Dealing with a distressed baby is never easy, but new research suggests that the source of a crying newborn may all start with the mother's mood. A new study finds that anxious or stressed out moms are more likely to have babies who cry for longer periods. The journal Archives of Disease in Childhood examined over 300 women who were in the early stages of pregnancy until their baby reached 16 months old. Out of the women interviewed, 20 percent reported excessive crying from their little ones following birth. Once these stats were analyzed, it was discovered that babies who had a mom that suffered from anxiety or stress experienced longer crying spells.
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It seems to me that a crying baby and a stressed out mom go hand-in-hand, but apparently this cycle also begins to develop in the womb. Doctors believe that the stress hormones developed during pregnancy can pass through the placenta and affect the baby's brain.
Parenting specialist Dr. Clare Bailey, explains, "Mothers can easily get into a traumatic negative cycle when worrying about a newborn child. The more they worry, the less they sleep and calm themselves down and the more they worry."
Babies can easily pick up on the emotions going on around them. That said, the father's role and attitude around the baby should also be examined. As the study mentions, "Paternal anxiety may play a similar role in infant crying. Future research should examine this." Yes, they should have more studies related to how the fathers also play a role in infants who cry excessively.
Even if the findings are totally false, it can never hurt to apply a few relaxation tips to your daily routine–especially for new moms. Try to take 20 to 30 minutes out of your day to complete a deep breathing exercise. Drinking tea and having your own uninterrupted bathtime can also help. If you learn to calm down and relax, then maybe your baby will follow suit.
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