During pregnancy and delivery, how important is a pregnant woman’s good mood to the fetus?

Every parent has a common vision in their heart: they hope that their children can have a bright future, be smart, lively, healthy and happy. This expectation inspires them all the time and makes them work hard for it, from fitness diet therapy before pregnancy to prenatal education during pregnancy, to intelligence development classes for newborns after delivery, just to ensure that their children will not lose at the starting line!

However, did you know that the mother's mood during pregnancy can also affect the development of the fetus?

What are negative emotions during pregnancy and childbirth?

Pregnancy is an important stage in a woman's life. Not only does she experience significant physical and physiological changes, but she also experiences a series of emotional fluctuations and adjustments. This emotional ups and downs are normal, because changes in hormone levels in the body and the uncertainty of major changes in life may affect the mood of pregnant women. The role changes brought about by this period and the adjustment of family and social relationships may also bring psychological discomfort, thus affecting the emotional state of pregnant women.

Women during pregnancy and childbirth often experience emotional fluctuations and changes. On the one hand, some women may feel excited and happy because pregnancy is a moment worth looking forward to for them and means they are about to become mothers. However, on the other hand, many pregnant mothers may feel nervous, uneasy and anxious because they may worry about the health of the fetus, the process of delivery and the adaptation to the new role. In addition, weight gain, physical discomfort and relationship adjustment with partners and family during pregnancy may also lead to emotional instability.

Women during pregnancy and childbirth face higher stress due to the huge physiological and psychological changes, and may also lack sufficient social support. These factors work together to make women at this stage more prone to psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety.

High incidence and harm of negative emotions during pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy is often seen as a joyous time, with expectant mothers full of hope and preparing to welcome the arrival of a new life. However, this is not the case for many women. An analysis shows that approximately 18.2% to 24.6% of women report increased anxiety symptoms during pregnancy, with symptoms becoming more severe in the third trimester [1]. In high-income countries, approximately 5% of mothers experience clinical depression and 13% experience clinical perinatal anxiety; in low- and middle-income countries, the situation is much more severe, estimated at 15% to 50% [2]. Depression during pregnancy may cause pregnant women to feel inferior, reduce compliance with prenatal care, or choose some unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking, or drug abuse [3]. At the same time, women who experience depression, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and gestational hypertension [4-5]. In addition, these emotional problems may also increase the risk of emotional problems, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and impaired cognitive development in their children in the future [6].

The mechanism of negative emotions during pregnancy and childbirth affecting fetal development

Studies have shown that negative maternal emotions during pregnancy and childbirth may affect fetal development through multiple pathways, thereby having long-term effects on children's behavior and neurocognitive function [1,7]:

Maternal adverse psychological stress during pregnancy and childbirth can lead to the release of multiple hormones in the body. Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and childbirth will promote the release of stress hormone cortisol, which will increase the fetal cortisol level. Excessive levels of cortisol may lead to fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and damage neurodevelopment. At the same time, maternal anxiety during pregnancy will also promote the release of catecholamines, causing maternal vasoconstriction, resulting in reduced placental blood flow, oxygen and nutrient supply, affecting the normal development of the fetus.

When the mother is in a negative mood for a long time during pregnancy and delivery, emotional stress may affect the development of the fetus through epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetics is a biological process that does not change the DNA sequence but affects gene activity. Specifically, this means that emotional stress may cause changes in gene expression, thereby affecting cell function and developmental processes. For example, maternal anxiety may lead to excessive inhibition of certain genes, which may interfere with the normal development and connection formation of brain cells. In addition, these changes may interact with other mechanisms, such as increased secretion of stress hormones caused by maternal stress, which may further affect the development of the fetus.

In addition, postpartum parenting is also a critical stage that has an important impact on the health and interaction between mother and baby. The negative emotions that mothers endure may affect their parenting style and the quality of interaction with their babies. Mother-infant interaction is key to the early development of infants. Mothers who are affected by negative emotions may show varying degrees of emotional instability, insecurity or indifference in their interactions with their babies after childbirth. This may affect the emotional development and social interaction ability of infants.

How to deal with negative emotions during pregnancy and childbirth

Negative emotions during pregnancy and childbirth can be difficult for expectant mothers, but fortunately, there are many ways to help cope with these emotions and improve your mood:

Maintain an active lifestyle: A balanced diet, adequate exercise, and adequate sleep are important for emotional stability and physical health. Maintaining good physical health can help relieve anxiety and depression.

Communicate with family and friends: Sharing your feelings and talking about your concerns with family and friends can sometimes relieve your psychological burden. Getting understanding and support can help you cope with your emotions better.

Attend a pregnancy preparation class: Joining a parenting class or pregnancy preparation class can help you gain knowledge about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting, increase self-confidence and reduce anxiety.

Seek professional support: If your emotional problems are severe, you may need to seek help from a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or counselor. They can provide professional advice and treatment to help you cope with your emotional distress.

Understand and accept emotions: Don’t suppress your emotions, but try to understand and accept them. Emotions are a normal human experience, allow yourself to feel them, and then find healthy ways to cope with them.

Remember, everyone is different, and different approaches may work for you. It's important to try different strategies to find the best way to deal with your emotions and make your pregnancy more enjoyable and smooth. If you feel that your emotional problems are affecting your daily life, be sure to seek professional help in time.

References:

1. van den Heuvel M I. From the womb into the world: protecting the fetal brain from maternal stress during pregnancy[J]. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2022, 9(1): 96-103.

2.Rogers A, Obst S, Teague SJ, et al. Association between maternal perinatal depression and anxiety and child and adolescent development: a meta-analysis[J]. JAMA pediatrics, 2020, 174(11): 1082-1092.

3. Stein A, Pearson RM, Goodman SH, et al. Effects of perinatal mental disorders on the fetus and child[J]. The Lancet, 2014, 384(9956): 1800-1819.

4. Ding XX, Wu YL, Xu SJ, et al. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies[J]. Journal of affective disorders, 2014, 159: 103-110.

5. Dowse E, Chan S, Ebert L, et al. Impact of perinatal depression and anxiety on birth outcomes: a retrospective data analysis[J]. Maternal and child health journal, 2020, 24: 718-726.

6. Glover V. Maternal depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy and child outcome; what needs to be done[J]. Best practice & research Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology, 2014, 28(1): 25-35.

7. Nazzari S. A multi-systems approach to understanding the effects of antenatal distress: biological underpinnings of perinatal depressive symptoms and biobehavioral outcomes in the child[D]. UCL (University College London), 2019.

Author: Shanghai Science Writers Association Shanghai University - Jin Dalong Science Writer

Reviewer: Lan Yibing, deputy chief physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

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Source: Starry Sky Project