A message for pregnant women: relax!
That may be easier said than done, but it seems stress can be very bad for a developing fetus.
It’s because stress impacts hormones.
Fiona McCord is one of 83 mothers who took part in a study measuring how their stress impacted their levels of the hormone Cortisol.
Cortisol is known as the ‘stress hormone,’ and too much of it can be bad for your health.
Although just being pregnant boosts Cortisol levels naturally, being stressed creates even more. This could explain why stress appears to cause problems for babies.
The study suggested it could impact things like academic performance, motor ability and cause increased fussiness and irritability.
More research is needed to find just how much and what kind of stress is a problem, but until then mothers are encouraged to find ways to relax.
Cortisol isn’t all bad, in fact, it’s necessary to help with lung and brain development.
However, more research is needed to determine how much of the hormone, is too much.
- Posters promoting ‘Steal From Loblaws Day’ are circulating. How did we get here?
- Video shows Ontario police sharing Trudeau’s location with protester, investigation launched
- Canadian food banks are on the brink: ‘This is not a sustainable situation’
- Solar eclipse eye damage: More than 160 cases reported in Ontario, Quebec
Comments