Maternal Stress during Pregnancy and Postpartum

This book offers a comprehensive overview of how maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and postpartum affects both maternal health and fetal development. Drawing on the latest research, it explores how stress-related biomarkers like cortisol can cross the placenta, influencing the child’s health from birth through adulthood—and even across generations.
Written by leading experts, the 15 chapters examine the biological and psychological mechanisms involved, including the HPA axis and brain-gut axis. Topics include the impact of stress on pregnancy outcomes (e.g., pre-eclampsia, prematurity, low birth weight), neonatal health (e.g., colic, altered gut microbiota), and long-term risks such as autism, ADHD, and cardiovascular disease.
The book also addresses key stressors—such as intimate partner violence, war, and economic hardship—with a focus on pregnancy-specific stress as particularly harmful.
Essential reading for clinicians, researchers, and students in maternal and neonatal health, this volume also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders.