Maternal Psychological Distress, Prenatal Cortisol, and Fetal Weight

Abstract

Women exhibiting psychological distress during pregnancy exhibit elevated cortisol levels during midgestation that are in turn related to lower fetal weight.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes among women with blood- and injection phobia during pregnancy

“…This agrees with earlier studies that have shown that children born of mothers with a high degree of anxiety and stress during their pregnancy have a low birth weight (Diego et al, 2006;Federenko and Wadhwa, 2004). Maternal stress during pregnancy has also been shown in several studies to have a significant association with emotional problems in children and it even appears to be one of the determinants of delay in motor and mental development in infants 8 months of age (Huizink et al, 2003;Rice et al, 2007).…”

“…A recent study by Wisner concluded that continuous untreated depression in pregnant women was associated with preterm birth rates exceeding 20 % (Wisner et al, 2009). Emerging research has also demonstrated that maternal stress during pregnancy can result in changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated levels of stress hormones (particularly cortisol) with premature labor, shortened pregnancy length, low birth weight and impaired fetal brain development as a consequence (Copper et al, 1996;Diego et al, 2006;Field et al, 2006;Gitau et al, 1998;Obel et al, 2005;Sandman et al, 1994;Wadhwa et al, 1993;Weinstock, 2005). In addition to the problems mentioned above, there is evidence that children born with low birth weight have more problems later in life with increased likelihood of corticoid sensitive disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and increased anxiety and exaggerated stress responses (Beltrand and Lévy-Marchal, 2008;Bonamy et al, 2008;Emack et al, 2008;Herbert et al, 2006).…”

The influence of maternal cortisol and emotional state during pregnancy on fetal intrauterine growth

“…Furthermore, our study showed that mid-pregnancy cortisol secretion was negatively associated with weight and BMI at birth, although not with PI. More evidence for a correlation between fetal growth and cortisol secretion was found by Diego et al (22) who reported a correlation between cortisol and ESW in mid-pregnancy. …”

“…The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), however, reported an association with lower birth weight, although the effect was not statistically significant after adjustment for confounders, e.g., smoking (12). The small cross-sectional study of Diego et al (22) showed an association between maternal psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and daily hassles) and fetal ESW in mid-pregnancy, whereas Henrichs et al (23) (23) used the brief symptom inventory, we used the EDS and the HADS depression. However, given the fact that both ALSPAC and Generation R used large samples, it is more likely that these studies would more easily obtain statistically significant association.…”

An open trial with cognitive behavioral therapy for blood- and injection phobia in pregnant women—a group intervention program

“…Studies have also shown that maternal stress during pregnancy can result in changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis and elevated levels of stress hormones (particularly cortisol) with premature labor, shortened pregnancy length, low-birth weight and impaired fetal brain development as a consequence ( Obel C et al 2005;Sandman CA et al 1994;Wadha PD et al 1993;Gitau R et al 1998;Copper RL et al 1996;Weinstock M 2005;Diego MA et al 2006;Field T et al 2006). In this study we did not sample salivary cortisol among the participants before and after treatment sessions which would have been interesting.…”