Examining the link between women's exposure to stressful life events prior to conception and infant and toddler health: the role of birth weight

Abstract

Background The lifecourse perspective suggests a pathway may exist among maternal exposure to stressful life events prior to conception (PSLEs), infant birthweight, and subsequent offspring health, whereby PLSEs are part of a “chains-of-risk” that set children on a certain health pathway. No prior study has examined the link between PSLEs and offspring health in a nationally-representative sample of US mothers and their children. We used longitudinal, nationally-representative data to evaluate the relation between maternal exposure to PSLEs and subsequent measures of infant and toddler health, taking both maternal and obstetric characteristics into account. Methods We examined 6,900 mother-child dyads participating in two waves of the nationally-representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n=6,900). Infant and toddler health outcomes assessed at 9 and 24 months included overall health status, special health care needs, and severe health conditions. Adjusted path analyses examined associations between PSLEs, birthweight, and child health outcomes. Results In adjusted analyses, PSLEs increased the risk for very low birthweight (VLBW, <1,500 grams), which, in turn, predicted poor health at both 9 and 24 months of age. Path analyses demonstrated that PSLEs had small indirect effects on children’s subsequent health that operated through VLBW. Conclusion Our analysis suggests a chains-of-risk model in which women’s exposure to PSLEs increases the risk for giving birth to a VLBW infant, which, in turn, adversely affects infant and toddler health. Addressing women’s preconception health may have important downstream benefits for their children, although more research is needed to replicate these findings.

Childhood body mass index at 5.5 years mediates the effect of prenatal maternal stress on daughters’ age at menarche: Project Ice Storm

“…Results of the sensitivity analysis suggest that the study's findings are robust, and that maternal stress ranging from preconception throughout the gestational period is related to long-lasting effects on offspring development (e.g. [39][40][41][42][43][44][45]. The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that prenatal environmental stressors can affect reproductive systems through their effects on metabolism (Fig.…”

“…This preconception group was included because maternal preconception stress, in the months and years before conception, has immediate and long-term postnatal effects on offspring development. [39][40][41][42][43][44][45] We assessed the degree of the women's objective exposure to the ice storm and their subjective distress. Their children have been evaluated on multiple developmental measures, including self-report data through questionnaires and face-to-face evaluations of their cognitive, behavioral, physical and motor development.…”

Paternal exposure to medical-related radiation associated with low birthweight infants

“…They found that gene involved in rhythmic process overpresented in irradiated male mice 24. Besides, transgenerational instability of the next generation was observed in Mughal et al’ study [ 22 ] because of a threshold dose of acute paternal irradiation. But the reasons why paternal exposure to radiation was associated with LBW still needs further study.…”

Thinking Across Generations: Unique Contributions of Maternal Early Life and Prenatal Stress to Infant Physiology

“…2–4 ACEs also appear to have effects on the next generation, as preconception maternal early life adversity is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, and maternal sexual abuse history independently predicts poorer birth outcomes. 5,6 Furthermore, maternal history of childhood abuse predicts hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in her offspring. 7 These findings are consistent with life course theory, which posits that health trajectories are influenced by recent events and reflect cumulative exposure, suggesting that consideration of both current stressors and experiences across a mother’s lifespan are needed to understand intergenerational health disparities.…”