrician Hieronimo de Mogaras conducted a study. He studied three groups of mothers. The first group consisted of those who, during pregnancy, felt fear about its outcome, since past pregnancies ended unsuccessfully. The second group included women who had a negative attitude towards the unborn baby, mainly because the pregnancy came against their wishes. Women of the third group - those who wanted a child, their pregnancy period passed without deviations, and their children grew up healthy. The babies of the other two groups of mothers were very restless, slept and ate poorly. Of course, it would be wrong to explain this only as a consequence of this or that attitude of the mother to the unborn child; there may be a complex of reasons. However, the factor of parental attitude cannot be discounted in any way (Brusilovsky, 1994).

An important contribution to understanding the intrauterine life of the fetus was made by the Swedish doctor A. Nilsson, who, using a microscopic camera, recorded the life of an infant in the womb, starting from the first weeks of development. According to these observations, the brain begins to form at the 3rd week of embryonic existence, and its activity is recorded on the encephalogram by the 6th week after conception. 5 weeks after conception, the embryo begins to show reactions to stimuli, for example, touch, and at the age of 7.5 weeks, in response to stroking the crown of the head with a thin hair, a turn of the head was observed in the opposite direction. By the 12th week, the vestibular system is formed, for spatial orientation and maintaining a sense of balance.

Being in the dark space of the uterus, the fetus is able to perceive and remember visual images associated with the emotional experiences of the mother. This ability is acquired from about the 7th week of intrauterine life, when the retina is able to perceive external signals, transmit visual images to the brain, and reproduce images that appear in the brain. The nervous system at the end of the third trimester is well developed, the fetus makes sucking movements, shows a grasping reaction to touch, the eyeballs move.

By the 16th week, fetal movements become coordinated and can already be felt by the mother. In a healthy fetus, physical activity usually increases in the evening hours, especially between nine in the evening and one in the morning. He retains this rhythm of sleep and wakefulness for some time after birth. From 14 to 18 weeks, the fetus distinguishes the first sounds: heartbeat, breathing and the mother's voice, the noise of the intestines, stomach. At 6-7 months of intrauterine life, the fetus not only hears, but also well differentiates internal sounds. If the mother is worried and her heart beats anxiously, knocking down the rhythm of breathing, then the fetus freezes, as if in anticipation of danger. After a while, the danger becomes quite real, since hormones corresponding to the negative emotions of the mother reach the fetus. These hormones cause a deterioration in the well-being of the fetus. The connection between the nature of the sound and the corresponding emotional state and physiological state is fixed and remains in the memory. From the 20th week, it becomes possible to record the reaction of the fetus to an external sound action: in response to sharp sounds, the fetus shrinks fearfully or begins to behave restlessly.

Histological examination revealed by 8 weeks the presence of taste buds in the tongue, which are surrounded by taste pores and hairy sensory cells by 14 weeks, and they begin to function by 15 weeks. From the 14th to the 15th week, the olfactory receptors function. The only odor that the fetus can smell is that of amniotic fluid, colored by the mother's individual odor and identical to that of breast milk.

Thus, unborn children have all types of sensitivity that are detected at different stages of pregnancy and develop simultaneously with the development of other systems and organs. The stressful conditions that women experience during pregnancy have a particular effect on the fetus.

During pregnancy, a woman can experience many fears, such as anxiety for the unborn baby and for her own health, fear of childbirth, labor and imminent pain. Modern women have to worry about a career, about financial problems, about the many additional costs associated with the appearance and upbringing of a new family member. ... And this raises the question of whether to continue working during pregnancy or not? It is not always possible to answer unequivocally, since the question is also very difficult. Work should be stopped if it is accompanied by occupational hazards that threaten the health of the fetus. Also important are not only theoretical hazards, but also the real level of safety at each specific workplace. Ideally, it is better for a pregnant woman not to work in production, and it makes sense to continue the service if it is not accompanied by critical stress and physical stress, and also brings moral satisfaction. But where to find such a job? In addition, the financial aspect plays a significant role. Therefore, more often than not, a pregnant woman has to find a compromise. The question of continuing or stopping work during pregnancy is taken by the family after carefully weighing the pros and cons and it is necessary to consult a doctor.

All of these fears can lead to many negative emotions such as worry, depression, irritation, anxiety, stress, anger, loneliness, confusion. Most often, changes in the psycho-emotional background during pregnancy lead to the development of depressive and anxiety disorders. It was found that psychoemotional instability contributes to vegetative disorders and exacerbates the risk of abortion. K.D. Kholmov notes that stress and anxiety during pregnancy increases the risk of having an early baby and weight can often be below normal. Also, foreign authors have found that anxiety during pregnancy can affect the weight of the newborn, and the duration of pregnancy. Pregnant women with severe or chronic anxiety are especially at risk.

Specialists distinguish intrauterine hypoxia, disturbances of placental circulation, abnormalities of labor forces and the course of labor, as a consequence of emotional stress during pregnancy. (A.O. Syrina, G. Dick-Reed and others). You can also add to the list: the threat of miscarriage, prolonged (prolonged) or premature birth, the absence of a cry at birth in a child. From the above, we summarize once again that a negative emotional state has an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy and, as a result, on the course of childbirth. By the way, there is an opinion that this adverse effect is differentiated depending on the sex of the child, i.e. there will be different effects of emotional stress on boys and girls.

And the most comprehensive evidence of the connection between the emotional state and the course of pregnancy, childbirth and the subsequent development of the child is the physiological approach to this problem. In 1925, the American psychologist and biologist W. Cannon proved that with all acute and chronic experiences, "worry hormones" - catecholamines - are released into the mother's blood (or maintained at a constant level), reaching the fetus without any obstacles through the bloodstream shared with the mother. system. Since the fetus has practically no system for neutralizing "anxiety hormones" and the return venous network is not developed, they accumulate in critical doses not only in the fetus itself, but also in the amniotic fluid, which the fetus constantly swallows and secretes from itself. Accordingly, an increase in the amount of amniotic fluid in the second half of pregnancy also increases the amount of catecholamines or their biological followers in it. With continued stress, amniotic fluid by the end of pregnancy is saturated with appropriate hormones. At the same time, the child is experiencing an increasing lack of oxygen, due to the constriction under the influence of "disturbance hormones" of the vessels, the blood of which delivers oxygen to the fetal tissues, including the nerve cells of the brain. Prolonged lack of oxygen (hypoxia) is not indifferent to the fetal nervous system, causing hypersensitivity, characteristic after birth, to stuffiness, odors, noises, bright light and sun, the ease of dizziness and fainting. The catecholamines themselves lead to excessive mobility, instability of nervous processes, anxiety, mood disorders, emotional excitability, disturbances in the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.

Women who have experienced severe emotional stress during pregnancy are much more likely to have boys with manifestations of homosexual and bisexual behavior in adulthood. There are known cases of reversion of sexual orientation in women whose mothers took hormonal drugs for medical reasons during pregnancy. Many researchers highlight the adverse effects of mother's emotional stress on pregnancy and childbirth. the pathological consequences of antenatal stress are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Pathological consequences of antenatal stress.

Course of pregnancy Childbirth by gender Female Male Increased irritability; sleep disturbance; susceptibility to fears; emotional dissatisfaction and discontent; increased fatigue; the threat of termination of pregnancy. Rapid labor; premature birth; lack of cry at birth (in the absence of asphyxia); delayed childbirth (post-term pregnancy); protracted labor Premature discharge of amniotic fluid; premature birth; entanglement of the umbilical cord around the neck.

Thus, the emotional stress of the mother has a negative impact, first of all, on the course of pregnancy, and then childbirth, and differentiated depending on the sex of the child.

Recognizing that there is a relationship between the emotional state of a pregnant woman and a child (fetus), we irreversibly come to the conclusion that the chronic negative emotional state of the mother, bright strong stressful situations adversely affect the fetus (child).

Even if it was not at all easy for you to bear a child, with his birth, life will be colored with new colors. Believe me, you are not alone - neither in joy nor in sadness! Condition during pregnancy sometimes it changes with great speed and there is nothing terrible and shameful in this.
There is an idea that every woman, having barely learned about her pregnancy, is overwhelmed with a feeling of radiant joy and remains in this state until childbirth. This is called "being a good mother" and behaving quite "right." About how the expectant mother should behave, what to think and feel, books and articles have been written, this is taught in courses and in TV shows for future parents. However, in life, everything is not so rosy, and many expectant mothers ask each other: "Do you like being pregnant?", Hoping to hear that she is not alone and that not everything leads others to indescribable delight.

Stories from the life of pregnant women

“I am expecting a baby for the second time, and each time I am confused by the sensations that pregnancy gives me. In my opinion, only the baby's movements can be called pleasant, but for some they soon turn into a “game of football”.

“I was not too sweet during pregnancy - nausea, smells that cannot be avoided. Food that is "recommended" to eat, not the one you want. Lack of opportunity to dance, drink with friends. About friends, by the way, is generally a separate conversation. As soon as I got pregnant, most of them were just blown away by the wind. "

Many will shake their heads: “This is wrong! Pregnancy is a joy, what does she say ?! She probably doesn't want a child and will be a bad mother! " And women, whose head such thoughts creep into, immediately begin to feel guilty, inferior, and wrong. But know that you are not alone! Here is what mothers recall, who experienced their pregnancy without much enthusiasm: “Of course, I immediately recall the 4-month toxicosis, weight loss of 9 kg, later pinched nerves and sleepless nights when my daughter drove her legs in her tummy until 5 am ... happiness is to feel that a little man lives in you. This covers any trouble. I really want to experience everything again! "

“For myself, I concluded that pregnancy cannot be called something pleasant, but it is preparation for the very best - the result of all suffering - for a child! It was necessary to endure this in order to get that desired, why I, perhaps, was born. Pregnancy was hard for me, but the first moments after childbirth are the happiest moments of my life. Such euphoria that you understand: for the sake of these few minutes of happiness, it was worth walking a journey of 9 months with toxicosis up to 16 weeks, heartburn, shortness of breath, palpitations, headaches, swelling and so on! "

Am I a bad mom?

So, unpleasant feelings can be associated with pregnancy, and this is absolutely normal! Agree, few of us like nausea or lethargy. But these are frequent companions of the beginning of pregnancy. It's hard to get overwhelmed by 3 months of nausea and start experiencing bliss. But in only a small percentage of women, nausea and sleepiness will last more than 12 weeks. Even if you have this period a little longer, remember - it will soon become easier.

Tune in that already in the second trimester you will feel much better and, if you wish, you can even go somewhere to relax with your husband, since rest for pregnant women is important for.

Causes a certain irritation and a constant desire to fall asleep while standing, sitting and in all possible positions. The fact that you do not like this state of affairs is quite acceptable and, naturally, does not say anything about your moral qualities, or about your readiness and desire to soon become a mother. You just don't feel well. This is normal condition during pregnancy,the psychology of the personality of a pregnant woman is as follows.
But soon it will pass!

Condition of a pregnant woman in the second trimester

And now the toxicosis recedes, I don't want to sleep anymore. Begins, by all accounts, the quietest trimester of pregnancy.

It is in the second trimester that many women will finally feel comfortable and enjoy pregnancy. But here, too, there are moments that not everyone likes. These are the common complaints of this period.

• "I am very worried and worried if everything is all right and if I can give birth myself."
• “I'm worried, of course, my nerves are terrible:“ What’s there? How does the baby feel? Why can't I feel any movement? After all, it's probably time for him to push! "
• “Now I am constantly on edge - at least because few people understand me. They constantly ask why I am angry, but this question alone makes me sick. "
• “Oh, these tests for pathology - who just invented them! Until you wait for the result, you can go crazy with excitement! "
• “I cry for everything! It seems, show me your finger - I'll burst into tears! "

If you can say the same thing about yourself, then know that you are not alone. It is in the second trimester that many women complain of unmotivated tearfulness and irritability. With a sinking heart they wait and worry why they are not there. They are worried that there are too many of them or less than usual. Anxiety and irritability do not add to your comfort.

But this condition during pregnancy does not mean that you somehow "incorrectly" feel your own state or are not happy about the expectation of a child. On the contrary, excitement is rather a sign that you are very worried about your unborn baby. And you will be a very good mom! To be more calm about your child's condition, it is important to choose a good doctor you trust. He will both advise and console. And your "pregnant" days will become brighter!

If you feel that you have become overly sensitive, talk to your doctor. He will prescribe mild and approved sedatives. This will save yourself, your loved ones and your baby from unnecessary worries.

Talk to your family, explain that now you have a special condition and often you get angry or cry not at all because your family did not please you in some way, but simply because these emotions are stronger than you and it is difficult for you to restrain them. Which, however, does not mean at all that you can torment your loved ones with your bouts of bad mood. Keep yourself together!

Condition of a pregnant woman in the third trimester.

In the third trimester of pregnancy, many women may experience such unpleasant pregnancy companions as edema, in particular, swelling of the hands during pregnancy, heartburn, shortness of breath, stretch marks. They just drive expectant mothers crazy, and few people are delighted with them. Women are afraid of their own condition during pregnancy, negative thoughts about such a happy event as carrying a child.

Pregnancy and nervous breakdowns are becoming more frequent, but everywhere they say that one should think and feel differently!

And to the anxiety about one's well-being and unfavorable changes in appearance is also added a tremendous sense of guilt before others and the baby for the fact that mommy is waiting for him “with the wrong thoughts”. You feel heartburn, you struggle with swelling, you find it hard to button your shoes, and walking becomes difficult. The child pushes all night long, and cannot sleep. You feel sorry for yourself, and often the thought comes to mind: "When will this end?" Well, the thought is very characteristic of the third trimester and, in essence, correct.

You are feeling negative about YOURSELF while worrying and worrying about the baby! Don't worry, you are the nicest mommy and everything in your family will turn out in the best way!

Others find it more difficult.

Remember at least those women whose pregnancy is (or passed) hard, with complications. Some are forced to spend half the term, or even all 9 months in the hospital, or the doctor prescribes bed rest during pregnancy at home. Of course, few of them will say that pregnancy was a wonderful and blissful time for them.

Women who had a very difficult pregnancy often just recall it with a shudder. They associate it with anxiety, endless examinations and procedures. From the pleasant impressions - the baby's movements and childbirth (and even then not for everyone). And, nevertheless, they are the most gentle and caring mothers. And many of them, despite their fear and possible repetition of negativity, want more children! Regardless of whether you are delighted with pregnancy or this state does not bring you anything but excitement, you are ready to experience such a state again for the sake of what is most precious in the world - your wonderful baby!
If you want, love and wait for him - you will be a good, caring and most loving mother!

The mood during early pregnancy can change like a sinusoid, from strong to weak, from joyful to depressed, from confidence to fear of the future. Both changes in the body and the conditions of your life play an important role in this.

Read in this article

Changes in the body and their effect on mood

Internal physiological changes that accompany the onset of pregnancy play a primary and key role. The restructuring of the body and the emotional state during early pregnancy are inseparable from each other:

• ... Taste sensations change. As a result, mood can also change. Some foods (even previously loved ones) may taste intolerable, even to the point of disgust. On the contrary, other foods will make you want to eat them as much as possible. You may also want to either eat nothing at all, or the feeling of hunger will follow all day long. In both cases, you should eat as your doctor recommends - changes in mood and appetite in early pregnancy should not greatly affect the diet necessary for your health and the health of your baby.
• Rearrangement in the central nervous system. The brain (or rather its small but very important structural part - the hypothalamus) qualitatively and quantitatively controls the regulation of hormones. And hormones - mood, and quite long. It is impossible to regulate the work of the hypothalamus on your own, so you need to adapt and be prepared for the fact that mood can change very strongly: from irritability and even anger to tears of happiness. An event and details that did not touch you before can cause a very strong emotional reaction, and something that previously worried, disturbed or delighted you may cease to affect you. By the way, this may also concern the perception of sounds, perhaps you will want to listen to certain music more often, or maybe it will be comfortable mostly in silence.
• Metamorphoses of smell. Closely related to changes in the central nervous system. Previously loved perfumes can, at best, cause rejection and misunderstanding of how they could previously be used and admired. The same goes for food and cooking.

Smell is a powerful stimulant of memories and mood. If there have been changes in the perception of smells, you should surround yourself with those smells that cause, if not admiration, but at least a neutral attitude. Get new perfume, change something in the kitchen. Cannot be ignored: mood swings due to smell can be stressful.

Pathology in the mood

Emotional swings and changes in mood can not always be explained solely by physiological reasons.

• Asthenia is a severe decline, weakness and general constant drowsiness. Those affairs and duties that were previously easy to give seem impracticable. Pallor and circles under the eyes are possible. It is better to overcome this condition by rest and sleep, regular meals, and a walk in the fresh air. The main thing is not to bother yourself with activities that require strong emotional or physical involvement, so as not to expend the energy that should be spent on restoring a healthy state.
• Stress during early pregnancy is normal and common, since pregnancy, albeit natural, is a very strong stress. And you should organize your day so that pregnancy remains the only strong stress. The severity of stress for each person is individual and does not change much over the course of life. When feeling stressed, you should either sleep or switch to a pleasant activity, such as a hobby. This will distract you, and enjoyable and desirable activities are not stressful in and of themselves.
• Depression in early pregnancy is, in fact, rare. More often, depressive syndrome occurs after childbirth (the so-called postpartum depression).

Depression

A serious psychiatric diagnosis that can be treated with medication: often requires the simultaneous intervention of both a psychiatrist and a psychologist.

Based on which we can assume depression:

• depressed mood after waking up from sleep. Often, the mood improves significantly with the onset of the evening;
• simultaneous feeling of irritability and weakness;
• the feeling that the world has lost its colors, everything can seem gray;
• unwillingness and feeling of physical impossibility to do any business. Strongly weakened will.
• regular self-deprecating thoughts ("I am a bad woman and a mother", "I do not deserve to live on earth", "My whole life is terrible and meaningless");
• suicidal thoughts and plans;
• attempts at self-harm.

The above symptoms are also characteristic for asthenia and for ordinary. These are sufficient reasons to consult a specialist.

Depression is a disease that must be treated. If most of the signs described above have been observed in you for more than two weeks (or the last three only made themselves felt), you should immediately contact a specialist psychotherapist. If a woman has injured herself or tried to commit suicide, immediate help from a psychiatrist is needed.

Coping with depression

We recommend that you accept your mood changes as normal. Self-acceptance is often the best medicine. A change in mood during early pregnancy is a normal and correct signal that the necessary restructuring of the body is taking place.

You should more often turn to what brings joy and satisfaction, which can distract from everything bad (for every woman, of course, this is individual): walking in the fresh air, reading books, watching movies, going to a theater or museum, cooking, work ( working during pregnancy is not harmful, but you cannot overwork, and if possible, if there is a choice between work and caring for yourself and your health, you need to choose the latter), hobbies and hobbies (and during this period new hobbies may appear), (which certainly cannot and should not replace everything). In some women, sexual desire fades away in the early stages, and even for the entire period of pregnancy; and for some, on the contrary, libido only increases. If you are concerned about this issue, then talk to your doctor, almost always sex during pregnancy is harmless and rather useful.

Professional help

Sometimes there may be a need for the help of specialists: an observing doctor or psychologist.

You are not alone in your experiences; mood changes during early pregnancy occur to varying degrees in every woman. Accept your changes as normal and natural. Do not diagnose yourself - if you have doubts about your health or emotional state, do not hesitate to see a doctor. Observe diet and sleep patterns. Try to be in such conditions in which the mood, if it changes, is only for the better.

Before using any drugs, be sure to consult your doctor if there are contraindications. Do not self-medicate!

Anxiety, depressive mood and obsessive thoughts - all this periodically happens to every pregnant woman.

No matter how the pregnancy proceeds, almost every woman from time to time has "heavy" thoughts, doubts, fears, depression may occur. Here you need to understand that this is due to hormonal changes, the vulnerability of the psyche of the pregnant woman and the fact that natural fear and anxiety to a certain extent prepare a woman for the role of a mother.

Pregnancy is a wonderful and at the same time very exciting period in the life of every woman. And that's okay. After all, this is the natural state of the female body, during which many changes occur: physiological, hormonal, psychological.
The entire body is rebuilt to fulfill a super mission: to carry and give birth to a child. During this period, a woman requires a special attitude towards herself, the support and attention of loved ones is needed.

A woman is physiologically and psychologically involved in the creation of a new personality. A lot of information and interesting research has already been collected about the prenatal period. We know that the child feels the emotions of the mother. And it is mom and dad who create the space of love for the development and growth of the child.

Harmonious for a woman and a family is a condition when two people carry a pregnancy. Only a woman carries a child, and a man carries a woman. This waiting period brings the family closer and minimizes the woman's anxiety. But we are not talking about overprotection of a woman, when she is literally stifled with attention and pity from all sides, interfering with the natural rhythm of her life.

Every person needs a sense of fear in order to evaluate and avoid dangers. And the fear of a pregnant woman prepares her for the responsible process of giving birth and raising a child in the future. This is how the instinct to protect oneself and one's child from possible threats is formed.

If you feel that you cannot cope with your fears and worries on your own and they do not give you rest day or night; Perhaps that is why relations with family begin to deteriorate or you are seized by depression - seek professional help from a psychologist. Your psychological state affects the course of pregnancy and childbirth.

Easy pregnancy and a positive mood during this period. In Russian there is a very poetic expression about a pregnant woman - "a woman in a position." Hope for the best and it will definitely come.

Unclear ones are found in different periods of pregnancy, perhaps, in all expectant mothers without exception. In the first weeks after conception, unusual sensations in the lower abdomen may be associated with the production of pregnancy hormones, which act on the ligaments, muscles and may manifest as tingling in the lateral abdomen, sensations reminiscent of premenstrual.

It must be said that it is often quite difficult for an expectant mother to draw the line between the normal manifestations of pregnancy and the signs that require medical attention. If the sensations are short-lived (last several minutes), pass spontaneously, if they cannot be characterized as pain, but only as discomfort, then they can probably be attributed to normal manifestations of pregnancy, in all other cases a doctor's consultation is required.

Another type of sensation that can only be during pregnancy and characterize its normal course is the so-called false, or preparatory, contractions, or Braxton-Hicks matches. They can appear after 32 weeks of pregnancy and are manifested by short-term tension in the lower abdomen, not accompanied by pain. This is how the uterus trains in preparation for childbirth. Preparatory bouts do not have periodicity, the intervals between them are quite large - from several hours to several days.

2. Health during pregnancy: what the discharge from the genital tract speaks about

An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge is one of the characteristic symptoms of a normal pregnancy. The change in the hormonal background, which characterizes the very early stages of the period of bearing a baby, leads to an increase in the amount of mucus produced in the glands of the cervical canal. During pregnancy, a woman may observe a significant increase in vaginal discharge, which becomes somewhat thicker than mucus during ovulation, and has either a clear or light milky hue. If an increased amount of vaginal discharge is accompanied by itching, burning, and discomfort in the vagina, then this is already a cause for concern and a visit to a doctor.

3. What should be the weight gain during pregnancy?

Normal is one of the important factors characterizing a successful pregnancy.

The expectant mother can independently control him. To do this, you need to weigh yourself in the morning after emptying the bladder, with or without the same clothes. In this case, you should not weigh yourself daily, it will be enough to get up on the scales once every 7-10 days.

The expectant mother during pregnancy should gain from 9 to 14 kg, while waiting for twins - from 16 to 21 kg. The less you weighed before pregnancy, the greater the reserve of increase in 9 months.

In the first trimester, as a rule, the weight does not change much - the increase is about 2 kg. In the second trimester, this process goes more rapidly: 1 kg per month (or up to 300 g per week), and after seven months - up to 400 g per week. Lack of weight gain, very small or excessive weight gain may indicate problems during pregnancy.

4. Health during pregnancy: abdominal growth

Many expectant mothers begin to observe this sign almost from the first days of pregnancy, but the uterus is shown due to the pubic articulation only at 12 weeks, that is, a small growth of the tummy can be noticed not earlier than the specified period - about the 4th month of pregnancy, and do not worry if at the beginning of the gestation period "the tummy does not grow". I must say that the obviousness of the growth of the tummy depends on the physique of the expectant mother: for example, in slender women, the belly stands out a little earlier than in those who are prone to overweight. In addition, in multiparous, it begins to be noticeable a little earlier than in those expecting their first child.

Doctors use in their practice such an indicator as the height of the fundus of the uterus - this is the distance from the upper edge of the pubic articulation to the highest standing point of the uterus, the so-called fundus of the uterus. The height of the uterus above the bosom, measured in centimeters, is usually equal to the gestational age: at 20 weeks - 20 cm - at the level of the navel, at 30 weeks (about 7 months, when a woman goes on maternity leave) - 30 cm - in the middle between the navel and itself the low point of the sternum - the xiphoid process, etc. Only at the end of pregnancy, this pattern is not observed: after the 38th week, the baby goes to the exit from the uterus, prepares for childbirth, sinks lower, so the height of the fundus on the eve of childbirth is usually 36–38 cm. As already noted, the doctor monitors and measures it at every appointment. However, it is obvious that the height of the uterine fundus is not difficult to measure on your own, so if you yourself want to fix the growth of the tummy, you can do this with a measuring tape. Measurements should be taken while lying down and should not be done daily, weekly monitoring will be sufficient. This parameter should increase by 1 cm per week. If the standing height of the fundus of the uterus does not correspond to the norm, then the doctor prescribes additional studies to understand which of the components of the growing tummy lags behind or, conversely, adds in excess: the fetus, placenta or water.

You can also measure the circumference of the abdomen. This figure at the beginning of pregnancy, of course, depends on the physique, constitution of the expectant mother, but later, at the end of the second - third trimester of pregnancy, the growth rate of the abdominal circumference should remain uniform - no more than 1-2 cm per week. If the growth rate does not correspond to this pattern, then it is worth telling the doctor about it.

Once again, I would like to note that all women are different and the tummies of all expectant mothers are also different, so you should not focus on acquaintances and girlfriends, comparing the growth rates, size and shape of their abdomen.

5. How to evaluate fetal movement

The embryo begins to move from the 7th week of pregnancy, but at first it is so small that the expectant mother does not feel its swimming in the amniotic fluid. In most cases, a woman notices the movement of the crumbs from 20 weeks of pregnancy, and with repeated - from 18, although sometimes earlier - starting from 16 weeks, but the appearance of movements up to the 22nd week of pregnancy can be attributed to normal phenomena. Usually, thin women begin to feel the movements earlier, and later - plump women. The first movements are quite gentle, neat, not very noticeable - like the swimming of a fish, or the flight of a butterfly, or, less poetically, like the work of the intestines. The longer the period, the larger the child becomes and the more tangible his movements. Usually fetal movement is a pleasant sensation, but a growing baby in the third trimester of pregnancy can push and cause discomfort and even pain. At the end of pregnancy, the child takes up all the free space inside the uterus and his movements become more infrequent and less active than in the second trimester, but the force of movements can be significant.

Almost all the time, except when he sleeps. Children often become active at night and in the evening, when a pregnant woman is in a calm, relaxed state. This can lead to mom's nighttime awakenings. In this way, she is developing a new regime in which she will need to feed the baby at night. If the baby does not tolerate a certain state of the mother, for example, excitement, or she is in a position for a long time that interferes with the normal blood supply to the fetus, then the movements can also be uncomfortable for the expectant mother - quite active, intense and even slightly painful. If the expectant mother does not feel any movements for more than 6 hours, this is a reason to consult a doctor.

6. Changes in stool during pregnancy

The stool is a reflection of how the gastrointestinal tract works. It is easy to monitor this indicator, you do not need to make much effort. Stool should be regular - daily, the process of bowel movement should not be uncomfortable for a woman. Changes in the body that occur during pregnancy often lead to constipation. Already from the first days of pregnancy, the body is adjusted so that the uterus, a muscular organ, is in the most relaxed state. This is achieved through the action of pregnancy hormones. The same biologically active substances act on the intestinal muscles, the intestines become "lazy", poorly moves the food lump. Later, the growing uterus puts more and more pressure on the intestines, provoking constipation in the last months of pregnancy. In the third trimester, the expectant mother is usually advised to reduce the amount of fluid she drinks, this also predisposes to problems with stool. And a sedentary lifestyle does not contribute to solving the problem. And, although we can say that constipation is physiologically determined, you should not be afraid of them, but you also do not need to put up with them.

For prevention, it is necessary to eat rationally, make sure that the menu contains vegetables and fruits, cereals and dairy products. Mineral water with a high magnesium content or a decoction of prunes has a good effect; you need to drink them every day on an empty stomach, half a glass. You also need to remember about regular physical activity, of course, feasible for a pregnant woman. For example, walking is suitable, and if there are no contraindications, then special classes for expectant mothers.

7. Changes in urination during pregnancy

Frequent urination is considered one of the first subjective signs of pregnancy. Already on the eighth day of conception, the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) begins to be produced, under its influence, and frequent urination occurs in early pregnancy. In addition, the intensity of the kidneys of the expectant mother increases due to the fact that the volume of blood increases, which is filtered through the renal membrane. As a result, a woman's kidneys begin to work much faster, and very frequent visits to the toilet become inevitable. With the course of pregnancy, another factor makes you experience frequent urge to use the toilet - an enlargement of the uterus and its pressure on the bladder.

If it is not accompanied by pain, cuts, and the urine is of the usual color, then you should not take any measures to go to the toilet less often. On the contrary, it is important to empty the bladder as often as possible, since stagnant urine is a factor predisposing to inflammatory diseases of the urinary system - from inflammatory diseases of the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis) to kidney inflammation (nephritis).

The only permissible limitation is the amount of liquid consumed at the end of the second - in the third trimester: 1.5 liters per day is the amount that should be drunk during the day, and this includes the first courses, all free liquid, as well as fruits by actual weight.

8. Pregnancy health and edema

At the end of pregnancy, there is a tendency for fluid retention, which can manifest itself in the formation of edema - more often on the legs, but possibly on the arms. At the same time, narrow shoes may turn out to be too small and uncomfortable, deep dents from the elastic bands of socks remain on the shins for a long time, and the rings are difficult to put on and take off. Every expectant mother has fluid retention to a greater or lesser extent in the third trimester. However, in some cases, it can be one of the first symptoms of such a complication of pregnancy as preeclampsia, when the adaptation of the body of the expectant mother to pregnancy is disrupted, in addition to edema, protein appears in the urine and blood pressure rises. In this case, if medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, conditions can develop that threaten the health and even the life of the woman and the fetus.

In addition to a subjective assessment of the presence or absence of edema, a pregnant woman can independently assess fluid retention as follows: within one day, for example, from 8:00 the previous day to 8:00 the next, it is necessary to measure all the liquid drunk - free liquid (tea, compote, fermented milk products etc.), first courses, fruits and vegetables by actual weight. These indicators must be entered in a table consisting of two columns: drunk - selected. And in the second column, you must enter the amount of excreted urine. To do this, during the day, you need to collect urine in a measuring container and record the amount of each portion. The amount of liquid you drink should not exceed the amount of urine excreted. Such a plate will help the doctor to choose the tactics for treating edema.

9. Blood pressure during pregnancy

(BP) during pregnancy is an important sign that allows early detection of preeclampsia. However, pregnancy is not a reason to buy a blood pressure monitor and daily blood pressure measurement. If the doctor at first has doubts about this indicator, he will certainly say that the pressure should be measured daily. If the family has a pressure meter and you use it from time to time out of curiosity, then there is nothing wrong with that, then it should be borne in mind that in the first trimester of pregnancy there may be a tendency for blood pressure to decrease in comparison with the usual numbers. Attention should be paid to this situation, since a prolonged and poorly tolerated (dizziness, weakness) decrease in blood pressure can lead to the formation of preeclampsia in the future. An increase in pressure above 130/80 mm Hg. Art. is a serious symptom of trouble in any case and always requires a visit to a doctor.

In conclusion, I would like to say about such a subjective parameter as general well-being. Of course, any change that the expectant mother feels is a reason for a more attentive attitude to health. Remember that various painful sensations - headache, soreness during urination, pain in the stomach, back, etc. - during the period of carrying a baby, they require a special approach and should not be dismissed from them, try to independently attempt to eliminate pain.

However, pregnancy cannot remain unnoticed for the body, and any expectant mother experiences certain new sensations during this period, but many of them are evidence of the normal course of pregnancy and the development of the baby.