Maternal Stress during Pregnancy and Postpartum: Impact on Maternal Health and Fetal Development

Name: Maternal Stress during Pregnancy and Postpartum: Impact on Maternal Health and Fetal Development
Brand: Springer Nature Switzerland
SKU: 9783032092441
Price: 143.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Caparros-Gonzalez, Rafael A.

This book provides updated scientific knowledge on Maternal Stress during Pregnancy and Postpartum and its impact on Maternal Health and Fetal Development. High levels of maternal psychological stress can cross the placenta through physiological biomarkers (i.e. cortisol) and program the offspring health and disease with lasting effects until adulthood and future generations (transgenerational effects).Throughout the chapters, this book offers researchers and clinicians an integrated perspective on maternal stress during the most vital processes in the life of a women (pregnancy, birth and postpartum). The book consists of 15 chapters written by the most prolific researchers in the world in this area.Stress is considered one the most toxic influence associated with health and disease. In the context of pregnancy, high levels of maternal stress can be associated with detrimental consequences for the mother and the child. Thus, high levels of maternal stress has been associated with gestational delivery, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, prematurity, low-birth weight and an higher rate of C-sections. Besides, it can impact the offspring in the short and long term. In the short-term, neonates that were exposed to high levels of stress while still in the womb can have a low head circumference and a higher prevalence of infant colic. In the long-term, these neonates have a higher risk of developing autism, hyperactivity, cognitive delays, schizophrenia, asthma or suffer a premature death due to a heart attack. Sources of stress are wide and mothers can be exposed to high levels of stress if suffer from intimate partner violence during pregnancy or the postpartum, if exposed to a war, a natural disaster or economic stress. Besides, among all the sources of stress, pregnancy-specific stress appears the most dangerous psychological stress for both the mother and the child, with detrimental consequences. Besides, this book highlights the mechanisms involved in psychological and biological stress through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and also through the brain-gut axis. For example, it is known that high levels of maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with a lower presence of certain beneficial bacterium for humans in the neonatal gut with potential probiotic effects (i.e. Lactobacillus). Moreover, high level of maternal stress is associated with a higher presence of Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcacea which have pathogenesis effects in the neonatal gut (i.e. premature rupture of membranes, pneumonia and sepsis). This book is written for both researchers and clinicians who take care of women during pregnancy, birth and postpartum (Obstetricians, Gynecologists, Midwives, Nurses, Pediatrics, Psychologists, Psychiatrics), also policymakers and stakeholders. Besides, we believe this book will also be of interest for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the area of maternal and neonatal health.