The Effects of Maternal Stress on Fetal Development

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Military spouses face heightened stress levels when their partners are deployed to combat zones. Pregnant individuals experiencing this stress may have elevated maternal cortisol levels. Unfortunately, this can affect the child’s developing brain. It increases the likelihood of mental and physical challenges later in life.

Embracing my wife and two young daughters, I feel a surge of emotions. I’m about to head off on another combat deployment. I had only been home a few months after my first twelve-month tour in Iraq. Now I was leaving again. My two youngest daughters don’t yet understand why their father must go once more. I feel like a visitor in their lives. I am a father who comes and goes. They must cope with their mother’s help and resilience.

Thankfully, my wife has already endured a deployment and multiple training separations. She has grown strong and self-reliant because she has no other choice. She knows the stress and anxiety that come with this life. But this time, things are different. Our third daughter is growing inside her womb, feeling the same strain my wife will bear throughout this deployment. My wife endures the physiological toll of separation. Our unborn child also experiences this toll. This new life will enter a world shaped by the demands of military life. She will grow up facing challenges without her father present. She will join her sisters in a life where they will feel that their country comes as a priority over their need for a father. This will happen even before she takes her first breath.

Ten years later, my beautiful daughter, who was born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1, dyslexia, and mild learning challenges, now struggles with anxiety, depression, and episodes of suicidal ideation. Her father was away often during her early years, with three more combat deployments and multiple training absences. These experiences shaped the difficulties she faces today. The stress and trauma she was exposed to in the womb likely set the stage for these psychological challenges.

The Need for More Awareness

When expectant mothers learn they’re pregnant, they become highly vigilant about their child’s health. They watch their diet and avoid anything that could harm their baby. I watched my wife, enduring intense pain from kidney stones, refuse pain medication to protect our unborn child. During my wife’s pregnancies with our five daughters, we focused mainly on her diet, environment, and physical wellness. We did not understand the effects of maternal cortisol on the developing fetus.

Mental health, if mentioned at all, centered only on the mother’s well-being. Little was said about how unregulated stress and trauma could impact the developing child. Most mothers can’t control their challenges, particularly in military life. The real issue is that parents lack awareness and education on how stress affects fetal development. In society, there is limited understanding of prenatal mental health. We wish we had known then what we know now. The stress a mother endures impacts her baby’s brain development. It sets the foundation for future health issues as they enter this world. Raising awareness of the effects of maternal cortisol on the developing fetus is crucial. Sharing knowledge is essential to spark change. That’s my purpose in sharing this story. I hope to influence a shift in understanding and approach.

The Human Biology of Stress

To understand this, we must comprehend the mental and physical processes in the mother. This occurs when she experiences high levels of stress. “Recent studies in humans suggest that changes in the endocrine system’s activity affect psychosocial stress. These changes play a role in its effects. These effects impact fetal development and birth outcome” (Weinstock, 2005). But I can’t stress enough that it’s not the mother who is to blame. The number of mental health issues today tells us about the extreme difficulty of stress management. We are faced daily with unavoidable stressors. Nonetheless, you can learn to control the automatic emotional responses triggered by these stressors. We can also manage the release of stress hormones that affect fetal development.

The maternal stress occurs when the fight or flight response activates when we experience any stress or threat. This automatic reaction occurs with the slightest worry. It ranges from wondering if your child will eat their lunch at school to a near-death experience. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) activates under any level of stress. The SNS is part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which also consists of the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). When a threat is perceived, the SNS activates. The body restores normalcy through the PNS when the danger is no longer perceived.

When the SNS activates, it increases heart rate and shallow breathing. The digestive system shuts off, and the brain’s Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis triggers a stress response. This reaction stimulates the adrenal gland above the kidney. This results in the release of several stress hormones and a pro-inflammatory response from the immune system. These hormones affect not only the mother but also the developing fetus.  

Impacts of Stress on Fetal Development

Many independent prospective studies have now shown this fact. If a mother is stressed, anxious, or depressed while pregnant, her child is at increased risk. The child may face a range of problems, including emotional issues, ADHD, conduct disorder, and impaired cognitive development. “The brain is the first organ to begin developing, starting around 18 days after fertilization” (Sangganjanavanich & Reynolds, 2015, p. 54). By weeks 28 to 30, the brain is more defined. The frontal lobes are forming now, especially in areas linked to emotions.

In a YouTube video on the Society of Biological Psychiatry channel, Carly Lenniger explains how cortisol impacts fetal development. The video is titled “Associations Between Prenatal Maternal Cortisol Levels and the Developing Human Brain.” She explains that during times of heightened maternal stress, increased cortisol can lead to a child with heightened sensitivity to environmental stressors. During heightened maternal stress, increased cortisol affects the child. It leads to heightened sensitivity to environmental stressors. This can increase the risk of anxiety, ADHD, and depression. It can also cause cognitive challenges and other issues (Weinstock, 2005; Munck, 1984).

A study at the University of California, Irvine, discovered that elevated maternal stress levels during pregnancy correlate with reduced cognitive functioning. This reduction occurs at one year of age. This finding is based on an analysis of 125 pregnancies examining stress levels (Davis & Sandman, 2010). Enzymes in the womb typically shield the fetus from normal cortisol levels. Yet, this defense weakens under excessive maternal cortisol. This is especially true by the third trimester. During this time, maternal stress hormones more directly impact fetal development (Munck & Guyre, 2005).

Understanding cortisol’s effects on fetal development is essential for expectant mothers. High maternal stress levels during pregnancy present a national concern. Children born with pre-existing sensitivities to stress face additional hurdles. These hurdles affect their ability to become resilient, healthy, and adaptive members of society. Entering a world full of unavoidable stressors can be especially challenging. Stressors range from political division and social inequities to crime and global crises like COVID-19. These stressors are particularly difficult for those with early cognitive and emotional difficulties.

I hope that readers of this message share it widely. I encourage anyone planning for a family to consider mental health counseling. Those currently expecting should also do so. It should not just be a response to current issues. It is a proactive step to manage stress. Counseling can offer emotional support to expectant mothers. Seek counseling from a therapist now. See it as a form of mental emergency preparedness. This empowers mothers to prepare their minds to handle automatic stress responses. Evidence-based stress management techniques can benefit everyone. Counseling during pregnancy is crucial in navigating this critical time.

Don’t lose hope for those in situations similar to my family’s. No matter the mental health struggles you or your children face, there is always potential for change. The brain’s adaptability means it can be retrained to respond more positively to automatic thoughts that drive anxiety and depression. If you’re a mother who experienced high stress during pregnancy, remember that stress management is a skill. This skill requires practice and consistency. These efforts can reduce the impact on your body.

Adversity may strike like a North Carolina hurricane. Our response can transform both our lives and those around us. Once you master stress management, it’s a superpower within yourself. This power empowers you to face life’s challenges with resilience. It also boosts your confidence.

The impacts of maternal stress on fetal development are profound, with heightened cortisol levels in expectant mothers influencing the long-term mental and physical health of their children. This article highlights the necessity of understanding and managing maternal stress to improve birth outcomes and child development. Through awareness, support, and proactive mental health strategies, we can help expectant mothers mitigate stress effects, setting a foundation for healthier, more resilient future generations. By prioritizing maternal well-being, we not only support the mother but also safeguard the development and potential of the child within.

Check out the informative videos below to learn more about the effects of stress on fetal development.

What We Learn Before We’re Born

Associations Between Prenatal Maternal Cortisol Levels and the Developing Human Brain

InBrief: Early Childhood Mental Health

Infant Mental Health | Amy Huffer | TEDxOStateU

References

Munck A, Guyre PM, Holbrook NJ. Physiological functions of glucocorticoids in stress and their relation to pharmacological actions. Endocrine Reviews 1984;5(1):25–44.

Sangganjanavanich, V. F., & Reynolds, C. A. (2015). Introduction to Professional Counseling (Counseling and Professional Identity) (1st ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.

Associations Between Prenatal Maternal Cortisol Levels and the Developing Human Brain. (2020, June 3). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuLKzEEoxq4&t=248s

Weinstock, M. (2005). The potential influence of maternal stress hormones on development and mental health of the offspring. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 19(4), 296–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2004.09.006

Glover, V. (2009). Antenatal Stress and Anxiety, Effects on Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes for the Child, and the Role of the HPA Axis. European Psychiatry, 24(S1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(09)70535-8

Davis, E. P., & Sandman, C. A. (2010). The Timing of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Cortisol and Psychosocial Stress Is Associated With Human Infant Cognitive Development. Child Development, 81(1), 131–148. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01385.x

About Post Author

Chris Pierce

chris.pierce23@gmail.com

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