Maternal Stress & Its Effects On Prenatal Development

A Quick Guide

Prenatal maternal stress, which is characterized by hormonal changes and may have an impact on fetal brain development, has been linked to unfavorable birth outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Stressful situations for mothers during pregnancy may also cause behavior problems in children and weak immune systems. In this article, we will explore what maternal stress is and how it impacts prenatal development in children. 

What is Prenatal maternal stress? 

Prenatal maternal stress refers to either psychosocial or physical stress that an expectant mother might be exposed to during the prenatal stage of her pregnancy. This stress may either be chronic due to long term problems or it can be acute, related to the unexpected changes in a mother’s daily routine life (What Is Prenatal Maternal Stress? n.d.). SPIRAL has divided prenatal maternal stress into 2 constituents. 

• Objective Stress is the amount of stress a woman may encounter in her daily life.
• Subjective Distress is the reaction of the woman in response to the objective stress.

Mother’s mental health & influence on prenatal development

It is quite important to understand the way a mother’s mental health may affect the prenatal development of the child. When a mother is exposed to any stressors, be it physical, environmental, financial, or psychological, the way the human response system works is that the brain produces cortisol which transfers to the child through the placenta. Cortisol itself is a stress-relieving hormone that in exceeding quantity can adversely impact the prenatal development of a child. 

Research implications

According to new research, (DiPietro, 2012) prenatal and postnatal exposures or other sources such as genetic factors, etc are the challenges when it comes to prenatal maternal stress which is the leading cause of developmental delays in a child. 

Moreover, in research from Coussons-Read (2013) any type of severe stress (divorce or losing a loved one) around the time of conception, can lead to women giving birth to children with heart diseases, cleft lip, or neural tube defects. However, if this severe stress starts early on in the pregnancy, the woman may have a miscarriage. 

Biological & Psychological Problems Due to Prenatal Maternal Stress

Whereas if the stress is less severe as is general anxiety, perceived stress, or pregnancy-related distress, there are more chances that the child may suffer from Low Birth Weight. This may result in lasting deficiencies in a child’s behavioral or physiological development and functions. Another important aspect to look at is that these children may have more risk of allergies or asthma or other severe health conditions. This may require continuous and consistent medical treatment throughout their childhood following later into adulthood. 

Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ADHD, Schizophrenia, etc can also occur in some cases. Autoimmune diseases such as Psoriasis and alopecia areata, or metabolic issues like obesity, diabetes Mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, etc are also common issues when it comes to stress-induced prenatal development Coussons-Read (2013). 

It is very important to understand the consequences of acute and chronic stress. Especially when it comes to the prenatal development period of a child. This stress can have dire repercussions when it comes to a child’s physical, psychological, biological, cognitive, behavioral, sexual, and social development. 

Key Takeaway

Stress during pregnancy can affect different people differently, depending on when the stress happens, how intense it is, how long it lasts, and other factors. It’s critical to manage stress throughout pregnancy using methods including getting professional advice, relaxing techniques, and social support. Regular prenatal care and open communication with healthcare providers are very important. Especially for keeping an eye on and dealing with any problems that might come up because of prenatal stress.