Hair cortisol levels in pregnant women in relation with stress and pregnancy anxiety during a coronavirus pandemic

Purpose: Stress has been shown to cause a large range of adverse fetal effects. This pilot study is the first attempt to examine cortisol level in the hair of pregnant women and assess its potential as a biomarker of gestational stress. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five healthy pregnant women, in whom hair cortisol levels and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were measured and correlated. Results: Maternal hair cortisol levels, ranging between 0.06 and 0.23 nmol/g of hair correlated positively and significantly with measures of perceived stress (ranging between 2-22); (Rs=0.47) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings corroborate recent primate studies with induced stress, and suggest that hair cortisol is a potential biomarker of chronic stress in pregnancy. This new long term biological marker may have important implications in research and clinical practice.

Download Full-text

Maternal and Neonatal Hair Cortisol Levels Are Associated with Infant Neurodevelopment at Six Months of Age

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8112015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rafael A. Caparros-Gonzalez ◽

Borja Romero-Gonzalez ◽

Raquel Gonzalez-Perez ◽

Lidia Lucena-Prieto ◽

Miguel Perez-Garcia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Motor Development ◽

Hair Cortisol ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Gross Motor ◽

Term Neonates ◽

Gross Motor Development ◽

Sensitive Periods ◽

Infant Neurodevelopment ◽

Cortisol Levels

Background: Maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal development during certain sensitive periods. Objective: To longitudinally assess maternal hair cortisol levels during pregnancy, and the postpartum along with neonatal hair cortisol levels that could be associated with infant neurodevelopment at six months of age. Methods: A sample of 41 pregnant women longitudinally assessed during the first, second, and third trimester and the postpartum, along with their 41 full-term neonates participated in this study. Hair cortisol levels were assessed from participants. Infant neurodevelopment was assessed by means of the Bayley Scale of Infants Development, Third Edition at age six months. Results: Maternal hair cortisol levels in the first and second trimester accounted for 24% and 23%, respectively, of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Maternal hair cortisol levels during the postpartum accounted for 31% of variance of infant cognitive development (p < 0.05), and 25% of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Neonatal hair cortisol levels accounted for 28% of variance of infant gross motor development (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The preconception and prenatal time are sensitive periods related to infant neurodevelopment along with the cortisol levels surrounding the fetus while in the womb. Pregnant women could be assessed for hair cortisol levels while attending a prenatal appointment.

Download Full-text

Residential greenness and lower stress during pregnancy: hair cortisol levels as a chronic stress biomarker among pregnant women in Israel

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isee.2021.p-202 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maya Levhar ◽

Anat Schonblum ◽

Liat Arnon ◽

Yaron Michael ◽

Liat Salzer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Chronic Stress ◽

Hair Cortisol ◽

Lower Stress ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Stress Biomarker

Download Full-text

Childhood abuse is associated with increased hair cortisol levels among urban pregnant women

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2015-205541 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 1169-1174 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Hannah M C Schreier ◽

Michelle Bosquet Enlow ◽

Thomas Ritz ◽

Chris Gennings ◽

Rosalind J Wright

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Childhood Abuse ◽

Hair Cortisol ◽

Cortisol Levels

Download Full-text

Hair cortisol levels in pregnancy as a possible determinant of fetal sex: a longitudinal study

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease ◽

10.1017/s2040174420001300 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Borja Romero-Gonzalez ◽

Jose A. Puertas-Gonzalez ◽

Raquel Gonzalez-Perez ◽

Marta Davila ◽

Maria Isabel Peralta-Ramirez

Keyword(s):

Low Birthweight ◽

First Trimester ◽

Hair Cortisol ◽

Negative Results ◽

Stress Vulnerability ◽

Biological Stress ◽

First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽

Prenatal Distress ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Stress during pregnancy has been widely studied and associated to different variables, usually with negative results for the health of the mother and the newborn, such as having a higher risk of suffering postpartum depression, premature birth, obstetrics complications or low birthweight, among others. However, there are not many lines of research that study the role that the sex of the baby plays on this specific stress and vice versa. Thus, the main objective was to analyse the relationship between the sex of the offspring and the stress of the mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to achieve this, 108 women had their biological stress measured (trough hair cortisol levels) and psychological stress evaluated (the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PSS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PDQ) and the Stress Vulnerability Inventory (IVE)). The results revealed significant differences in maternal hair cortisol levels in the first trimester based on the sex of the baby they had given birth to (t = −2.04; P < 0.05): the concentration of the hormone was higher if the baby was a girl (164.36:54.45-284.87 pg/mg) than if it was a boy (101.13:37.95-193.56 pg/mg). These findings show that the sex of the future baby could be conditioned, among many other variables, by the mother´s stress levels during conception and first weeks of pregnancy. Further research is needed in this area to support our findings.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Anxiety in Pregnant Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147221 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7221

Author(s):

Urszula Nowacka ◽

Szymon Kozlowski ◽

Marcin Januszewski ◽

Janusz Sierdzinski ◽

Artur Jakimiuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Social Contact ◽

Anxiety Level ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Daily Routine ◽

Main Concern ◽

Pregnancy Anxiety ◽

Fetal Wellbeing

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak influenced general and mental health worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women and compare it between COVID-infected and non-infected groups. We prospectively assessed the daily routine and anxiety level using a bespoke questionnaire and GAD-7 scale validated for pregnant women. With logistic regression, we established possible risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder spectrum and main causes of concern. The dataset included 439 responders of our survey. Of which, 21% had COVID-19 infection during pregnancy; 38% were screened for possible generalized anxiety disorder and the proportion was higher in women who suffered from COVID-19 (48% vs. 35%, p = 0.03). Pre-pregnancy anxiety or depression diagnosis and intentional social contact avoidance increased the risk of anxiety (aOR 3.4 and 3.2). Fetal wellbeing was the main concern for 66% of the responders. The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions substantially altered daily lives of pregnant women, exaggerating the prevalence of anxiety compared with the pre-COVID-19 studies (38% vs. 15%). COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was associated with increased levels of generalized anxiety scores. Patient-tailored psychological support should be a mainstay of comprehensive antenatal medical care in order to avoid anxiety- and stress-related complications.

Download Full-text