Increased Risk of Preterm Birth in Veterans with PTSD
Largest studies to date demonstrate statistically significant risk of preterm birth among women with active PTSD.
Maternal Prenatal Depression Affects Levels of Inflammation in Offspring 25 Years Later
The three primary methods of communication in the human body (nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system) are interconnected in a number of ways, and exposures that take place during critical windows of fetal development [...]
How Does Mother’s Depression Affect the Fetal Brain? Look at the Amygdala
It is now widely accepted that there is an increased risk for depression among the children of mothers who suffer from depression. Exactly how this vulnerability to depression is transmitted to the child is not precisely understood and is undoubtedly quite complicated. Genetic factors clearly play an important role, but there are other important factors which contribute to the transgenerational transmission of depression. For example, many studies have shown that maternal depression may contribute to parenting styles which increase a child’s likelihood of developing depression later on.
Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Linked to Infant Sleep Problems
The link between maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcome has been well-documented in the medical literature and reviewed on our website. A recent study published in the journal Early Human Development suggests that a mother's stress during pregnancy may also negatively affect her baby's sleep patterns.
Maternal Stress and Low Birth Weight Predict Later Risk for Mood and Anxiety Disorders
It has been postulated that psychological stress in the mother, if present at a critical time of brain development, can permanently alter a child's response to stress and may have long-term negative consequences. In response to stress, blood flow to the uterus is restricted and the fetus receives fewer nutrients, which may result in lower birth weight. Several studies have demonstrated an association between maternal stress and low birth weight, and it is felt that low birth weight is a marker for stressful intrauterine conditions.