This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
Research published in the Biological Psychiatry Journal in November 2019 has shed light on the impact of maternal stress on a baby's brain development.
According to the study, which involved 251 premature babies, maternal stress before and during pregnancy can affect a baby's brain development, particularly in the white matter tract.
The white matter tract contains nerves that link various parts of the brain to one another and the spinal cord, and is responsible for the proper functioning of the brain and mind.
Previous studies have shown that changes in the white matter tract may be a contributor to mental conditions such as anxiety disorders in adults.
Lead author Alexandra Lautarescu from King's College London noted that the study highlights the importance of providing support for expectant mothers, as interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help mitigate adverse outcomes in the baby.
CBT is a type of psychological 'talk' therapy that helps people going through stress to understand what is happening to them and find ways of addressing the challenge to avert adverse health effects or behaviours.
Health experts emphasize that clinicians have an important role to play when speaking with expectant mothers, and that questions about general stress and anxiety should be asked alongside those about depressive symptoms.
According to Lautarescu, health workers providing antenatal care need to be aware that it is important to think about the stress that may be affecting pregnant mums that they attend to, and that those exhibiting stress symptoms should receive adequate support without unnecessary delays.
