Do it at least once a day for 20 to 30 minutes. Relax throughout pregnancy. Fortunately, most women adjust well to the physical and psychological changes of pregnancy. However, if a pregnant woman feels overwhelmed by stress, she always should consult her maternity health care provider who may recommend that she see a mental health professional. Several March of Dimes grantees are studying the connection between stress reactions and preterm birth.
Prematurity is a leading cause of infant death and disability.
These researchers are seeking to determine which of a wide variety of possible stress-related factors in a pregnant woman s environment including home and neighborhood conditions, occupation, income, and major life events may contribute to her risk of preterm labor. One researcher also is exploring the possibility that the stress that results from racism could help explain why African-American mothers are twice as likely as white women to deliver prematurely. A better understanding of the causes of preterm labor may lead to new ways to prevent and treat it. References Fenster, L., et al. Psychologic stress in the workplace and spontaneous abortion.