POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR

ON FOETAL DEVELOPMENT

PREGNANCY :

Pregnancy is a duration which a women carries offspring in her

uterus . Normal duration of gestational period is 40 weeks .

During this period various factors will affect the growth of foetus such

as psychological behaviour of mother , food intake, infections , her

disease history, daily habits , hygiene etc.,

[Foetus = Developing baby in the womb]

Let us see which maternal factors affect the fetus .

CONNECTION BETWEEN MOTHER AND FETUS:

The physical connection between mother and fetus is provided by

Placenta which serves as a conduit for the exchange of nutrients , gases

and wastes. Cells pass through placenta between mother and fetus.
PSYCHOBIOLOGY OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOUR:

A number of studies found The mother experience heightened feelings

and readiness to respond at approximately at 20 weeks of gestation.

It is now well established that several psychiatric disorders are common

during pregnancy, DEPRESSION being the most common .

Risk factors for poor mental health during pregnancy :

 Past personal or family history of psychiatric illness.

 Substance abuse

 Past personal history of sexual, physical or emotional abuse

 Current exposure to intimate partner violence

 Current social adversity

 Coincidental adverse life events

Psychological disturbances during pregnancy are associated with

inadequate antenatal care , low birth weight and pre term delivery .
If a mother’s poor emotional wellbeing led to neglectful or

abusive parenting , it increased her child’s risk of psychological

disorders such as DEPRESSION, ADHD( attention deficit

hyperactive disorder), lower motor tone .

Fetuses of women who were more anxious had an increased

Heart rate in response to the stressful task. This increased

heart rate in fetus of mothers with prenatal depression is

associated with less connectivity between 2 regions of brain

known as amygdala and prefrontal cortex.This may be an

early sign of less cognitive control over emotion in child.

 Maternal anxiety is associated with placental functioning

differently, which higher cortisol reaches amniotic fluid.

 There is an enzyme in the placenta to deactivate cortisol as

it crosses the placenta and this enzyme function varies

based on mother’s anxiety level.

 Maternal anxiety associated with ‘turning off’ the gene that

controls this protective enzyme ,so that more cortisol

reaches the developing fetus.

 This atypical high cortisol levels is associated with

decreased nerve cell formation and differences in how

neurons migrate and form connections , which leads to risk

of ADHD .

Treatment:
INFECTIONS :

Sexually transmitted infections :

 Chlamydial infection may cause preterm labor and premature

rupture of the membranes. It can also cause eye

inflammation (conjunctivitis) in newborns.

 Gonorrhea can also cause conjunctivitis in newborns.

 Syphilis can be transmitted from a mother to the fetus

through the placenta. Syphilis in the fetus can cause several

birth defects and cause problems in the newborn. Pregnant

women are routinely tested for syphilis early in the

pregnancy. Usually, treatment of syphilis during pregnancy

cures both mother and fetus.

 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is transmitted

to the fetus if women who have the infection are not

treated.. If women take a combination of antiretroviral

 drugs, the risk of transmitting HIV to the fetus can be

reduced to as low as 1%. For some women with HIV infection,

cesarean delivery, planned in advance, may further reduce

the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby.

 Genital herpes can be transmitted to the baby during a

vaginal delivery. It is a sexually transmitted disease to

mother. Babies who are infected with herpes can develop a

life-threatening brain infection called herpes encephalitis.

A herpes infection in babies can also damage other internal

 organs and cause skin and mouth sores, permanent brain

damage, or even death. If women develop herpes sores in

the genital area late in pregnancy or if herpes first

develops during late pregnancy, women are usually advised

to give birth by cesarean delivery, so that the virus is not

transmitted to the baby.

 Zika virus infection in a pregnant woman can cause the baby

to have a small head (microcephaly). The head is small

because it does not develop normally. Zika virus infection

can also cause eye abnormalities in the baby. The Zika virus
 is spread by mosquitoes, but it can also be spread through

sexual intercourse, through blood transfusions, and from a

pregnant woman to her baby before or during birth.

Infections that are not transmitted sexually

 German measles (rubella) can cause problems, particularly

inadequate growth before birth (small for gestational age),

cataracts, birth defects of the heart, hearing loss, and

delayed development.

 Cytomegalovirus infection can cross the placenta and

damage the fetus’s liver and brain, and the fetus may not

grow as much as expected. It can be STD to mother.

 Chickenpox (varicella) increases the risk of a miscarriage.

It may damage the eyes of the fetus or cause defects of

the limbs, blindness, or intellectual disability. The fetus’s

head may be smaller than normal (microcephaly).

 Toxoplasmosis, a protozoal infection, may cause

a miscarriage, death of the fetus, and serious birth

defects. It is transmitted by eating undercooked meat.

 Bacterial infections of the vagina (such as bacterial

vaginosis) may lead to preterm labor or premature rupture

of the membranes containing the fetus.

 Urinary tract infections increase the risk of preterm labor

and premature rupture of the membranes containing the

fetus.
  Hepatitis may be transmitted sexually but is often

transmitted in other ways. Thus, it is not typically

considered a sexually transmitted infection. Hepatitis in a

pregnant woman can increase the risk of premature birth.

It can also be transmitted from the mother to the baby

during delivery, causing problems.

Treatment of Infections During Pregnancy

Some antibacterial drugs, such as the penicillins,

cephalosporins, and drugs related to erythromycin are

generally considered safe for use during pregnancy.

ADDICTION :

Every drug passes from mother’s bloodstream through placenta

to the fetus. Illicit substances that cause drug dependence and

addiction in mother also cause fetus to become addicted .

Alcohol:
Foetal complications :

o ADHD

o Conduct disorder

o Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

o Future drinking problem in adult offspring

Tobacco:

o low birth weight

 o sudden infant death syndrome [because of impaired oxygen

due to vasospasm]

o asthma

o mental retardation

o obesity and diabetes in offspring

o congenital malformation

Marijuana :

sleep disturbance

hyperactivity

poor vision

decreased head circumference

 low intelligence

Cocaine :

 Spontaneous abortion

 Prematurity

 Fetal growth retardation

 Neonatal tachycardia

 Fetal cerebral infarction

 CRACK BABIES - tremors

High pitched cry

 Irritability

Excessive suck

Hyperalertness

Heroin:

 Malpresentation

 Fetal distress

 Neonatal abstinence syndrome

 Motor and neurological abnormalities

The above mentioned all factors are the possible effects of

maternal behaviour on foetal development .

TIPS FOR HEALTHY FETAL DEVELOPMENT FOR

PREGNANT MOTHER :

 Maintain a healthy weight

 Consume nutrient rich foods only- fruits, vegetables, whole

grains, brown rice, low fat milk, beans , peas, egg, fish .,etc
  Drink necessary quantity of water (3 litres)

 Do a healthy exercise – aerobic activities , Yoga , breathing

exercises, slow and happy walking

 Wear comfortable cloths

 Do relaxing activities – hearing music , drawing , prayer ,

reading moral books

 Maintain good sleep

 Maintain good hygiene

 Visit ANC checkups [ante natal care] regularly .Follow the

advices given by doctor correctly.

DONT’S:

 Avoid junk foods

 Avoid substances that causes addiction – caffeine, alcohol,

smoking , illegal drugs

 Avoid wearing tight cloths

 Avoid hard physical activities

 Avoid superstitious beliefs

 Don’t miss checkups

 Avoid late night sleep

 Avoid hearing violent sounds and violent musics

 Don’t lazy on maintaining good hygiene

BIPLOGRAPHY:

NCERT

Dutta’s text book of obstetrics

Ncbi

Wikipedia