Excessive stress during pregnancy can negatively impact the healthy development of the fetus.
Recent studies have suggested that excessive stress may reduce the chances of having a boy.
Does the sex of a child also depend on the amount of stress?
Don't worry, this doesn't mean "pressure determines gender".
A recent study published in PNAS found that pregnant women experiencing significant physical and psychological stress are less likely to give birth to boys. Normally, the sex ratio at birth is approximately 100:105, but for women under physical and psychological stress, the chances of having a girl are higher, with male-to-female ratios of 4:9 and 2:3 respectively.
The study's lead author stated that male infants are more susceptible to adverse prenatal environments. Therefore, women under high stress may be more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes when conceiving a boy, or even lose their baby before they realize they are pregnant.
Therefore, it's even more important to maintain a relaxed mood during pregnancy. However, regarding the sex of the baby, just let nature take its course.
How should I take care of myself during pregnancy?
Besides the fact that mental stress can affect the healthy development of the baby in the womb, inadequate prenatal care can also lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
During pregnancy, it is essential to ensure adequate nutrition. WHO guidelines recommend that, in addition to daily dietary interventions, appropriate supplementation with iron, zinc, folic acid, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, D, and E is necessary, while limiting caffeine intake. Furthermore, it is important to control weight gain during pregnancy to avoid excessive weight gain or malnutrition; a weight gain of 5-9 kg is ideal.
For common pregnancy problems such as nausea and vomiting, leg muscle cramps, back pain, pelvic pain, constipation, varicose veins, and edema, it is necessary to be vigilant and intervene promptly when symptoms are obvious.
In addition, the WHO points out that during pregnancy, the following conditions need to be assessed: anemia, gestational diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, HIV infection, syphilis, tuberculosis, etc., and corresponding preventive measures should be taken.
