Maternal Caregiving May Reverse Effects of Stress During Pregnancy on Newborns: Study

“These results are strikingly similar to those reported in animal work and emphasize the joint contribution of prenatal and postnatal environments in programming of later outcomes,” said lead author Sarah Nazzari, of Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, in Italy.

“From a clinical perspective, findings suggest that enhancing maternal sensitive caregiving, especially in situations of high stress in pregnancy, should be a key target of postnatal interventions in order to attenuate the long-term consequences of prenatal adversity on child development.”

Source: Eurekalert