Prenatal stress

Prenatal stress, also known as prenatal maternal stress, occurs when an expectant mother is exposed to psychosocial or physical stress. This can be brought on by daily events or environmental hardships. [1 [2] According to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), a wide range of environmental factors a woman may experience during the perinatal period can contribute to biological impacts and changes in the fetus that then cause health risks later in the child's life.Health risks include impaired cognitive development, low birth weight, mental disorders, and gender specific deficits in the offspring.[1][2]

  1. ^ Liu CH, Erdei C, Mittal L (January 2021). "Risk factors for depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms in perinatal women during the COVID-19 Pandemic". Psychiatry Research. 295: 113552. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113552. PMC 7904099. PMID 33229122.
  2. ^ Weinstock M (October 2007). "Gender differences in the effects of prenatal stress on brain development and behaviour". Neurochemical Research. 32 (10): 1730–1740. doi:10.1007/s11064-007-9339-4. PMID 17406975. S2CID 21546414.