While stress can affect your health during pregnancy, it does not cause miscarriages. You can do many things to help relieve yourself from stress and feel better during pregnancy.
The short answer is no. For most miscarriages, the reason is random or unknown, and studies on causes of miscarriage do not show stress to be a consistent risk factor.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), stress does not cause miscarriage — nor does exercise, having sex, or any other common activities an individual may experience during pregnancy.
When a cause is known for a miscarriage, it is most often one of these:
- genetic changes in the fetus
- congenital changes to fetal organs and structure
- age (older age is a risk factor)
- problems of the placenta
- structural changes in the womb or cervix
- food poisoning
- exposure to certain chemicals
- alcohol or drug use
- health conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and others
- infections, like STIs, HIV, cytomegalovirus, and others
- food poisoning
- exposure to certain medications
While stress doesn’t cause miscarriage, it can
Stress can affect fetal development and may lead to premature delivery. That’s why it’s so important to try to limit stress and take steps to relieve stress when possible.
To help relieve stress, you can try the following things:
- identifying the cause of your stress
- taking action to reduce or eliminate high-stress situations
- eating a balanced diet
- getting enough sleep
- getting enough exercise (with your doctor’s approval)
- learning breathing exercises
- practicing relaxation techniques like meditation
- talking with a healthcare professional or a mental health professional
Though stress does not cause miscarriage, it can affect your health and pregnancy. Speaking with a healthcare professional about ways to reduce your stress can help.