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Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Diego, MA; Field, T; Hernandez-Reif, M; Schanberg, S; Kuhn, C; Gonzalez-Quintero, VH
Published in: Early Hum Dev
January 2009

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether prenatal depression is a risk factor for fetal growth restriction. METHODS: Midgestation (18-20 weeks GA) estimated fetal weight and urine cortisol and birthweight and gestational age at birth data were collected on a sample of 40 depressed and 40 non-depressed women. Estimated fetal weight and birthweight data were then used to compute fetal growth rates. RESULTS: Depressed women had a 13% greater incidence of premature delivery (Odds ratio (OR)=2.61) and 15% greater incidence of low birthweight (OR=4.75) than non-depressed women. Depressed women also had elevated prenatal cortisol levels (p=.006) and fetuses who were smaller (p=.001) and who showed slower fetal growth rates (p=.011) and lower birthweights (p=.008). Mediation analyses further revealed that prenatal maternal cortisol levels were a potential mediator for the relationship between maternal symptoms of depression and both gestational age at birth and the rate of fetal growth. After controlling for maternal demographic variables, prenatal maternal cortisol levels were associated with 30% of the variance in gestational age at birth and 14% of the variance in the rate of fetal growth. CONCLUSION: Prenatal depression was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including premature delivery and slower fetal growth rates. Prenatal maternal cortisol levels appear to play a role in mediating these outcomes.

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Published In

Early Hum Dev

DOI

EISSN

1872-6232

Publication Date

January 2009

Volume

85

Issue

1

Start / End Page

65 / 70

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Pediatrics
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Fetal Growth Retardation
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Birth Weight
 

Citation

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Diego, M. A., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., & Gonzalez-Quintero, V. H. (2009). Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth. Early Hum Dev, 85(1), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.07.002
Diego, Miguel A., Tiffany Field, Maria Hernandez-Reif, Saul Schanberg, Cynthia Kuhn, and Victor Hugo Gonzalez-Quintero. “Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth.Early Hum Dev 85, no. 1 (January 2009): 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.07.002.
Diego MA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Gonzalez-Quintero VH. Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth. Early Hum Dev. 2009 Jan;85(1):65–70.
Diego, Miguel A., et al. “Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth.Early Hum Dev, vol. 85, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 65–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2008.07.002.
Diego MA, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, Gonzalez-Quintero VH. Prenatal depression restricts fetal growth. Early Hum Dev. 2009 Jan;85(1):65–70.
Journal cover image

Published In

Early Hum Dev

DOI

EISSN

1872-6232

Publication Date

January 2009

Volume

85

Issue

1

Start / End Page

65 / 70

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Pediatrics
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Fetal Growth Retardation
  • Female
  • Depression
  • Birth Weight