If you are still working even though you are 17 weeks pregnant, chances are, you might get stress out easily. Studies have shown that maternal stress during pregnancy can be detrimental to your baby and your body. High amount of stress can lead to complicated pregnancies or preterm labor. Stress has also been linked to the overproduction of a hormone called CRH (or Corticotropin-releasing hormone). This hormone stimulates the production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins lead to contractions which increases the chances of preterm labor. In addition, recent esearches have shown that babies developing within a highly stressful environment (ie stressful mother) would be born with a greater risk of stress-related illnesses. You should do everything you can to calm yourself and maintain stress-free during pregnancy for both the safety of your baby and you. Symptoms of stress and anxiety include headaches, erratic behavior, insomnia etc. Be sure to communicate openly with your partner or family to reduce the anxiety effects. Talk to them about what you are going through and discuss about your worries and fears with them. Remember, you are not alone in dealing with pregnancy stress and anxiety. Whenever you feel overwhelmed with stress or anxiety, remember to take deep breaths and calm down. In the next post I will share some of the ways and techniques to help pregnant mothers deal with stress.
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Wow! You are 17 weeks pregnant! Your baby will be growing finger and toenails at this stage of pregnancy. The face of your baby will be starting to form. It can be exciting to feel your baby move for the first time! The movements inside your uterus might not be felt everyday but the kicks will get stronger as each week goes by! This is the time when you feel the little “bump” getting more noticeable. You will realize your clothes get tighter and you have troubles finding the right clothes to fit into. Now is the good time to shop for some maternity clothing with your husband and family – if you have not! It is also wise to invest in stretch capable maternity clothes that can last you throughout your pregnancy. If you have a history of eczema or other skin allergies, it would be advisable to avoid synthetic maternity wear. Since this is when you will begin to notice the shift in center of gravity because of your baby growing at an amazing pace, it is highly desirable for you to adopt the correct posture starting now to avoid future backaches and body soreness. Having the correct posture in the first trimester of pregnancy will help very much when the baby grows heavier in the later stages of pregnancy.