title: Influence of prenatal maternal stress, maternal plasma cortisol and cortisol in the amniotic fluid on birth outcomes and child temperament at 3 months.
abstract: This prospective, longitudinal study aimed to investigate relationships between indicators of maternal prenatal stress, infant birth outcomes and early temperament. We examined the pattern of associations and postulated pathways between physiological (cortisol plasma concentrations) and self-report indices (stress, anxiety) of maternal prenatal stress, cortisol in the amniotic fluid, birth outcomes and infant temperament at 3 months. The sample consisted of 158 women undergoing amniocentesis in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Questionnaire measures of maternal stress and anxiety were found to be unrelated to cortisol in plasma or amniotic fluid. Maternal cortisol was related to amniotic cortisol, which in turn was associated with lower birth weight. Birth weight predicted infant fear and distress to limitation at 3 months old. We found trend-like indirect effects of amniotic fluid on infant distress to limitation and fear via birth weight. This is one of the few studies to simultaneously assess the role of maternal and amniotic fluid cortisol on birth outcomes and infant emotional development. The results suggest that foetal cortisol may be an important predictor of infant outcomes and shed light on the mechanisms through which prenatal maternal stress affects infant psychological health.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baibazarova
authors.forename: Cornelieke
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van de Beek
authors.forename: Peggy T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cohen-Kettenis
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
authors.forename: Katherine H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Stephanie H M
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: van Goozen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013694:Temperament
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone