A Dutch study published in the American Journal of Public Health took a look at work stress in the first trimester of pregnancy — and the impact it can have on an unborn child.
More than eight thousand pregnant women participated in a survey focused on employment and working conditions — they were asked about the number of hours worked per week and their stress levels (among other things). More that seven thousand women continued in the study, and were in contact with researchers again after giving birth to report the weight of the newborns.
The results? Women who worked more hours (thirty-two hours or more) and reported high job stress were most likely to deliver babies with a low birth weight. High stress alone (with a work week of less than thirty-two hours) also increased the risk of delivering a baby with a low birth weight.
This led researchers to suggest that pregnant women may benefit from working fewer hours and/or reducing job stress during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Work can be an ongoing source of stress! Here are some tips to help relieve some of the pressure.
- See if you can share the load. You don’t necessarily have to do everything! Maybe there are some things you can hand off to a coworker who isn’t as stressed as you are. Find a friend at work who will help you when you need it — and vice versa.
- See if you can modify what is expected of you at work. Talk to your supervisors about your work load, and where you’re having trouble. Someone with a different perspective may be able to help you prioritize your work, or share some of the load out among others.
- Take a break. Walk around the block, listen to music for five minutes, read a book — give your mind and body a break from the pressure. Maybe it’s worth spending a personal day on a “mental health vacation”.
- Stay organized. Clutter can be very distracting and stressful (when paperwork piles up, it’s hard to feel relaxed and serene). Take some time to get organized, and spend a little time each day maintaining your workspace.
- Help yourself feel accomplished. It can be very satisfying to cross things off that to-do list! You can also try breaking big tasks down into smaller components so you can more easily track your progress.
- Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. There are only so many hours in the day — prioritize what absolutely must get done and do that first.
- Find someone to talk to. Getting things off your chest can be a huge help! (Though you may want to save your work-related venting for when you AREN’T in the office!)
- Don’t pressure yourself to be perfect. Nobody’s perfect, and striving for perfection can be stressful. Allow yourself to be human. Forgive yourself for mistakes.