Stress in pregnancy may affect the fetus
We do not wish to unduly distress pregnant women. More work is now needed to better understand the mechanisms of that relationship and the implications to the unborn child. While evidence in the scientific literature suggests that maternal stress in humans can affect the developing child, the mechanisms and period of moment when the fetus is susceptible is still unclear. that is the first report of that relationship noted at such an early stage in pregnancy.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf).
Recent work on animals shows that high levels of stress in the mother during pregnancy can affect brain operate and behavior in her offspring. Research published in May’s edition of Clinical Endocrinology shows that from 17 weeks, the amount of stress hormone in the amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus is positively related to that in the mother’s blood. But whether we are stressed for a enlarged instance they can affect our health including making us tired, depressed and more prone to illness. Pampa Sarkar said: “We are all a product of our developmental history.
Researchers led by Prof Vivette Glover at Imperial College London and Dr Pampa Sarkar at Wexham Park Hospital Berkshire examined the relationship within the stress hormones in the mother’s blood and stress hormones present in the amniotic fluid around the baby in the womb. [Abstract]
At gestational age of 17 weeks or greater they found that the higher the cortisol levels in the mother’s blood, the greater was the level of cortisol in the amniotic fluid.
Commenting on the study lead author Dr. They soon after measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in both samples. Amniotic fluid is predominantly produced by the fetus, and reflects the exposure of the fetus to various substances including hormones. 2007 May;66(5):636-640. One
Stress hormones are pumped into our blood when we become anxious.
“We now need to carry out further work to unravel the mechanisms by which maternal stress affects the fetus, both during fetal life and through into childhood. Our research shows that the fetus is exposed to cortisol in the maternal blood, and we plus demonstrated that at and above 17 weeks, the cortisol in amniotic fluid had a strong positive relationship with cortisol in maternal blood. These hormones are good in the short term considering they help our bodies deal with the present stressful situation. Although we know stress during pregnancy affects the unborn child, little is understood about the mechanisms behind that or when in development the child is most susceptible to these effects. We found that the strength of that correlation became stronger with increasing gestational age.
Stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy may have an effect on her unborn child, most likely mediated by the transfer of stress hormones across the placenta. 
Ontogeny of foetal exposure to maternal cortisol using mid- trimester amniotic fluid as a biomarker. It should be remembered that one of the best ways for public to avoid general stress is to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Sarkar P, Bergman K, Fisk NM, O’Connor TG, Glover V. that is the first study to show that maternal stress may affect the unborn child as early as 17 weeks in development.Original post by Anxiety Insights
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