A recent study published in the journal Child Development studied the impact of stress during pregnancy on the child's development, and has found that it negatively affects the coordination and motor skills of children as they grow.
According to LiveScience, the researchers arrived at the findings after following 2,900 Australian mothers and their kids. They were asked if they had any stressful events during pregnancy, at the 18th and 34th week. Stressful events include financial problems, the death of a loved one, separation or divorce.
The kids were then examined, with the researchers looking at their overall coordination and body movements at three specific points in their lives: at 10, 14, and 17 years of age. Motor skills examined included grip strength, jumping distance, and the maximum length of time capably standing on one foot.
It was found that children born to mothers who had three or more stressful events during their pregnancy scored lower on motor and coordination skills, compared to those born from mothers who experienced less than three stressful events during pregnancy.
Additionally, it was also found that stress had greater effects on the children's coordination skills when the stressful events happened at a later stage during the mother's pregnancy. The researchers explained that this could be because the development of a brain region called the cerebellar cortex, a part involved in controlling bodily movement, happens during later pregnancy stages.
"Given our findings on the importance of mothers' emotional and mental health on a wide range of developmental and health outcomes, programs aimed at detecting and reducing maternal stress during pregnancy may alert parents and health professionals to potential difficulties and improve the long-term outcomes for these children," study coauthor Beth Hands, professor of human movement at the University of Notre Dame Australia, wrote in a press release via EurekAlert!
According to LifeScript, pregnancy is a wonderful time in the life of a woman. However, it's a mixed-emotion season that is marked by joyful excitement for the baby's arrival on one side, and difficult changes in the woman's body and and emotions on the other.
Given the study's findings, it would help pregnant mothers to find helpful ways to lessen stress.
LifeScript gives some tips to help reduce stress during pregnancy.
Laughter reduces stress. Watching something that makes you laugh will help. Journaling and writing letters to your unborn will also help.
Walking, drinking lots of water, and taking naps will help your body relax. Lastly, get help with household chores. Visitors would even help you with chores, aside from giving you emotional support.
