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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Maternal depression and anxiety and fetal-neonatal growth

Tiago Miguel Pinto1, Filipa Caldas2, Cristina Nogueira-Silva3

  • 1Universidade do Minho, Escola de Psicologia, Braga, Portugal.

Jornal De Pediatria
|February 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Maternal anxiety during pregnancy independently impacts fetal and neonatal growth. High maternal anxiety is linked to lower birth weight, length, and ponderal index, and reduced weight gain from the second trimester to birth.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Developmental psychology

Background:

  • Maternal depression and anxiety are known to adversely affect fetal and neonatal growth.
  • The distinct impacts of maternal depression versus anxiety on growth trajectories are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To simultaneously evaluate the independent effects of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on neonatal growth outcomes.
  • To analyze the impact of maternal prenatal depression and anxiety on fetal-neonatal growth trajectories from the second trimester to birth.

Main Methods:

  • 172 pregnant women completed self-report measures of depression and anxiety during the second and third trimesters, and at childbirth.
  • Fetal and neonatal biometrical data were collected from clinical reports at the same time points.

Main Results:

  • Neonates born to anxious mothers had significantly lower birth weight, length, and ponderal index.
  • Fetuses and neonates of highly anxious mothers exhibited a reduced weight gain trajectory from the second trimester to delivery.
  • When depression and anxiety were considered together, only maternal anxiety showed a significant effect on growth markers.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal anxiety during pregnancy has an independent, longitudinal effect on key fetal and neonatal growth markers.
  • This study highlights the specific impact of maternal anxiety on growth trajectories, even when maternal depression is also considered.
Abstract

Keywords:
Ansiedade maternalDepressão maternalFetal-neonatal growth outcomesFetal-neonatal growth trajectoriesMaternal anxietyMaternal depressionResultados de crescimento fetal e neonatalTrajetórias de crescimento fetal e neonatal

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