Your Pregnancy Stress Becomes Baby’s Stress

As parents, we all share one fundamental desire: to give our children the best possible start in life. Yet despite our best intentions, today’s rates of chronic health conditions are affecting our children at alarming levels. From allergies and asthma to ADHD and autism, many parents are left wondering: Is there anything we can start doing now to support our children’s development and health before they’re even born?

The answer is yes—and it begins with understanding the crucial role of your baby’s nervous system development during pregnancy.

The Perfect Storm: A Common Pattern

In chiropractic offices across the country, we’re seeing a troubling pattern emerge. Parents come in sharing remarkably similar stories:

• Fertility challenges and stressful pregnancies
• Medical interventions during birth (induction, epidural, forceps, vacuum, C-section)
• Babies struggling with colic, digestive issues, sleep problems, and latching difficulties
• Children later developing ADHD, anxiety, and depression

This cascade of events is what we call “The Perfect Storm”—a series of stressful experiences that can impact both mother and baby’s nervous system development.

The Statistics Tell a Story

Consider these sobering facts about pregnancy and birth in the United States:

• While the US leads in emergency care, we rank last in maternal and infant mortality rates
• We spend over $50 billion on childbirth each year
• The fertility clinic services market was valued at $7.9 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $16.8 billion by 2028
• 25% of women are induced during labor
• 70-75% of women receive an epidural during delivery
• 1 in 3 American women undergoes a cesarean section, despite the World Health Organization recommending a rate of 10-15% at most
• About 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression

While we can’t control everything that happens during pregnancy and birth (and some interventions are truly necessary emergencies), we can take proactive steps to help both mother and baby better adapt to stressors.

Understanding Your Nervous System: The Foundation of Health

Many people think hormones are the key to a healthy pregnancy, but let’s take a step back and talk about what actually controls every system in your body: your nervous system.

The Autonomic Nervous System: Your Body’s Control Center

Your autonomic nervous system has two main branches that work together to keep you healthy:

The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): Fight or Flight

• Activated during times of stress or perceived danger
• Increases heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension
• Prepares your body for action

The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): Rest, Regulate, and Digest

• Promotes relaxation, healing, and restoration
• Slows heart rate and enhances digestion
• Supports immune function and recovery

In a healthy individual, both systems work in harmony. However, when your nervous system becomes imbalanced, it can lead to chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation.

The HPA vs. HPG Axis: Why Balance Matters

Nervous system dysregulation can lead to numerous hormonal imbalances, including painful menstrual cycles, fertility struggles, and irregular cycles. When your body is stuck in chronic stress mode, it disrupts the hormonal balance necessary for conception and healthy fetal development.

This is where two important systems come into play:

• The HPA Axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal): Activated during stress, releases cortisol and can interfere with reproductive function when overactive.
• The HPG Axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal): Produces reproductive hormones and is essential for conception and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

When stress dominates, the HPA axis can override the HPG axis, making conception and healthy pregnancy more difficult.

How Your Stress Becomes Baby’s Stress

The umbilical cord serves not only as a pathway for nutrients and oxygen but also as a “power cord” that connects your nervous system to your baby’s. This means your growing baby experiences the stress and emotional challenges you face during pregnancy.

High maternal stress can alter fetal neurodevelopment and lead to health challenges later in life.

Your Baby’s Nervous System Development Timeline

First Trimester

• Week 3: Nervous system begins to form
• Weeks 5-8: Major organs develop
• Week 6: Sympathetic nerves begin to form

Second Trimester

• Weeks 13-16: Bones and muscles develop
• Week 17: Cerebellum begins to form
• Week 26: Vagus nerve myelination occurs

Third Trimester

• Weeks 29-32: Immune system develops
• Weeks 33-36: Rapid brain development
• Week 37: Autonomic nervous system fully develops
• Week 40: Vagus nerve and immune system mature

Taking Control: Tools for Growing Healthy Babies

Prioritize Preconception Care

• Proper nutrition
• Regular, appropriate exercise
• Stress management techniques
• Nervous system support through chiropractic care
• Address existing health concerns

Build Your Support Circle

• Choose providers who align with your values
• Consider midwives, doulas, pelvic floor therapists, lactation consultants
• Find a prenatal chiropractor
• Connect with supportive birth professionals

Support Your Nervous System During Pregnancy

• Practice deep breathing and meditation
• Gentle pregnancy-appropriate movement
• Prioritize sleep and rest
• Maintain social and emotional support
• Consider chiropractic care for nervous system health

The Role of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

Neurologically-focused chiropractic care can offer specific benefits for both mother and baby, including:

• Improved nervous system function
• Reduced stress and better adaptation
• Enhanced immune function
• Optimal fetal positioning
• Better overall pregnancy experience

At Elevate Chiropractic, we use Neurological INSiGHT Scans to assess nervous system function and create customized care plans.

Your Baby’s Health Starts Before Birth

The foundation of your baby’s health begins long before they take their first breath. By supporting your nervous system and your baby’s neurological health, you’re giving your child the strongest possible foundation for life.

Every pregnancy is unique. While we can’t prevent every challenge, we can create the most supportive environment for healthy development. Don’t wait to reach out to Elevate. If you are not local to us, check the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

Your baby’s nervous system will mirror yours—investing in your neurological health is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your child.