Impact of Prenatal Maternal Negative Emotions on Neurodevelopment of Child

Abstract

Almost 25 years ago, Barker and his colleagues suggested “Foetal origin hypothesis,” also called the Barker’s hypothesis. This model shows how critical in?uences during gestation exert lifelong effects on physical and mental health of the baby. The prenatal period represents a time of extremely rapid change in brain development. First 8 to 24 weeks of gestational period is most vulnerable. Prenatal stress in this period may result in neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism, ADHD, Learning disorder, Communication disorder and anxiety and depressive disorders. The word ‘foetal programming’ is used to explain the association between environmental challenges during pregnancy and altered foetal growth and development, and pathophysiology later in life and it has adaptive Darwinian advantage. Biochemical pathways for the effect of prenatal maternal emotions on child’s neuro-development by foetal programming may be through different channels like Foeto - maternal hypercortisolemia and disruption of foetal HPA axis, via Pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, alteration of micro-biome, abnormalities in 5-HT homeostasis and indirectly through catecholamines. Antenatal mental health thus plays an important area of consultation liaison between psychiatrists, obstetricians and paediatricians.