Currently being reported at the annual European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), Japanese researchers are reporting their latest findings in the field of allergy and clinical immunology in relation to maternal mental and physical wellbeing and subsequent child health.
Researcher teams will be reporting a number of ground breaking studies such as one that has found that maternal stress instigates reaction in the newborn that can cause asthma and eczema. Additionally, women who have high levels of anxiety while they were pregnant had children who were significantly more likely to suffer from atopic eczema within the first 8 months of life.
It will be made clear at the annual conference that adequate stress management techniques and measures to limit mental stress and anxiety should be taken where ever possible.
Mindfulness meditation is one such means of addressing stress and anxiety. Mindfulness is a particularly valuable tool for pregnant women as it is non-toxic and doesn’t require any special equipment. It has also been shown to have other benefits that could be relevant for pregnant women including boosting mental health, the immune system and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
Alternatively, art therapy has been found to be a good means of managing stress and anxiety while developing creative skills and allowing the mother to have some time for self-exploration and development.
Finally, pregnancy yoga is offered by many yoga teachers to specifically accommodate pregnant women who want to exercise, stretch and prepare their minds and body for the development of a foetus. Any of these three non-invasive natural ways of dealing with symptoms of stress and anxiety could prove invaluable for the health of the newborn.