Patient's question:
I am 4 months pregnant. During pregnancy, my emotions have sometimes been unstable, and I have lost my temper several times and cried a few times. I would like to ask the doctor if such emotional instability could cause fetal malformations, such as cleft lip and palate, for example?Doctor's answer:
Poor emotional state during pregnancy may lead to miscarriage. Human emotional changes are related to the limbic system of the brain, particularly the hypothalamus. Emotional fluctuations indirectly affect the relative stability of the endocrine system. Excessive emotions such as anger, fear, and panic can cause dysregulation between the cerebral cortex and subcortical regions, placing the body in a stress state. This disrupts the original stable state, leading to disturbances in the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems, especially changes in progesterone levels that alter normal pregnancy.When a pregnant woman is in a long-term state of stress, her progesterone levels decrease, resulting in poor placental development, which is unfavorable for placental growth. At the same time, the sympathetic nervous system of the autonomic nervous system promotes uterine contractions in pregnant women. The uterus is highly sensitive at this time, and even slight stimuli can trigger contractions, leading to miscarriage.
For the baby's health, it is important to be open-minded and not overly concerned with trivial matters. When encountering unpleasant situations, think about the baby in your belly. For his healthy development, it is necessary to restrain yourself.