The Effects of Maternal Prenatal Stress on Fetal and Child Development

Abstract

This chapter describes the effects of maternal prenatal stress on fetal and child development. There is considerable evidence from both animal and human studies that if the mother is stressed during pregnancy this increases the likelihood of her offspring having a range of altered behavioral and other neurodevelopmental outcomes, together on occasion with increased stress reactions. It is possible to suggest adaptive reasons for many of these effects. The behavioral outcomes, such as increased anxiety in females, will make them more vigilant and able to detect danger. More aggression in males may make them better at dealing with this danger.An increased risk of other outcomes such as preterm delivery, earlier menarche, and reduced telomere length, reflect an accelerated life history pattern from birth to death. These too may be of evolutionary advantage in conditions of external threat.