Maternal stress and depression during the course of pregnancy can stimulate protective mechanisms of babies, psychologists found in a new study. Due to the stimulation of these protective mechanisms, the babies can be more resilient in the future.
There were 100 mothers and their babies that were analyzed during and after pregnancy in the study. Psychologists from the University of Basel and their international colleagues looked into umbilical cord blood from 39 newborns.
They evaluated the cortisol in the saliva samples of the mothers. Cortisol is the stress hormone. Stressful events in the life of the mothers and their mental health were also evaluated through the use of questionnaires.
Maternal stress, depression during pregnancy may activate protective mechanisms in infants https://t.co/dAHzIVDQ0A
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Mother's Stress And Depression During Pregnancy Caused Genetic Changes
Times of India reported that the researchers found that when there was additional concentration of stress hormones, depressive symptoms and challenges during pregnancy, epigenetic changes followed in the child. Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression where the DNA sequence remains unchanged.
The epigenetic changes caused the oxytocin receptor gene in the babies to be triggered more easily. Oxytocin deals with social behavior and stress adaptation, as well as the bond between mother and child and the facilitation of labor and lactation, according to DNA India.
Protective Mechanisms Against Stress And Depression Not Given Attention Before
"Resilience research in this area is only at the beginning," study leader Prof. Gunther Meinlschmidt from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Basel said via News-Medical.net. Meinlschmidt added that there needs to be an inclusive understanding of the psychological processes that let humans have long-term health across generations in spite of challenges.
In the past, studies have revealed that pregnancy difficulties may increase the risk for mental illness and physical illness in babies but there has been little consideration for protective mechanisms of the babies, unlike this study. The study was published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
What do you think about this response of the baby when the mother is stressed or depressed? Share your thoughts below.
