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Turan A, Kaya C. Effect of maternal cortisol levels on fetal heart rate patterns in primiparous pregnant women in the third trimester. REVISTA DA ASSOCIACAO MEDICA BRASILEIRA (1992) 2023; 69:e20221610. [PMID: 37222328 DOI: 10.1590/1806-9282.20221610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether maternal cortisol levels affect fetal heart rate patterns in primiparous pregnant women in the third trimester. METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study included 400 primiparous pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies between November and December 2022. The study included primiparous pregnant women over 18 years old in the third trimester who had not exercised for at least 2 h before the fetal heart rate monitoring and had a healthy pregnancy without consuming any food or drink. Fetuses with decelerating heartbeats and pregnant women who showed uterine contraction and cervical dilation during the fetal heart rate monitoring were excluded from the study. Research data were collected with the data collection form. The fetal heart rate data were collected using a cardiotocograph. At least two accelerations during the 20-min nonstress test period were the basis for diagnosing a reactive nonstress test. About 5 mL of maternal saliva for cortisol measurements was collected before fetal heart rate monitoring. Research data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Macintosh, Version 28.0. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the comparison of the groups in terms of education and income status, family type, fetal gender, pregnancy planning status, BMI and age averages, or gestational week averages (p>0.05). The number of at least two accelerations required for the diagnosis of reactive NST was also higher in Group 1 (maternal salivary cortisol level ≤24.20). A moderately positive relationship between fetal heart rate and maternal salivary cortisol was observed (r=0.448, p=0.000). In total, 11.9% of the total change in fetal heart rate level is explained by maternal cortisol (R2=0.119). Maternal cortisol increases fetal heart rate level (ß=0.349). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that stress in primiparous pregnant women with high cortisol levels may influence fetal heart rate patterns. It was revealed that the increase in cortisol level, considered a stress hormone, may be a harbinger of fetal tachycardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşenur Turan
- Istanbul Medipol Üniversitesi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Midwifery - Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cihan Kaya
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi, Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Istanbul, Turkey
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DiPietro JA, Raghunathan RS, Wu HT, Bai J, Watson H, Sgambati FP, Henderson JL, Pien GW. Fetal heart rate during maternal sleep. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:945-959. [PMID: 33764539 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite prolonged and cumulative exposure during gestation, little is known about the fetal response to maternal sleep. Eighty-four pregnant women with obesity (based on pre-pregnancy BMI) participated in laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) with continuous fetal electrocardiogram monitoring at 36 weeks gestation. Multilevel modeling revealed both correspondence and lack of it in maternal and fetal heart rate patterns. Fetal heart rate (fHR) and variability (fHRV), and maternal heart rate (mHR) and variability (mHRV), all declined during the night, with steeper rates of decline prior to 01:00. fHR declined upon maternal sleep onset but was not otherwise associated with maternal sleep stage; fHRV differed during maternal REM and NREM. There was frequent maternal waking after sleep onset (WASO) and fHRV and mHRV were elevated during these episodes. Cross-correlation analyses revealed little temporal coupling between maternal and fetal heart rate, except during WASO, suggesting that any observed associations in maternal and fetal heart rates during sleep are the result of other physiological processes. Implications of the maternal sleep context for the developing fetus are discussed, including the potential consequences of the typical sleep fragmentation that accompanies pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet A DiPietro
- Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Radhika S Raghunathan
- Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hau-Tieng Wu
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jiawei Bai
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heather Watson
- Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Francis P Sgambati
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sleep Research and Education, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Janice L Henderson
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Grace W Pien
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Antonelli MC, Frasch MG, Rumi M, Sharma R, Zimmermann P, Molinet MS, Lobmaier SM. Early Biomarkers and Intervention Programs for the Infant Exposed to Prenatal Stress. Curr Neuropharmacol 2021; 20:94-106. [PMID: 33550974 PMCID: PMC9199558 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210125150955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional development of affective and reward circuits, cognition and response inhibition later in life exhibits vulnerability periods during gestation and early childhood. Extensive evidence supports the model that exposure to stressors in the gestational period and early postnatal life increases an individual's susceptibility to future impairments of functional development. Recent versions of this model integrate epigenetic mechanisms of the developmental response. Their understanding will guide the future treatment of the associated neuropsychiatric disorders. A combination of non-invasively obtainable physiological signals and epigenetic biomarkers related to the principal systems of the stress response, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary axis (HPA) and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), are emerging as the key predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes. Such electrophysiological and epigenetic biomarkers can prove to timely identify children benefiting most from early intervention programs. Such programs should ameliorate future disorders in otherwise healthy children. The recently developed Early Family-Centered Intervention Programs aim to influence the care and stimuli provided daily by the family and improving parent/child attachment, a key element for healthy socio-emotional adult life. Although frequently underestimated, such biomarker-guided early intervention strategy represents a crucial first step in the prevention of future neuropsychiatric problems and in reducing their personal and societal impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta C Antonelli
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires. Argentina
| | - Martin G Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. United States
| | - Mercedes Rumi
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires. Argentina
| | - Ritika Sharma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich. Germany
| | - Peter Zimmermann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich. Germany
| | - Maria Sol Molinet
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich. Germany
| | - Silvia M Lobmaier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich. Germany
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Lobmaier SM, Müller A, Zelgert C, Shen C, Su PC, Schmidt G, Haller B, Berg G, Fabre B, Weyrich J, Wu HT, Frasch MG, Antonelli MC. Fetal heart rate variability responsiveness to maternal stress, non-invasively detected from maternal transabdominal ECG. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2019; 301:405-414. [PMID: 31781889 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-019-05390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Prenatal stress (PS) during pregnancy affects in utero- and postnatal child brain-development. Key systems affected are the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Maternal- and fetal ANS activity can be gauged non-invasively from transabdominal electrocardiogram (taECG). We propose a novel approach to assess couplings between maternal (mHR) and fetal heart rate (fHR) as a new biomarker for PS based on bivariate phase-rectified signal averaging (BPRSA). We hypothesized that PS exerts lasting impact on fHR. METHODS Prospective case-control study matched for maternal age, parity, and gestational age during the third trimester using the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire with PSS-10 over or equal 19 classified as stress group (SG). Women with PSS-10 < 19 served as control group (CG). Fetal electrocardiograms were recorded by a taECG. Coupling between mHR and fHR was analyzed by BPRSA resulting in fetal stress index (FSI). Maternal hair cortisol, a memory of chronic stress exposure for 2-3 months, was measured at birth. RESULTS 538/1500 pregnant women returned the questionnaire, 55/538 (10.2%) mother-child pairs formed SG and were matched with 55/449 (12.2%) consecutive patients as CG. Maternal hair cortisol was 86.6 (48.0-169.2) versus 53.0 (34.4-105.9) pg/mg (p = 0.029). At 36 + 5 weeks, FSI was significantly higher in fetuses of stressed mothers when compared to controls [0.43 (0.18-0.85) versus 0.00 (- 0.49-0.18), p < 0.001]. CONCLUSION Prenatal maternal stress affects the coupling between maternal and fetal heart rate detectable non-invasively a month prior to birth. Lasting effects on neurodevelopment of affected offspring should be studied. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical trial registration: NCT03389178.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia M Lobmaier
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - A Müller
- Innere Medizin I, Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - C Zelgert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - C Shen
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27705, USA
| | - P C Su
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27705, USA
| | - G Schmidt
- Innere Medizin I, Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - B Haller
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Berg
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia Y Bioquímica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - B Fabre
- Facultad de Farmacia Y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología Y Bioquímica Clínica (INFIBIOC), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Weyrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - H T Wu
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27705, USA.,Department of Statistical Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27705, USA.,Mathematics Division, National Center for Theoretical Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - M G Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - M C Antonelli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.,Instituto de Biología Celular Y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Akbarzadeh M, Rafiee B, Asadi N, Zare N. Comparative Effect of Attachment and Relaxation Training on Perception of Fetal Movement and Mother's Anxiety in Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.3923/tmr.2016.62.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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DiPietro JA, Costigan KA, Voegtline KM. STUDIES IN FETAL BEHAVIOR: REVISITED, RENEWED, AND REIMAGINED. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 2015; 80:vii;1-94. [PMID: 26303396 DOI: 10.1111/mono.v80.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Among the earliest volumes of this monograph series was a report by Lester Sontag and colleagues, of the esteemed Fels Institute, on the heart rate of the human fetus as an expression of the developing nervous system. Here, some 75 years later, we commemorate this work and provide historical and contemporary context on knowledge regarding fetal development, as well as results from our own research. These are based on synchronized monitoring of maternal and fetal parameters assessed between 24 and 36 weeks gestation on 740 maternal-fetal pairs compiled from eight separate longitudinal studies, which commenced in the early 1990s. Data include maternal heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and electrodrmal activity and fetal heartrate, motor activity, and their integration. Hierarchical linear modeling of developmental trajectories reveals that the fetus develops in predictable ways consistent with advancing parasympathetic regulation. Findings also include:within-fetus stability (i.e., preservation of rank ordering over time) for heart rate, motor, and coupling measures; a transitional period of decelerating development near 30 weeks gestation; sex differences in fetal heart rate measures but not in most fetal motor activity measures; modest correspondence in fetal neurodevelopment among siblings as compared to unrelated fetuses; and deviations from normative fetal development in fetuses affected by intrauterine growth restriction and other conditions. Maternal parameters also change during this period of gestation and there is evidence that fetal sex and individual variation in fetal neurobehavior influence maternal physio-logical processes and the local intrauterine context. Results are discussed within the framework of neuromaturation, the emergence of individual differences, and the bidirectional nature of the maternal-fetal relationship.We pose a number of open questions for future research. Although the human fetus remains just out of reach, new technologies portend an era of accelerated discovery of the earliest period of development
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REFERENCES. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/mono.12184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Doyle C, Werner E, Feng T, Lee S, Altemus M, Isler JR, Monk C. Pregnancy distress gets under fetal skin: Maternal ambulatory assessment & sex differences in prenatal development. Dev Psychobiol 2015; 57:607-25. [PMID: 25945698 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal distress is associated with an at-risk developmental profile, yet there is little fetal evidence of this putative in utero process. Moreover, the biological transmission for these maternal effects remains uncertain. In a study of n = 125 pregnant adolescents (ages 14-19), ambulatory assessments of daily negative mood (anger, frustration, irritation, stress), physical activity, blood pressure, heart rate (every 30 min over 24 hr), and salivary cortisol (six samples) were collected at 13-16, 24-27, 34-37 gestational weeks. Corticotropin-releasing hormone, C-reactive protein, and interleukin 6 from blood draws and 20 min assessments of fetal heart rate (FHR) and movement were acquired at the latter two sessions. On average, fetuses showed development in the expected direction (decrease in FHR, increase in SD of FHR and in the correlation of movement and FHR ("coupling")). Maternal distress characteristics were associated with variations in the level and trajectory of fetal measures, and results often differed by sex. For males, greater maternal 1st and 2nd session negative mood and 2nd session physical activity were associated with lower overall FHR (p < .01), while 1st session cortisol was associated with a smaller increase in coupling (p < .01), and overall higher levels (p = .05)-findings suggesting accelerated development. For females, negative mood, cortisol, and diastolic blood pressure were associated with indications of relatively less advanced and accelerated outcomes. There were no associations between negative mood and biological variables. These data indicate that maternal psychobiological status influences fetal development, with females possibly more variously responsive to different exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Doyle
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Elizabeth Werner
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Tianshu Feng
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Margaret Altemus
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Joseph R Isler
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. .,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
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Beijers R, Buitelaar JK, de Weerth C. Mechanisms underlying the effects of prenatal psychosocial stress on child outcomes: beyond the HPA axis. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2014; 23:943-56. [PMID: 24875898 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-014-0566-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence from preclinical and clinical studies indicates that maternal psychosocial stress and anxiety during pregnancy adversely affect child outcomes. However, knowledge on the possible mechanisms underlying these relations is limited. In the present paper, we review the most often proposed mechanism, namely that involving the HPA axis and cortisol, as well as other less well-studied but possibly relevant and complementary mechanisms. We present evidence for a role of the following mechanisms: compromised placental functioning, including the 11β-HSD2 enzyme, increased catecholamines, compromised maternal immune system and intestinal microbiota, and altered health behaviors including eating, sleep, and exercise. The roles of (epi)genetics, the postnatal environment and the fetus are also discussed. We conclude that maternal prenatal psychosocial stress is a complex phenomenon that affects maternal emotions, behavior and physiology in many ways, and may influence the physiology and functioning of the fetus through a network of different pathways. The review concludes with recommendations for future research that helps our understanding of the mechanisms by which maternal prenatal stress exerts its effect on the fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,
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DiPietro JA, Voegtline KM, Costigan KA, Aguirre F, Kivlighan K, Chen P. Physiological reactivity of pregnant women to evoked fetal startle. J Psychosom Res 2013; 75:321-6. [PMID: 24119937 PMCID: PMC3796734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The bidirectional nature of mother-child interaction is widely acknowledged during infancy and childhood. Prevailing models during pregnancy focus on unidirectional influences exerted by the pregnant woman on the developing fetus. Prior work has indicated that the fetus also affects the pregnant woman. Our objective was to determine whether a maternal psychophysiological response to stimulation of the fetus could be isolated. METHODS Using a longitudinal design, an airborne auditory stimulus was used to elicit a fetal heart rate and motor response at 24 (n=47) and 36 weeks (n=45) of gestation. Women were blind to condition (stimulus versus sham). Maternal parameters included cardiac (heart rate) and electrodermal (skin conductance) responses. Multilevel modeling of repeated measures with 5 data points per second was used to examine fetal and maternal responses. RESULTS As expected, compared to a sham condition, the stimulus generated a fetal motor response at both gestational ages, consistent with a mild fetal startle. Fetal stimulation was associated with significant, transient slowing of maternal heart rate coupled with increased skin conductance within 10s of the stimulus at both gestational ages. Nulliparous women showed greater electrodermal responsiveness. The magnitude of the fetal motor response significantly corresponded to the maternal skin conductance response at 5, 10, 15, and 30s following stimulation. CONCLUSION Elicited fetal movement exerts an independent influence on the maternal autonomic nervous system. This finding contributes to current models of the dyadic relationship during pregnancy between fetus and pregnant woman.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet A. DiPietro
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kristin M. Voegtline
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kathleen A. Costigan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frank Aguirre
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katie Kivlighan
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA
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La Marca-Ghaemmaghami P, La Marca R, Dainese SM, Haller M, Zimmermann R, Ehlert U. The association between perceived emotional support, maternal mood, salivary cortisol, salivary cortisone, and the ratio between the two compounds in response to acute stress in second trimester pregnant women. J Psychosom Res 2013; 75:314-20. [PMID: 24119936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Little is known about the effect of social support on the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis during pregnancy. Moreover, when investigating the HPA axis most studies do not consider the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), an enzyme within the salivary glands that inactivates cortisol to cortisone. This study explores the association between perceived emotional support and the maternal psychobiological stress response to a standardized naturalistic stressor by assessing maternal mood and the reactivity of salivary cortisol (SalF), salivary cortisone (SalE), and the SalE/(E+F) ratio as a marker of 11β-HSD2 activity. METHODS Repeated saliva samples and measures of maternal mood were obtained from 34 healthy second trimester pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis which served as a psychological stressor. The pregnant women additionally responded to a questionnaire of perceived emotional support and provided sociodemographic (e.g., maternal educational degree) and pregnancy-specific data (e.g., planned versus unplanned pregnancy). RESULTS Perceived emotional support neither showed a significant effect on mood nor on the SalF or SalE response to stress. However, a moderately strong positive association was found between perceived emotional support and SalE/(E+F) (r=.49). Additionally, the final regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between educational degree, planned/unplanned pregnancy and SalE/(E+F). CONCLUSION Findings suggest a higher metabolization of cortisol to cortisone in pregnant women with higher emotional support. In contrast, higher maternal education and unplanned pregnancy appear to be associated with decreased salivary 11β-HSD2 activity. The current study emphasizes the importance of taking the activity of 11β-HSD2 into account when examining SalF.
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Concurrent levels of maternal salivary cortisol are unrelated to self-reported psychological measures in low-risk pregnant women. Arch Womens Ment Health 2013; 16:101-8. [PMID: 23269500 PMCID: PMC3671921 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-012-0321-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Associations between salivary cortisol and maternal psychological distress and well-being were examined prospectively on 112 women with normally progressing, singleton pregnancies between 24 and 38 weeks gestation. At each of 5 visits, conducted in 3-week intervals, women provided a saliva sample and completed questionnaires measuring trait anxiety, depressive symptoms, pregnancy-specific hassles and uplifts, and psychological well-being. Maternal salivary cortisol was unrelated to psychological measures with the exception of minor associations detected with measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms between 30 and 32 weeks only. Findings indicate that self-reported maternal psychological distress and well-being are not associated with significant variation in maternal salivary cortisol levels during the second half of gestation. This suggests that studies that measure psychological factors in pregnancy but do not measure maternal cortisol should exercise caution in assuming activation of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is the mechanism through which maternal psychological factors are transduced to the fetus.
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Relaxation during pregnancy: what are the benefits for mother, fetus, and the newborn? A systematic review of the literature. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2012; 26:296-306. [PMID: 23111717 DOI: 10.1097/jpn.0b013e31823f565b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported associations between maternal stress during pregnancy and obstetric outcomes as well as fetal development and neonatal adaptation. These findings highlight the importance of identifying pregnant women who experience severe stress and the need for interventions that commence early in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to review studies that investigated the effects of relaxation techniques during pregnancy, including maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. In addition, studies examining maternal endocrine and physiological alterations were reviewed. PubMed was searched using the following key words: maternal well-being, maternal stress, relaxation techniques, pregnancy, fetal neurobehavior, fetal heart rate, neonatal adaptation, and neonatal behavior. (1) Relaxation had a positive impact on women's emotional state. (2) Pregnancy outcomes improved with fewer admissions to the hospital, fewer obstetric complications, longer gestation, reduction of caesarean sections, and fewer postpartum complications. (3) Fetal heart rate and fetal motor activity were reduced as a result of relaxation and therefore interpreted as improved result. (4) Higher-birth-weight and improved performance on the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was related to relaxation. (5) Relaxation training was associated with reductions in maternal physiological and endocrine measures. Relaxation during pregnancy is associated with salutogenic effects that include regulation of emotional states and physiology. Relaxation is also associated with positive effects both on fetal behavior and on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Identifying pregnant women at risk and instituting treatment early in pregnancy could improve obstetric and developmental outcomes for both the mother and her fetus.
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Vedhara K, Metcalfe C, Brant H, Crown A, Northstone K, Dawe K, Lightman S, Smith GD. Maternal mood and neuroendocrine programming: effects of time of exposure and sex. J Neuroendocrinol 2012; 24:999-1011. [PMID: 22385021 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2012.02309.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Adverse exposures that influence growth in prenatal and early postnatal periods are considered to influence vulnerability to chronic diseases via their effects on the neuroendocrine system. In humans, the assessment of the underlying mechanisms has been restricted. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adverse early-life exposures, specifically maternal mood, on hypothlamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) responses to an acute physiological stressor. In addition, we conducted a preliminary examination into whether these effects varied by time of exposure and sex. One hundred and thity-nine individuals (mean age 15.12 years) were recruited from the ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) birth cohort. Participants underwent the CO(2) stress test and indices of the PNS, SNS and HPA axis were measured. Pre-existing data on demographic and psychosocial factors of the mothers during pregnancy (18 and 32 weeks) and postnatally (8 weeks and 8 months) were extracted, as were participants' clinical and demographic data at birth. Increases in both pre- and postnatal anxiety and depression were associated with greater SNS reactivity to the stressor and slower recovery, as well as blunted HPA axis responses. Programming effects on the SNS appeared to be restricted to male offspring only. No consistent relationships were evident for any of the measures of pre-stress function. We have found preliminary evidence that both pre- and postnatal maternal anxiety and depression have sustained programming effects on the SNS and HPA axis. Effects on the SNS were restricted to male offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Vedhara
- IWHO, School of Community Health Sciences, International House, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK. kavita.vedhara@Nottingham
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Giesbrecht GF, Campbell T, Letourneau N, Kooistra L, Kaplan B. Psychological distress and salivary cortisol covary within persons during pregnancy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012; 37:270-9. [PMID: 21752548 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Revised: 06/08/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms whereby maternal stress during pregnancy exerts organizational effects on fetal development require elaboration. The aim of this study was to assess the plausibility of cortisol as a biological link between maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and fetal development. Previous research has resulted in equivocal findings for between-persons differences in stress and cortisol. Ecological momentary assessment was used to simultaneously assess mood and cortisol 5 times daily for 3 days in 83 women (gestational ages 6-37 weeks). Results from multilevel analysis indicated a robust within-person association between negative mood and cortisol. For each 1.0% increase in negative mood there was a corresponding 1.9% increase in cortisol. This association was unaffected by advancing gestational age. The results suggest that cortisol is a plausible biological mechanism for transducing the effects of maternal psychological distress during pregnancy to fetal development.
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16
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Monk C, Fitelson EM, Werner E. Mood disorders and their pharmacological treatment during pregnancy: is the future child affected? Pediatr Res 2011; 69:3R-10R. [PMID: 21289532 PMCID: PMC3085278 DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e3182131a2e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half the US population will meet criteria for a neuropsychiatric disorder at some point in their lives, and 1 in 17 has a seriously debilitating illness. Although not all affected adults had an identified disorder as a child, increasingly these psychopathologies are conceptualized as the late-stage culmination of aberrant developmental processes shaped by a complex interplay of genes and experience, including experiences in utero. Decades of studies with pregnant animals demonstrate that stress-elicited perturbations in maternal biology affect offspring neurodevelopment. Studies of stress in pregnant women largely mirror these findings. Pregnant women with anxiety and/or depression experience greater life stress, and illness-related alterations in their neurobiology, with a potential to impact fetal neurobehavioral development via associated changes in the intrauterine environment and/or pharmacologic interventions. This article critically reviews findings on child development (including fetal neurobehavior) related to maternal depression, anxiety, and pharmacological treatments, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The hypothesis under review is that, in addition to genetics and characteristics of the postnatal environment, the familial transmission of risk for neuropsychiatric disorders involves a "third path"-prenatal exposure to psychiatric illness and its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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17
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Monk C, Fifer WP, Myers MM, Bagiella E, Duong JK, Chen IS, Leotti L, Altincatal A. Effects of maternal breathing rate, psychiatric status, and cortisol on fetal heart rate. Dev Psychobiol 2010; 53:221-33. [PMID: 21400485 DOI: 10.1002/dev.20513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2010] [Accepted: 10/04/2010] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Women's experiences during pregnancy are predictive of variation in neurobehavioral profiles in their children. Few studies have assessed these relationships during the prenatal period. In 113 women in the 36(th) -38(th) gestational week (mean age 26.3 ± 5.4 years), electrocardiogram, blood pressure, respiration, salivary cortisol, and fetal heart rate (HR) were measured during baseline, a psychological challenge (Stroop color-word matching task), and a standardized paced breathing protocol. Subjects underwent the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV prior to testing and were grouped as: depressed, co-morbid for depression and anxiety, anxiety disorder only, and control. There was a significant main effect of maternal diagnostic group on fetal HR only during the Stroop task: fetuses of women in the co-morbid group had a greater HR increase compared to controls (p < .05). Overall, fetuses showed robust increases in HR during paced breathing (p < .0001), and there was no significant difference by maternal diagnosis. For both tasks, changes in fetal HR were independent of women's concurrent cardiorespiratory activity. Finally, although cortisol was higher in the co-morbid group (p < .05), across all participants, there was a trend for maternal baseline cortisol to be positively associated with average fetal HR (p = .06). These findings indicate that variation in fetal HR reactivity-an index of emerging regulatory capacities-is likely influenced by multiple acute and chronic factors associated with women's psychobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1150 St Nicholas Ave., Suite 1-121, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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