Women's mental health during pregnancy influences fetal and infant developmental and health outcomes.

摘要: Women's mental health during pregnancy has important implications not only for the well-being of mother, but also development, health, and her unborn child. A growing body empirical evidence from population-based studies suggests that two indicators women's pregnancy--psychosocial stress social support--may exert a significant influence on fetal development infant birth outcomes, such as weight length gestation, even after controlling effects established sociodemographic, obstetric, behavioral risk factors. This paper describes role three major biological systems involved in physiology physiology: neuroendocrine, immune/inflammatory, cardiovascular systems. These have been hypothesized to mediate maternal developmental central proposed placental corticotropin-releasing hormone this process. However, all women reporting high prenatal and/or low support proceed develop adverse raising question determinants susceptibility/vulnerability context support. In context, race/ethnicity genetic predisposition are discussed promising avenues further investigation.