Mother's anxiety and depression and associated risk factors during early pregnancy: effects on fetal growth and activity at 20–22 weeks of gestation

Abstract

To examine effects of mother's anxiety and depression and associated risk factors during early pregnancy on fetal growth and activity. Repeated measures of mother's anxiety (State-Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S)) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) and related socio demographics and substance consumption were obtained at the 1st and 2nd pregnancy trimesters, and fetus' (N = 147) biometric data and behavior was recorded during ultrasound examination at 20-22 weeks of gestation. Higher anxiety symptoms were associated to both lower fetal growth and higher fetal activity. While lower education, primiparity, adolescent motherhood, and tobacco consumption predicted lower fetal growth, coffee intake predicted lower fetal activity. Vulnerability of fetal development to mother's psychological symptoms as well as to other sociodemographic and substance consumption risk factors during early and mid pregnancy is suggested.

Psychological correlates of decision-making during prenatal diagnosis: a prospective study

“…As antenatal anxiety and depression have been demonstrated independent predictors of postnatal depression [41] and have been associated with lower fetal growth and higher fetal activity [42,43], it seems extremely important and costeffective to screen women during prenatal diagnosis. In our sample, a subset of women reported high decisional conflict during decision-making: thus performing a careful assessment aimed at identifying vulnerable women who may benefit from decision aid frameworks and genetic or group counselling [44][45][46][47] could be advisable.…”

Risk factors for depression and anxiety among pregnant women in Hospital Tuanku Bainun, Ipoh, Malaysia

“…In particular, antenatal anxiety and depression are associated with preterm birth (Orr et al, 2007;Fransson et al, 2011) and have adverse implications for fetal neurodevelopment (Kinsella and Monk, 2009) and child outcomes (Conde et al, 2010;Alder et al, 2007). Beyond that, studies have shown that antenatal anxiety and depression are risk factors for postnatal depression (Milgrom et al, 2008); Yonkers et al, 2001).…”

Acute High-Intensity Exercise Improves Mood during the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

“…Therefore, methods such as exercise that can improve short and long-term mood status are critical to overall health as psychological health and physical health are closely associated [20]. Anxiety and stress can have negative implications for maternal and neonatal health outcomes [21], so any efforts made to reduce stress and anxiety may also elicit improvements in maternal and neonatal health [22]. A previous study by Gaston and Prapavessis (2013) examining depressive mood scores in pregnant women in response to an exercise program reported a reduction in depressive symptoms after a four-week intervention [23].…”