Influence of prenatal stress and depression on child development

Abstract

The manner in which the fetus develops in the uterus depends on the status of the mother, their food, their environment and their emotions. Studies in laboratory animals have shown that prenatal stress causes serious disturbances in the CNS, particularly the hypothalamic adrenal axis (HPA) in the hormonal response to stress. Several studies, including several natural experiments, have found a significant association between antenatal maternal anxiety or stress problems and different cognitive, behavioral, and emotional language in children. Among the risk factors for psychological disorders present during pregnancy are personal or family history of psychiatric illness or drug use, past personal history of sexual, physical or emotional, and a past history of depression, which is the factor that strongly predicts antenatal depressive symptoms. The maternal stress and anxiety can affect the fetus throughout pregnancy but do so in different ways according to the stage of gestation at which it is and which areas of the brain are developing. Why it is so necessary to research and develop programs of prevention, intervention and support to reduce the levels of stress, anxiety or depression during pregnancy and prevent adverse effects in a clinically significant proportion of children.