Stressful life events in pregnancy and head circumference at birth.
A strong association between stress in pregnancy and small head circumference in infants at birth was reported in 1994. This important finding has never been replicated. In a follow-up study of 4211 participants with singleton pregnancies, information on life events was collected twice during pregnancy and head circumference measured shortly after birth following standard procedures. No association was found between experienced or perceived stress as a result of life events during pregnancy and head circumference in the infants. In conclusion, stress in pregnancy may influence foetal brain development in many ways, but we found no support for an effect on the size of the brain as measured by head circumference at birth.
Obel
Carsten
C
The Perinatal Epidemiological Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. co@soci.au.dk
Hedegaard
Morten
M
Henriksen
Tine Brink
TB
Secher
Niels Jørgen
NJ
Olsen
Jørn
J
D001724:Birth Weight; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019369:Life; D008016:Life Change Events; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors