Stress Can Cause Harm During Pregnancy

Although the journey of bringing a new life into the world is beautiful and miraculous, it can also be stressful.  While stress is common during pregnancy, about 25% of women experience the type of extreme stress that interferes with their day-to-day lives. A new study finds that expecting mothers that experience this type of stress are more likely to give birth to preterm and low-weight babies.

Researchers at the Tillburg University in Netherlands have found that stress during pregnancy carries significant risks for the child. 8% of women who were depressed or anxious during their pregnancy delivered their babies preterm. Additionally, women who experience high stress levels are more likely to give birth to underweight babies.

“Babies from pregnant women reporting both high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms are at highest risk,” said Eva Loomans, a researcher who worked on the study.

The study highlights the need for stress tests and screening for expecting mothers. Researchers believe that treating anxiety and depression in pregnant women would lead to healthier births.