Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth.
OBJECTIVE
To identify whether prenatal depression is a risk factor for fetal growth restriction.


METHODS
Midgestation (18-20 weeks GA) estimated fetal weight and urine cortisol and birthweight and gestational age at birth data were collected on a sample of 40 depressed and 40 non-depressed women. Estimated fetal weight and birthweight data were then used to compute fetal growth rates.


RESULTS
Depressed women had a 13% greater incidence of premature delivery (Odds ratio (OR)=2.61) and 15% greater incidence of low birthweight (OR=4.75) than non-depressed women. Depressed women also had elevated prenatal cortisol levels (p=.006) and fetuses who were smaller (p=.001) and who showed slower fetal growth rates (p=.011) and lower birthweights (p=.008). Mediation analyses further revealed that prenatal maternal cortisol levels were a potential mediator for the relationship between maternal symptoms of depression and both gestational age at birth and the rate of fetal growth. After controlling for maternal demographic variables, prenatal maternal cortisol levels were associated with 30% of the variance in gestational age at birth and 14% of the variance in the rate of fetal growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal depression was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including premature delivery and slower fetal growth rates. Prenatal maternal cortisol levels appear to play a role in mediating these outcomes.
Diego
Miguel A
MA
Touch Research Institutes, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA. mdiego@med.miami.edu
Field
Tiffany
T
Hernandez-Reif
Maria
M
Schanberg
Saul
S
Kuhn
Cynthia
C
Gonzalez-Quintero
Victor Hugo
VH
D001724:Birth Weight; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D006854:Hydrocortisone