The impact of maternal positive and negative affect on fetal physiology and diurnal patterns.
BACKGROUND
While research has shown that maternal mood (depression and/or anxiety) can have effects on the fetus, little is known about whether maternal positive and negative affect influences the fetus.


METHODS
We examined fetal vascular and heart rate changes at 36 weeks gestation in 53 euthymic mothers according to their Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) scores.


RESULTS
Mothers who reported high levels of negative affect showed reduced uterine artery flow, decreased fetal heart rate (fHR) variability, an altered diurnal pattern, and decreased uterine artery cross-sectional area compared to mothers who reported low levels of negative affect. Mothers with low positive affect had a steeper diurnal pattern in fHR accelerations and decreased uterine artery mean velocity flow than mothers with high positive affect.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observational study suffers from a small sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
Even in the absence of an Axis I Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), variations in maternal affect appear to be associated with variations in fetal and uterine physiology.
Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Gillian E
GE
Hanley
Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.
Dan
D
Rurak
Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.
Ken
K
Lim
Department of Pediatrics University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.
Ursula
U
Brain
Department of Pediatrics University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.
Tim F
TF
Oberlander
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*