Fetal response to maternal anxiety: a factor in antepartum heart rate monitoring

Talbert, D.G.; Benson, Pauline; Dewhurst, Sir John

doi:10.3109/01443618209083081

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Several studies reported that increased maternal anxiety or psychosocial stress is associated with hyperactive fetuses and fetal tachycardia [30,31], a sudden fall in fetal heart rate (FHR) followed by over-swing recovery [32,33], significant FHR increases [34], increased fetal motor activity [35], more time in quiet sleep [36], and higher pulsatility index in the fetal middle cerebral artery [37]. Conversely, reduced anxiety or positive emotional states result in decreased fetal breathing and increased body movements [38,39].…”

Section: Gestational Stress Influences Human Fetal Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Prenatal Psychobiological Stress Exerts Programming Influences on the Mother and Her Fetus

Sandman

Davis²,

Buß³

et al. 2011

Neuroendocrinology

241

199

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Background/Aims: Accumulating evidence from a relatively small number of prospective studies indicates that exposure to prenatal stress profoundly influences the developing human fetus with consequences that persist into childhood and very likely forever. Methods: Maternal/fetal dyads are assessed at ∼20, ∼25, ∼31 and ∼36 weeks of gestation. Infant assessments begin 24 h after delivery with the collection of cortisol and behavioral responses to the painful stress of the heel-stick procedure and measures of neonatal neuromuscular maturity. Infant cognitive, neuromotor development, stress and emotional regulation are evaluated at 3, 6 12 and 24 months of age. Maternal psychosocial stress and demographic information is collected in parallel with infant assessments. Child neurodevelopment is assessed with cognitive tests, measures of adjustment and brain imaging between 5 and 8 years of age. Results:Psychobiological markers of stress during pregnancy, especially early in gestation, result in delayed fetal maturation, disrupted emotional regulation and impaired cognitive performance during infancy and decreased brain volume in areas associated with learning and memory in 6- to 8-year-old children. We review findings from our projects that maternal endocrine alterations that accompany pregnancy and influence fetal/infant/child development are associated with decreased affective responses to stress, altered memory function and increased risk for postpartum depression. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the mother and her fetus both are influenced by exposure to psychosocial and biological stress. The findings that fetal and maternal programming occur in parallel may have important implications for long-term child development and mother/child interactions.

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