怎样快乐地孕育宝宝
As sharply higher numbers of women work through pregnancy, many hear thesame advice: Relax. Don't stress out or you will harm your unborn baby.
不过，与老观点相反的是，研究显示，对大部分孕妇来说，普通的日常工作家庭压力不太可能造成新生儿体重偏低或其他问题。研究人员说，堵车、任务的最后期限和其他日常烦恼事不太可能对胎儿造成威胁，那些自我感觉应付自如的孕妇往往做得不错。
Contrary to old beliefs, however, research shows that ordinary day-to-dayjob and home stress isn't likely to cause low birth weight or other problems formost women. Traffic delays, work deadlines and other everyday hassles aren'tlikely to pose a threat to unborn babies, researchers say, and pregnant womenwho feel they are coping well tend to do just fine.
相反，新的研究揭示了某种压力与宝宝发育迟缓之间存在联系：对怀孕本身过度担心。
Instead, new studies are revealing a link between a certain kind of stressand some developmental delays in the baby: worrying excessively about thepregnancy itself.
根据加州大学尔湾分校研究人员最近在《儿童发展》上发表的研究报告，这种“怀孕特有焦虑”与宝宝12个月时认知发展得分偏低有关。这与其他研究的结论相符。患有这种焦虑的孕妇对胎儿发育、流产或分娩的潜在问题过于担心。
This 'pregnancy-specific anxiety' was linked to lower cognitive-developmentscores in babies at 12 months of age, based on a study published recently inChild Development by researchers at the University of California, Irvine,echoing other research. Women who experience this kind of anxiety worryexcessively about potential problems with fetal development, miscarriage orgiving birth.
研究人员尚不清楚这一发现的基础是什么。女性对怀孕过于担心的原因可能是她们感觉到有什么东西确实出了问题，而这个问题可能造成胎儿发育迟缓。抑或，怀孕期间焦虑、消极的母亲可能会在产后提供较少的`培养和刺激性关爱。
Researchers don't yet understand the basis for this finding. Women maybecome excessively anxious about their pregnancies because they sense thatsomething actually is amiss, which could account for the developmental delays.Or, a mother who is anxious and negative during pregnancy might tend to provideless nurturing and stimulating care after birth.
无论原因是什么，很多产科医生都开始敦促孕妇不要对压力过于担心，而是要从家人和朋友那里获得更多的支持。
Whatever the cause, many obstetricians are urging pregnant women to stopobsessing about stress, and seek out more support from family and friends.
Stephen Maturen for the Wall Street Journal佩利在“专注怀孕”项目的一个小组中参与讨论
一些产科医生把孕妇送到产前关爱小组，在那里她们能够用传统的方法放松压力：与其他孕妇交谈。在一项名为“专注怀孕”的项目中，约有十名处于类似孕周的健康孕妇获得了产前关爱。在与标准的一对一产前检查频率相同的定期两小时小组活动中，孕妇首先各自接受了血压、体重等健康指标的检查，然后集中在一起进行讨论。
Some obstetricians are sending expectant moms to prenatal-care groups wherethey can get stress relief the old-fashioned way: by talking to other pregnantwomen. In a program called Centering Pregnancy, about 10 expectant mothers whoare all at the same stage of a healthy pregnancy receive prenatal care in agroup. In periodic two-hour sessions scheduled with the same frequency asstandard one-on-one prenatal checkups, the women first get private screeningsfor blood pressure, weight and other health indicators, then gather fordiscussion.
大部分孕妇面临中等强度的压力，不过也有少部分人有着长期未疏解的压力。面临极度贫困、种族歧视或严重家庭问题等更困难环境的孕妇，早产或胎儿出现发育问题的风险更高。此外，研究发现，在孕早期经历了自然灾害等创伤性事件的孕妇早产或新生儿体重偏低的风险也会加大。
While most pregnant women face moderate stress, a smaller slice haveunrelenting, chronic strain. Women facing more difficult circumstances, such asextreme poverty, racism or serious family problems, have a higher risk ofpreterm birth or developmental problems. Also, research shows that going througha traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, during the first trimester alsoraises the risk of premature delivery or low birth weight.
在克服各种压力的过程中，家人和朋友能给予很大的帮助。社会支持逐渐开始成为抵抗怀孕压力的强大武器，比如关心的话语、善解人意的朋友、以及能够引发微笑和欢笑的环境。
In coping with all kinds of stress, family and friends can help a lot.Social support -- kind words, nurturing friends, and surroundings that promptsmiles and laughter -- is emerging as a powerful antidote to pregnancystress.
【怎样快乐地孕育宝宝】
