The effects of maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy

Prenatal stress and Perinatal outcomes

Maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy has been associated with.

• Shorter gestation & higher incidence of preterm birth

• Smaller birth weight and length

• Increased risk of miscarriage

Prenatal stress and infant outcomes

Prospective Studies have shown that maternal stress and anxiety during pregnancy are related to infant outcomes such as:

• temperamental problems and increased fussiness

• Problems with attention, attention regulation and emotional reactivity

• Lower scores on measures of mental development

Prenatal stress and child outcomes

A recent large-scale epidemiological study confirmed some of the infant outcomes and showed associations between prenatal stress, anxiety and:

• hyperactivity and inattention in boys

• Emotional problems in girls and boys

• Conduct problems in girls

Prenatal stress and adult outcomes

A number of retrospective and epidemiological studies have linked severe stress during pregnancy; famine, major earthquakes and other natural disasters- to higher incidence of mental illness in adult offspring, such as schizophrenia and severe depression.

Moderate stress vs Chronic/ severe stress

Some studies show that mild/ moderate stress during pregnancy might actually be good for the baby

• Resulting in healthier immune systems

• better motor development

More research in needed before drawing conclusions but this may be!

Possible Mechanisms

• There are no direct neural pathways between the mother and the Fetus,

• Scientists are looking for other, more indirect ways to understand how a mother’s stress levels can affect her baby

• One possible mechanism- stress hormones ( the release of cortisol and adrenaline)

• If these hormones remain in the bloodstream for too long, they can wreak havoc on our bodies.

• Stress hormones in the mother do reach the baby.

• If these mother is chronically stresses, the baby may experience unhealthy levels of stress hormones.

• These hormones can impact the baby’s brain development.

• Chronic or extreme stress can also cause changes in the blood flow to the baby’s brain development, making it difficult to carry oxygen and nutrients to the baby’s developing organs.

• Stress may also cause fatigue and overwhelm, which can mean inconsistent sleep patterns and diets and prenatal care.

Factors to help mothers with stress

• Mothers level of social support

• Gaining some control over stressful situations

• Consistent prenatal care

• Regular light exercise

• Adequate rest

• Healthy eating habits

• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs