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Expecting Anxiety

Coping with a High-anxiety Pregnancy

By Lisa A. Goldstein

Lack of enjoyment in the pregnancy isn't the only potential consequence. Lack of sleep, tiredness and higher risk of postpartum depression, hypertension, muscle strain/stress are also risks, Dr. Rodriguez says. "I am also convinced that stress and the changes in our bodies that happen as a consequence of stress can affect a pregnancy and increase the risk of preterm labor/delivery, low birth weight and high blood pressure during pregnancy," she says.

An often forgotten consequence of high maternal anxiety is tension in the home and marital problems, Dr. Rodriguez says. She has had fathers-to-be complain of the stress they're under because of their partner's anxiety. Many fathers are also unable to sleep if their partner isn't sleeping well, so the whole family becomes tired.

Whether there are long-term consequences to the baby remains to be seen, as few studies have looked at this possible correlation. There is some data, however, that shows maternal anxiety during pregnancy may be associated with excessive crying in the infant as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Dr. Rodriguez says.

Ultimately, if your anxiety is natural or situational, it needs to be addressed because of its negative consequences. Of course, Dr. Rodriguez says, recognizing when anxiety has stepped over into the "abnormal" range that requires intervention such as counseling or even medications can be difficult given that most pregnancies are associated with some level of anxiety.

Indeed, "a woman suffering with anxiety needs to be helped, regardless of the cause," Dr. Brandon says. This doesn't mean that the context isn't considered. Often the precipitating contributors do point toward one form of treatment over another.

Generally, Dr. Rodriguez has all women who have experienced multiple losses or a prior infant death meet with a counselor. Dr. odriguez is fairly direct right from the beginning, explaining that it's normal to be anxious after a previous complicated pregnancy and that it's important to have someone to help them through the process.

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• Pregnancy Can Be Stressful: Managing Stress During Pregnancy
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