Unborn Children Feel Mother’s Stress
A British study has revealed for the first time that as early as 17 weeks following conception, unborn children experience their mother’s stress levels, The Times1 reported.
The study involved 1,000 pregnant women. A research team led by Dr. Vivette Glover,2 a professor at Imperial College London and Pampa Sarkar, a consultant obstetrician at Wexham Park Hospital in Berkshire, measured the stress hormone cortisol in their blood and in the amniotic fluid around the baby in the womb.
A frequent source of higher stress levels were these women’s employers. One in 10 said their employer failed to be supportive when told of their pregnancy, and one in four reported feeling pressured to continue working as if they had not become pregnant.
“We do not wish to unduly worry pregnant women. It should be remembered that one of the best ways for people to avoid general stress is to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle,” Sarkar told The Times.
Still, the findings have prompted immediate calls for family, employers and friends of an expectant mother to understand the health risks that heightened stress can cause to both her and her child.
“What is now clear,” said British midwife Claire Friars, “is that high levels of stress in pregnancy can, in some cases, be detrimental to the health of the baby, and to remain as stress-free as possible is certainly important. It is vital that pregnant women are given adequate support and reassurance from their family, friends and employers to ensure they have a happy and healthy pregnancy.”
The study is published in the May 2007 edition of Clinical Endocrinology.3
[*1] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1862667.ece
[*2]
http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/v.glover/
[*3] http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02785.x
