New research finds stressful pregnancies may have long-term effects on children.
Comment: Interesting article, but I just have a hard time taking advice on caring for a "fetus." Call it a baby - that's what she or he is.
Comment: My mother told me during her pregnancy with me, she and my father moved thirteen times, my father drank heavily on-and-off, and family members reported an abusive situation (that we well know carried on the rest of their married life). I was diagnoxed with paranoid schizophrenia as a youth--which has not stuck by me as an adult, but I do continue to need to take medcations since when I cut back I quickly develop symptoms of "pre-psychosis"--although this has all be so carefully controlled I have never been symptomatic of illness for the past twenty years or so. I also try to keep my life as low-stress as possible (imagine trying to do that in this day's world!) All of my sibs are affected by symptomatic problems (I managed to do graduate work inclinical psychology and am a registered nurse) and have had a highly successful life. This means that I must keep my distance from my family, to some extent, I am learning, after being completely out of my parents' lives for twenty-seven years and recently re-united. My family's dysfunction is so grave that they cannot avoic being destructive to me and one-another. I know for a fact that ALL my mother's pregnancies were extremely stressful, but so was her life--and expect that may be the case with many of the stressful pregnancies seen, even though in this article it is talking about one major event. The 1% hat produce schizophrenia are talking about MUCH stress ovver a longer period of time than one isolated event. (By the way, there was no known history of schizophrenia in my family--but my father, himself, is known to be very paranoid at times.)
Comment: wow that's great!
Comment: So you would rather have women who are in serious need of medication completely whacked out and unable to care for themselves or their children who are aldready here? That to me is irresponsible! I am not saying to throw a pregnant woman on meds for the normal mood swings or hormonal imbalances that come with pregnancy and childbirth, but if someone needs them, they should not be chastised, and neither should the doctor who gives them the anti-depressant. Quit acting like women in this situation are taking illicit street drugs. If it wasn't for the anti-depressants I was given in my third trimester and post pardum, I would have not been able to function. And my children are just fine, thank you very much.
Comment: Wanna stop stressing pregnant women out...quit coming out with these studies! Geez, it's a wonder we are allowed to breathe when pregnant these days!
And deborahdi, discouraging anti-depressants isn't the right thing to do either. Some women really do need them. I have been on them with my last two children, and they have been a life-saver. I have severe panic attacks/anxiety disorders during pregnancy, and then usually end up with post-pardem depression as a result. Many of these medications have proven safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Massage wasn't going to take away any of what I suffered from, and I don't think myself or any other woman should be made to feel bad about having to use anti-depressants. Look at Andrea Yates for crying out loud.
Comment: To "momof3inpgh" There have been NO longterm studies showing the safety of antidepressant use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The researcher only advocated use of antidepressants during pregnancy (if necessary) in the event of a MAJOR stressor, i,e. the death of a parent. He was not recommending routine use of antidepressants during a routine pregnancy. Post-partum depression can be serious. The risk of adverse effects later in life from drug use during pregnancy is simply too high to recommend their use during a routine pregnancy. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible.
Comment: I think your doctor's comments are hideous! Go on an anti-depressant! Like that isn't going to hurt a fetus.
Schizophrenia is extremely highly correlated with high levels of adrenaline (like 6x normal), and in pictures I've seen, adrenaline is linked to testosterone. When you are extremely stressed out, your adrenaline (and presumably) your testosterone levels increase for the 'fight-or-flight' response. Meanwhile, at key times during gestation, a mother's testosterone levels determine how much testosterone the fetus receives. It seems highly likely that the flood of adrenaline/testosterone the mother is experiencing during pregnancy is having long-term effects on her child. One question to ask -- how many of these children were male?
Rather than suggest harmful drugs (anti-depressants are linked to violent behavior) or a hopeless 'there's nothing you can do' approach, remedies that counter the adrenaline/testosterone effects are easy to come by and very likely effective. Talking to people, especially good friends, getting a massage, and feeling nurtured are all good remedies.
I think it's also worth noting that other harmful stressors include being abused, getting divorced, or facing poverty/loss of home/job during pregnancy are just as bad and more common. It would be interesting to see the results of women reporting stressful pregnancies and the correlation to schizophrenia, ADD, and similar conditions.
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