Mother’s stress may slow baby’s growth in the womb
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Pregnant women under heavy stress have smaller fetuses in mid-pregnancy than expectant mothers who are not distressed, a new study shows.
Cortisol—the hormone released by the adrenal gland in times of stress—appears to be the responsible factor, Dr. Miguel A. Diego of the University of Miami School of Medicine and colleagues conclude in their report in medical journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
“Women that have clinical depression or diagnosed anxiety disorder or are under some extreme level of stress should be looking for some sort of medical treatment,” Diego told Reuters Health in an interview. “There is an effect of the mother’s psychological state on the development of the fetus.”
While there is evidence linking maternal distress and premature birth, as well as low birth weight, no studies have looked at how stress in pregnancy might affect the fetus before birth. To investigate, Diego and his team performed ultrasound exams on 98 women who were between 16 and 29 weeks pregnant, checked their hormone levels, and had them complete tests evaluating their levels of stress and anxiety.
The more daily hassles, depression and anxiety a woman faced, the smaller her fetus. A statistical analysis revealed that higher levels of cortisol were directly tied to higher levels of distress and lower estimated fetal weight.
Controversy continues about the safety of using antidepressants during pregnancy, Diego noted. Other ways of helping women experiencing distress during pregnancy could include psychotherapy or more social support, he added.
“There are some researchers that have begun to look at this but the main findings have just begun to come out,” he said.
SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine, September-October 2006.
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