Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Stress During Pregnancy Linked To Low Birth Weight Of Babies

Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Mar, 2016 02:36 PM
    Even before a woman becomes pregnant, her stress physiology may predict a lower-birth weight of baby -- less than 2.5 kg, said a new study.
     
     
    The findings revealed that the mother's stress physiology before she even conceives is also important. It suggests that a woman's health and life circumstances before her pregnancy, especially chronic stress, matter greatly.
     
    "We found that the same cortisol pattern that has been linked with chronic stress is associated with delivering a baby that weighs less at birth," said lead author Christine Guardino from the University of California in the US.
     
    Researchers claim this study first evidence that shows maternal cortisol -- a hormone the body releases in response to stressful events -- patterns before conception influence the weight of the baby.
     
    The study, published in the journal Health Psychology, analysed 142 women, which looked at how chronic stress affects new parents and their babies in which they provided daily saliva samples.
     
    "Women's cortisol levels typically increase by two to four times during a normal pregnancy and that increase plays an important role in a baby's growth and development, said co-author Chris Dunkel Schetter.
     
    But when cortisol levels are elevated beyond that range, the effects can be both immediate -- because elevated cortisol levels reduce blood flow to the foetus -- and longer-lasting -- influencing the child's response to stress later in life, Schetter explained.
     
    The results showed that the women were likelier to give birth to lower-weight babies.
     
    They have a higher-than-normal risk for infant mortality developmental and for health abnormalities throughout their lives, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
     
    Women planning a pregnancy should take into account the possible effects of everyday stress and begin planning for a healthy first pregnancy well in advance, Schetter added.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Beware! E-cigarettes May Lead To Cancer

    Marketed as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, electronic cigarettes could actually damage cells in ways that could lead to cancer, suggests new research.

    Beware! E-cigarettes May Lead To Cancer

    What Makes Foodies Happy And Dieters Sad

    What Makes Foodies Happy And Dieters Sad
    Contrary to popular perceptions, foodies - those who take time to appreciate the texture, flavour and beauty of food - do not eat larger portions than what the dieters generally eat, says new research.

    What Makes Foodies Happy And Dieters Sad

    How Eating 'Healthy' Food Can Make You Fat!

    How Eating 'Healthy' Food Can Make You Fat!
    Raj Raghunathan from University of Texas at Austin, and colleagues utilised a multi-method approach to investigate the "healthy equal to less filling" intuition.

    How Eating 'Healthy' Food Can Make You Fat!

    Blanched Onions, Pre-shredded Cheese: Chipotle Changing Cooking Methods After E. Coli Outbreak

    Blanched Onions, Pre-shredded Cheese: Chipotle Changing Cooking Methods After E. Coli Outbreak
    NEW YORK — After an E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 50 people, Chipotle is tweaking its cooking methods.

    Blanched Onions, Pre-shredded Cheese: Chipotle Changing Cooking Methods After E. Coli Outbreak

    In Michigan, A Group Of Schools Finds A Way To Fund The Gold Standard Of Concussion Testing

    In Michigan, A Group Of Schools Finds A Way To Fund The Gold Standard Of Concussion Testing
    His father, watching his son and his Birmingham Groves High School football team from the stands, remembers a little more.

    In Michigan, A Group Of Schools Finds A Way To Fund The Gold Standard Of Concussion Testing

    Surrey Police Seek Man Found In Wrong Home, Asleep In Bed Beside Female Resident

    Surrey Police Seek Man Found In Wrong Home, Asleep In Bed Beside Female Resident
    The man believed to be in his early 20s entered the home early Sunday and fell asleep sometime between 4:20 a.m. and 7:20 a.m.

    Surrey Police Seek Man Found In Wrong Home, Asleep In Bed Beside Female Resident