PREGNANCY STRESS LINKED TO MENTAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN PREGNANCY stress can be defined sa anxiety, fear and worry during pregnancy. Mounting evidences by a United Kingdom researcher have suggested that CHILDREN whose mothers were stressed out during pregnancy are vulnerable to mental and behavioural problems.
Latest UK research by Professor Vivette Glover of Imperial College, London, found stress caused by rows with or violence by a partner was particularly damaging.
Experts blame high levels of the stress hormone cortisol crossing the placenta. Professor Glover found high cortisol in the amniotic fluid bathing the baby in the womb tallied with the damage.
The babies exposed to the highest levels of cortisol during their development had lower IQs at 18 months.
The same infants were also more likely to be anxious and fearful, she told a conference of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The work suggests that maternal stress although Professor Glover acknowledged that genetic factors and home environment after birth would also have an impact on a child”s development.
She said most babies grow up unaffected by a stressful womb environment.However, she said maternal stress increases the risk of a range of problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), For example.
”” We should be screening women in pregnancy for stress and intervening. It has big public health implications, Glover said.PREGNANCY STRESS LINKED TO MENTAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN Pregnancy stress can be defined sa anxiety, fear and worry during pregnancy. Mounting evidences by a United Kingdom researcher have suggested that children whose mothers were stressed out during pregnancy are vulnerable to mental and behavioural problems.
Latest UK research by Professor Vivette Glover of Imperial College, London, found stress caused by rows with or violence by a partner was particularly damaging.
Experts blame high levels of the stress hormone cortisol crossing the placenta. Professor Glover found high cortisol in the amniotic fluid bathing the baby in the womb tallied with the damage.
The babies exposed to the highest levels of cortisol during their development had lower IQs at 18 months.
The same infants were also more likely to be anxious and fearful, she told a conference of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
The work suggests that maternal stress although Professor Glover acknowledged that genetic factors and home environment after birth would also have an impact on a child”s development.
She said most babies grow up unaffected by a stressful womb environment.However, she said maternal stress increases the risk of a range of problems like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), For example.
”” We should be screening women in pregnancy for stress and intervening. It has big public health implications, Glover said.
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