‘Stress during pregnancy increases risk of baby with health problems’

Published on 04/07/2012 01:55

WOMEN who are stressed while pregnant are 60 per cent more likely to have children with health problems, research has found.

A study revealed expectant mothers who deal with a lot of stress had children who were more at risk of abnormal health conditions. Researchers used birth records from Texas and weather information to find children whose mothers were in the path of a major storm during pregnancy. Results showed mothers living within 30km of a hurricane’s path during their third trimester were 60 per cent more likely to have a baby with abnormal conditions.