Stress

trying4#1 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 07:59 AM

Okay, so I know everyone says, "just stop stressing about it and you'll get pregnant" and we freak out on them saying stress has nothing to do with it.

But ever since my O day on Thursday, I have had MAJOR STRESS at work. Stomach in knots, hands and knees shaking kind of stress.

Do you think this could hurt me this cycle? DH says definitely, but I don't want to believe that. I think it's more science, sperm meets the egg. You know???

mrsprather · #2 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 08:06 AM

I know that stress can cause you to O later, but I don't know what affect stress has on the sperm meeting the egg. A healthily happy mom is probably more conducive to a pregnancy, but other than that, I'm not quite sure.

Kavitaluna · #3 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 09:39 AM

I got pregnant the month I said I simply wasn't going to care about it anymore. The month before that I had said that there was no way I could just "not care anymore" but I think something inside me got so frustrated with TTC that I was just exhausted with thinking about it. I know I hadn't been TTC for long, but I am super impatient and I get frustrated easily, KWIM? DH and I also knew we were going to consider IUI- the next month. So, I just decided to go on faith, that God had a plan, stopped worrying about my age. I just decided to not worry about it for one month and have faith and see what happened. I didn't even pee on a stick until 17dpo! Not that the pg lasted at all, but I wonder if there was something to that.

So yeah, I do think stress matters. But I think there is a distinction. One week of stress from your job may not do much (Amy is right though, trama and stress delay ovulation almost every time). What I think is most detrimental is keeping an attitude of stress the entire month, worrying about TTC, obsessing, etc. I think that is the most detrimental.

Wait a minute... What kind of job are you working at?? What the heck!

mbsr76 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 09:46 AM

I have read that stress can lower your progesterone level, too.

AirForceWife2007 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 10:00 AM

The cycles I was so stressed out I had to go the ER because I kept getting shooting pain in my head that would drop me to my knees I ovulated on cd30. And actually the stress had nothing to do with TTC at all... there was something else going on in my life at that moment. That month TTC hardly even entered my mind. So usually stress has to do with when you ovulate.

There are some women that can completely de-stress. I have never ever been able to 100% de-stress. I feel pretty relax, actually more relaxed than I have been in a long time and it probably has to do with us not TTC right now... it feels good.

That being said. The month that I got what I call an evap on a HPT we were as relaxed as ever about TTC and went at it like bunnies. I think it was the best bd'ing of our marriage that month... we were all over each other and totally relaxed and we got an almost positive HPT (I just choose to call it a an evap since the regular test was positive but the digital never came up with pregnant). And actually that was probably the last month we were relaxed about TTC. Since then it has been a struggle for us both.... kind of a chore.

So there might be something to the relax and it will happen theory but it is okay to get upset when people say that. It really is. Ultimately I think it has more to do with science than relaxation but it can't hurt to relax right? Best wishes.

Tkeys · #6 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 10:14 AM

Well, I was super stressed this cy . . . work issues, I was worried about the fact I was so sick . . . I just think if it is going to happen, it will happen, and there aren't too many things we can do to interfere with nature. There are many things we can do to help nature, but I think it is much harder to stop nature.

KLB321 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 10:32 AM

Maria, I agree with Tkeys that is will happen when it is supposed to happen. What I have learned through reading is that stress can really affect a man's sperm count, but a woman will still ovulate if she ovulates regularly. Try not to worry about it if you can and it will happen for you! I think I live my life stressed out year round over just about anything! It runs in my family, but I still have hope for my BFP! I'll hope for yours too! =)

Kimberly · #8 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 10:37 AM

I agree with the others, based on what I have read...stress can delay ovulation, but doesn't stop it..but I havent' found anywhere that it hurts the 2ww..and think of how stressed so many mom's are when they are first pregnant, and hoping all is ok with the pregnancy...I too believe if it's meant to happen it will. Big (((hugs))).

wannababy · #9 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 12:16 PM

I think stress is a big factor in TTC but am still a firm believer that all the other things have to line up: good hormones, good bd'ing and good sperm! I have found some documentation in a couple books. I will try to post it tonight if anyone is interested.

Marisa Isabel · #10 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 12:46 PM

I remember the month I got pg, it was a month to forget! I was so stressed - work related - it was one of the most busiest months I can remember ever having.
I believe stress had to do with my launching a blind egg.
DH sais we just had bad luck - it's like buyng a car, if you're lucky it will last you a life time, if you're not it will give you a life time of problems...

AFLGirlatHeart · #11 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 12:55 PM

I'm a firm believer that if it's meant to happen, it will happen. You can be stressed, drink, etc and still have a chance of getting pregnant, it's just how everything lines up. However I think stress can hurt a little bit. I have never been so stressed in my life as I have this past year. It's been a hard year with my husband's accident, death in the family, my husband's surgeries, my surgery, my sick kids, etc. It's just been up and down and not to mention that I've had 3 jobs on top of my mom and wife duties, it's been really tough and I'm thinking that has a lot to do with how awful my cycles have been.

Ah sorry to ramble. Stress can affect things, but like I said, if it's meant to happen, whether you prop up for 30 mins after

or get up, or use bcp and STILL get pregnant, if it's God's will, it WILL happen no matter what we do. Sometimes it's hard not to be in control though.

mk9906 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 02:59 PM

I know that (severe) stress can interfere with O. But I think after you O it's basically out of your hands. I'm sure some serious physical trauma may hurt your odds but I don't think something emotionally stressful could.

I have been SUPER stressed about TTC in the past but I always O'd. The only month that I have not ovulated in my life was last August, our dog died just before I should have O'd and I didn't eat, sleep, or go to work for three days. It was apparently enough emotional stress to stop O.

So if you know that you O'd and BD then I think you are still as much in the running as you would have been otherwise.

mrsweird59 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 05:26 PM

I don't think stress will affect anything after O. I also agree that nature will take it's course. I don't think stress will stop nature. Good luck!!!!!

trying4#1 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-06-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks Ladies!!! That's my feeling too, that the sperm meets the egg and when god wants it to work, it'll work. DH had me all nervous, but I really think - I O'd and what will be, will be. Time will tell

Thank goodness I have a busy, busy week and weekend. Such a fabulous distraction!!