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Extreme stress right after conception -- impact on baby?

cl86cl86 member
edited November 2018 in 1st Trimester
Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I just found out that I'm pregnant (currently 5 weeks). I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm having such mixed feelings. My husband and I had been trying for a baby for almost two years and were getting to the point of almost losing hope. It came as a total surprise that we got pregnancy this cycle after so many failed cycles and my continually declining health (thyroid getting worse, cycles getting longer, depression/anxiety getting worse). Although we did the deed this cycle, I really wasn't holding my breath that we'd get pregnant. But here we are.

I'm having mixed feelings instead of being overjoyed like I always expected I would be because I'm afraid that I've done grave harm to my pregnancy. I was under VERY EXTREME stress and eating poorly/skipping meals at the time of conception (not because I wanted to, but because of the stressful circumstances) and continuing a few days afterwards. The research I've done indicates that increased cortisol levels and malnutrition around that time can have a potentially huge impact on the long-term health of a baby. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of this research until after I discovered I was pregnant, and I am hating myself for not responding to the stressful situation differently/better. I really wasn't expecting that I would be pregnant, and in any case, I didn't think skipping a few meals would be harmful prior to implantation (which was wrong). I was wondering if anyone here happened to suffer severe stress right after conception and how that ended up impacting the health of your child. Even if it ended up negatively impacting your pregnancy/child, I would appreciate hearing about it so I can be prepared. Thank you.
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Re: Extreme stress right after conception -- impact on baby?

  • nopegoatnopegoat member
    My first pregnancy was unplanned. I wasn't married, in college, and was just not in a good place for a child. Definitely a super stressful situation. I did have a rough pregnancy but my son was and is still fine 8yrs later. 

    As far as not eating, many women get super sick during their pregnancies and especially the 1st trimester. I ended up losing a ton of weight because of morning sickness and stress. The baby will take what it needs from you first, so even 1 meal or snack is sufficient enough.

    Try not to stress and just try to do better from here on out. 
    Wife. Boy mom x6. Expecting #7. Wannabe homesteader.
    , 💙💙💙💙💙💙
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  • wineandcoffeewineandcoffee member
    Cortisol levels during your pregnancy actually don’t impact your fetus directly in what way.  They would have a greater impact the eggs your child (if it’s a girl) has, impacting your potential grandchildren, not your child. Also, this process doesn’t even happen until 18-20 weeks gestation. If you want to know more, I suggest reading about epigenetics by Bruce perry. Otherwise, stop beating yourself up and enjoy being pregnant! 
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  • meggymemeggyme member
    When they say stress is bad for the baby, I think they mean long term stress, to the level of dealing with abuse, war, death, etc. Try to take care of yourself from here on out. You and baby should be fine.
    DD1: June '16 DD2: March ‘19 :::: Married since 2011 :::: USN Wife ::::
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  • agse01agse01 member
    Pregnancy can cause so many different emotions. Not everyone feels joy. Many feel overwhelmed, scared etc. Sometimes it's due to it just being a new experience and we all fear/have anxiety over new situations normally. Often times though it's the surge of hormones that effect our emotions. Don't feel guilty or ashamed for how you feel. It has no indication on what type of mom you will be! Some women have never enjoyed being pregnant, but absolutely love and adore their baby!
    Yes, stress can have a negative impact on a baby, generally if it's long term. Many women don't even know they are pregnant yet at 5 weeks. I wouldn't worry too much about what was going on during the time of conception and implantation. Babies and our bodies are resilient! The most important thing now is keeping yourself as healthy as possible. I experienced stress throughout my pregnancies and my babies all turned out just fine! Wishing you the best!
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  • cl86cl86 member
    Thank you all for your responses and well wishes. I have struggled with anxiety for years, and pregnancy is not helping. In addition to infertility, I was dealing with some other health problems, as well as having marital problems (and huge arguments) leading up to and just after conception, and in the midst of all that, I was horribly stressed/depressed/anxious and often skipping meals. Thankfully, I was always taking my prenatals (and had been for almost 2 years before that because we'd been TTC for so long), so I hope, at least vitamin-wise, I was fine, but I was really worried about all the cortisol, low blood sugar, and skipped meals I could have exposed the baby to in those early days. At least when I did eat, I ate really healthy foods (although my obsession with eating the "right" foods for my health conditions is partly why I was sometimes skipping meals, as the "right" foods weren't always readily available). In any case, I am going to stop beating myself up because it can't be good for baby for me to keep doing that. I'm just going to be more diligent about maintaining good eating habits and keeping stress at bay for the remainder of this pregnancy. Thank you again for your help.
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  • meggymemeggyme member
    @cl86 if your anxiety gets to a point where it is preventing you from enjoying your pregnancy, please bring it up with your doctor. Post partum is not the only time pregnancy hormones can get the better of us, prenatal anxiety is totally a thing as well. Don't be afraid to call and ask your doctor questions between appointments. That's why they typically have 24 hr nurse lines.

    Counseling might also help, both with your anxiety as well as your marital problems. Having a baby is a very difficult time of transition, both as a mother and as a couple. If you are already having issues, making sure you are communicating effectively and understand the expectations each of you has for the other will make the transition that much smoother.
    DD1: June '16 DD2: March ‘19 :::: Married since 2011 :::: USN Wife ::::
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  • cl86cl86 member
    Thank you, @meggyme . I had been going to one-on-one counseling for anxiety issues previously and plan to keep going through pregnancy. We have not been going to marital counseling but I think you're right that it may be a good idea for us to go. 
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