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Pandemic stress reshapes the placentas of expectant moms
Elevated maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the structure, texture and other qualities of the placenta in pregnant mothers - a critical connection between mothers and their unborn babies - according to new research from the Developing Brain Institute at Children's National Hospital. Published in Scientific Reports, the findings spotlight the underappreciated link between the mental health of pregnant mothers and the health of the placenta - a critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and protect babies.
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DC Mother-Baby Wellness boosts resilience for over 1,000 new and expectant mothers experiencing stress, anxiety and depression
An innovative DC Mother-Baby Wellness (DC MBW) program at Children's National Hospital is marking a milestone: prenatal care providers have referred more than 1,000 pregnant women and their babies for mental healthcare support and other essential services, helping some of the area's most strained young families build resilience and improve health outcomes.
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Pandemic-related stressors in pregnant women may impact their babies before they're born
Prolonged levels of stress and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to altering key features of fetal brain development, even if the mother was not infected by the virus.
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Stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy may hinder toddler's cognitive development
This is the first study to shed light on an important link between altered in-utero fetal brain development and the long-term cognitive development consequences for fetuses exposed to high levels of toxic stress during pregnancy.
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Low parental socioeconomic status during pregnancy alters early fetal brain development
Maternal socioeconomic status impacts babies even before birth, emphasizing the need for policy interventions to support the well-being of pregnant women, according to newly published research from Children's National Hospital.
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Maternal anxiety affects the fetal brain
Anxiety in gestating mothers appears to affect the course of brain development in their fetuses, changing neural connectivity in the womb, a new study suggests. The findings could help explain longstanding links between maternal anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders in their children and suggests an urgent need for interventions to diagnose and decrease maternal stress.