Pregnancy-related Stress Research Articles

Effects of Yoga on Stress in Pregnant Women.

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes physiological and metabolic changes to nourish the developing fetus. Every woman experiences pregnancy-related stress differently, with symptoms and difficulties ranging from mild to severe. However, various therapies are available to help reduce stress levels. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of integrated yoga, which includes asanas and pranayama, on stress levels and physiological markers in pregnant women. The study is a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial with 2 parallel groups. The intervention group was provided with integrated yoga therapy, while the control group was given routine standard care from 18 to 22weeks to 33-35weeks of gestation. To measure the stress level, a standardized perceived stress scale was used, which has 10 items with stress scores ranging from 0 to 4, with a maximum score of 40. The average stress score was significantly lower in the intervention group (P <.001) as well as normal physiological parameters when compared to the control group. Findings suggest that practicing yoga during pregnancy is safe and effective in reducing stress and preventing complications. Women who began yoga therapy during their second trimester reported a significant decrease in physiological parameters from baseline to post-intervention. However, further randomized controlled trials are necessary to determine the validity and usefulness of yoga therapy during pregnancy.

Understanding and Addressing Male Postpartum Depression: Incidence, Causes, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies.

Pregnancy-related stress affects not only the woman but also her partner. The issue of postpartum depression in women is increasingly discussed, apart from its occurrence in men, which can develop up to 12 months after giving birth. Risk factors for depression in young fathers are numerous and include hormonal fluctuations, socioeconomic conditions, and co-occurrence of other diseases. Emerging depressive symptoms are nonspecific and can be missed even by experienced medical personnel. Currently, screening tests use questionnaires that do not consider male risk factors. Perhaps the development of more personalized diagnostic methods would enable early identification of men at risk and include preventive measures. The proposed treatment methods of postpartum depression, such as sertraline or cognitive-behavioral therapy, enable patients to recover and provide appropriate support. The disease can cause long-term consequences that negatively affect the development and functioning of the child's psyche. Behavioral disorders and emotional problems are observed in children whose fathers had postpartum depression. Moreover, partner relationships deteriorate and the father-child bond is impaired. Further research should focus on identifying risk factors in men from different social classes, considering environmental, personal, and ethnic characteristics, and on the effectiveness of postpartum depression treatment in men. This article aims to review the incidence, causes, diagnosis, and management of male postpartum depression.

Examining the Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Pregnancy Distress in Pregnant Women

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between pregnant women's spiritual well-being levels and their pregnancy-related stress. Material and Methods: The sample of the descriptive and correlational study consisted of 250 pregnant women aged 18 years and over with the 12th week of pregnancy and above who were admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinic of a Training and Research Hospital between November 2020 and April 2021 and who agreed to participate in the study. The data were obtained by collecting the Personal Information Form, Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), and Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS). The SPSS statistical program was used to evaluate the data. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women was 26.5±5.3 years. It was determined that 39.6% of the pregnant women were secondary school graduates, 72% had planned pregnancies, 31.6% were primiparous and 60% were in the third trimester. A statistically significant, negative, and weak relationship was found between the spiritual well-being levels of pregnant women and pregnancy-related stress (r=-0.33, p=0.000). Conclusion: In this study, the spiritual well-being of pregnant women was determined to be high, and pregnancy-related stress was found to be low. However, it was found that as the spiritual well-being of pregnant women increased, their pregnancy-related stress decreased.

P-493 Navigating the landscape of reproductive genetic literacy: insights from healthcare professionals

Abstract Study question What is the opinion of professionals on (promoting) reproductive genetic literacy among patients and its impact on delivering effective counselling? Summary answer Professionals acknowledge the benefits of promoting literacy but report that achieving a balance between providing essential information and avoiding unnecessary anxiety-inducing details remains a challenge. What is known already Advances in genetic testing empower prospective parents for informed family planning, allowing timely intervention for special needs. However, this transformation has shifted patients from being passive information recipients to the stressful role of decision-makers. The complexity of genetic information such as treatment plans and result interpretation, intensifies their stress. Given that pregnancy-related stress carries risks, including miscarriage, and premature delivery, promoting patient knowledge becomes crucial. While traditional healthcare prioritizes educating professionals, this study explores the perspective of professionals on educating patients. This shift aims to promote equal access to reproductive genetic options, ultimately improving overall family planning and reproductive health. Study design, size, duration In this qualitative study, 14 individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with reproductive healthcare professionals from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Interviews were guided by a set of open-ended questions refined through pilot interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed using Otter.ai software. Thematic analysis, facilitated by the Atlas.ti OpenAI-powered tool (Version 23.4), provided a structured and insightful method for identifying patterns within the interview data. Participants/materials, setting, methods We interviewed fourteen healthcare professionals with diverse expertise, including genetic counselors (n = 4), gynecologists or obstetricians (n = 4), midwives (n = 2), and psychologists or social workers (n = 4). Our aim was to gain insights from their perspective into the complete process of reproductive genetic care in the Netherlands, covering preconception to preimplantation and prenatal stages. Employing an ‘abductive approach’ during coding, we systematically organized codes into potential themes, creating a structured framework to capture key findings from the data. Main results and the role of chance Professionals recognized that having prior knowledge allows patients to actively participate in counseling, ask pertinent questions, and make informed decisions about genetic testing with reduced stress. Within the vast landscape of reproductive care information, professionals unanimously emphasize the importance of understanding the testing procedure, its duration, safety, and potential results to facilitate decision-making regarding genetic testing. However, they cautioned against overloading patients with excessive and over-precise information, which may hinder their choices. We identified five major challenges to effective counselling: (1) the complexity of genetic testing information, including technical terms such as chromosome, carrier disorder, phenotype, or mosaicism, which can overwhelm patients; (2) language barriers that disrupt communication, particularly among disadvantaged groups; (3) untailored genetic counseling characterized by a “one-size-fits-all” approach, overlooking individual demographic factors such as education, medical history, and cultural background, thereby reducing patient engagement; (4) while time constraints are generally not considered a barrier by Dutch professionals, exceptions arise in scenarios requiring translation and among midwives, who express limited time as a concern; (5) uncertain test results, including false positives/negatives, or incidental findings, pose challenges in interpretation without causing unnecessary stress, especially when discussing the severity of diagnosed conditions, leading to patient confusion persisting even after counseling. Limitations, reasons for caution The sample size of fourteen healthcare professionals might not fully represent the broader healthcare community. Furthermore, while valuable insights are derived from the perspective of professionals, to generalize the findings, it is essential to incorporate the experiences of patients during counseling sessions. Wider implications of the findings The findings emphasize the need for patient-centered approaches and targeted interventions in reproductive genetic care for improved accessibility and decision-making. Collaboration among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and advocacy groups is crucial for addressing challenges and promoting equitable practices. Despite the study was conducted in the Netherlands, the conclusions apply more broadly. Trial registration number N/A

Placental Cortisol Dysregulation in Mothers with Experiences of Childhood Adversity: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are extremely prevalent in the United States population. Although ACEs occurs in childhood, exposure to them has been associated with adverse future pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of poorer social determinants of health, which further drive the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes. In addition, maternal ACE exposure has been linked to poor infant and child outcomes, highlighting the intergenerational transmission of risk from mother to child. While alterations along the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is hypothesized to be involved, the exact biological pathway underlying this intergenerational passage of risk is mostly unknown. This present work will highlight what is known about pregnancy-related stress hormone physiology, discuss the potential mechanisms of action of ACEs on cortisol regulation, and suggest opportunities for further clinical and translational studies.

Development and validation of the 23-item preterm birth risk assessment scale-Korean version

BackgroundPreterm birth (PTB) is a complex and significant challenge in obstetrics. Thus, clinicians and researchers have paid a keen interest in the identification of women at a high risk for PTB. This study aimed to develop a PTB risk assessment scale based on the preliminary 32-item Preterm Birth Risk Assessment Scale-Korean version (PBRAS-K).MethodsWe enrolled 298 participants (167 in the exploratory factor analysis group from March 3, 2021 to August 31, 2021 and 131 in the confirmatory factor analysis group from December 3, 2021 to February 14, 2022) who delivered before 37+0 weeks after experiencing preterm symptoms and were admitted to high-risk pregnancy maternal–fetal intensive care units (MFICUs). After an item-reduction process in the exploratory factor analysis, the psychometric property scales were assessed using SPSS Statistics version 27.0, and the confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS version 27.0.ResultsThe Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s χ2 test of sphericity confirmed the adequacy of the sample for factor analysis (KMO = .81 (> .80), χ2 = 1841.38, p < .001). The final version of the PBRAS-K comprised 23 items within seven dimensions. Factor analysis identified items explaining 65.9% of the total variance. The PBRAS-K achieved a mean score of 35.58 (± 10.35) and showed high internal consistency and satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = .85). Regarding concurrent validity, the PBRAS-K exhibited a low-to-moderate correlation with the PTB risk (r = .45, p < .001). As for criterion validity and convergent validity, the PBRAS-K showed a positive and high correlation with the Somatic Awareness Scale with Spontaneous Preterm Labor (SPL-SAS) (r = .65, p < .001) and pregnancy-related stress (r = .57, p < .001), respectively. Risk scoring for preterm delivery and SPL-SAS were moderately correlated (r = .53, p < .001).ConclusionsPBRAS-23-K is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the risk for PTB in pregnant women. Clinical nurses are encouraged to apply and obtain information regarding effective interventions in MFICUs. This scale provides meaningful results and reflects the opinions of women who had experienced PTB. The PBRAS-23-K should be evaluated for standardization and cut-off scores using larger sample sizes in the future.

Factors Triggering Anxiety for Pregnant Women during the Covid 19 Pandemic

Covid-19 infection is more common in expectant mothers. than people who are not expecting. This causes pregnant women to experience anxiety and even depression if they are not treated immediately. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 can psychologically cause increased levels of tension and anxiety brought on by worry about spreading disease and its effects. The objective of the study was to identify the triggering factors for anxiety in during the Covid-19 epidemic, expectant mothers. The design of the study was cross-sectional research design. The sample included several expecting mothers in Mojoroto District, Kediri City as many as 67 respondents. The data collection used questionnaire. The data analysis used ordinal regression. The results showed the p-value of pregnancy complications (0.034), limited food ingredients (0.047), history of depression (0.000), environment (0.001), loss of caregiver (0.000) which meant these variables affected the occurrence of anxiety during the Covid-19 epidemic in expecting mothers. COVID-19 increased the risk of complications in expecting mothers, besides that social restrictions also caused limited food ingredients, difficulty getting caregivers. This caused pregnant women to experience depression. The covid pandemic had also caused many deaths and generating worry in expectant mothers. The conclusion is that the triggering factors for pregnancy-related stress and the Covid-19 epidemic pregnancy complications, limited food ingredients, a history of depression, anxiety about the environment and anxiety about losing a caregiver

Perceptions of service providers, service recipients and female community health volunteers on a rural obstetric ultrasound program in rural Nepal: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn rural Nepal, where women face financial and geographic barriers in accessing ultrasound scans, the government initiated a Rural Obstetric Ultrasound Program (ROUSG) to train skilled birth attendants (SBAs) in rural birthing centers and expand access to routine ultrasound scans for local pregnant women. This study explores the perceived benefits and limitations of the training and implementation of this program.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted in 15 primary care facilities in Bhojpur and Dhading, two rural districts of Nepal. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with 15 trained SBAs and focus group discussions with 48 service recipients and 30 FCHVs to gain insight into their perceptions. All interviews and focus group discussions were recorded, reviewed, and manually coded into MS Excel.ResultsOverall, our findings indicated that the ROUSG program was very well received among all our study participants, though critical gaps were identified, mostly during the training of the SBAs. These included insufficient guidance or practice opportunities during training and the challenges of implementing the mobile obstetric ultrasound service. Most importantly, though, our results suggest that the implementation of the ROUSG program increased access to prenatal care, earlier identification and referrals for abnormal scans, as well as reduced pregnancy-related stress. There was also a notable anecdotal increase in antenatal care utilization and institutional deliveries, as well as high satisfaction in both service providers and recipients.ConclusionOur findings highlighted that while the training component could use some strengthening with increased opportunities for supervised practice sessions and periodic refresher training after the initial 21-days, the program itself had the potential to fill crucial gaps in maternal and newborn care in rural Nepal, by expanding access not only to ROUSG services but also to other MNH services such as ANC and institutional deliveries. Our findings also support the use of ultrasound in areas with limited resources as a solution to identify potential complications at earlier stages of pregnancy and improve timely referrals, indicating the potential for reducing maternal and neonatal morbidities. This initial study supports further research into the role ROUSG can play in expanding critical MNH services in underserved areas and improving broader health outcomes through earlier identification of potential obstetric complications.

Reduced-visit antenatal care model combined with telemedicine for low-risk pregnant women: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionAntenatal care (ANC) is a critical measure to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, there are issues of too many visits and cumbersome procedures of ANC in many...

Social distancing and mental health among pregnant women during the coronavirus pandemic

BackgroundThe effect of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant women is of particular concern, given potential effects on physical health, family functioning, and child development.MethodsPregnant women were recruited for the “Implications of and Experiences Surrounding being Pregnant during the COVID-19 Pandemic” study at Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Participants enrolled at any point during their pregnancy and surveys were delivered weekly until the participant indicated that she had delivered her baby; a postpartum survey followed four weeks after delivery. This analysis includes 1037 participants with baseline, 596 with follow-up, and 302 with postpartum surveys. Questions on social distancing behaviors were asked at baseline and grouped based on whether they involved social distancing from work, friends and family, or public places. Symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and pregnancy-related anxiety were measured. Each type of social distancing was examined as a predictor of mental health using linear model with control for confounders.ResultsThe study population was largely white (84.1%), married (81.8%), and educated (76.2% with a bachelor’s or higher degree). Women who were younger, Black, unmarried, or had less education or income reported fewer social distancing behaviors. Mean anxiety score in the highest quartile of overall social distancing was 8.3 (SD 5.6), while in the lowest quartile it was 6.0 (SD 5.0) (p < 0.01), while perceived stress postpartum and pregnancy-related stress were not associated with social distancing. Associations were substantially diminished when controlled for baseline levels of anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsGreater social distancing was associated with more anxiety symptoms, but worse mental health, particularly anxiety, may also have contributed to greater social distancing behaviors.

The anxiety of pregnant women with established type 1 or type 2 Diabetes Mellitus – Systematic review

Introduction: Women with pre-existing type I and II diabetes mellitus in pregnancy are a high-risk group for developing complications in both themselves and their infants. The level of stress women with pre-existing diabetes experience at the early and late pregnancy, may determine its outcome. Aim: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the investigation of the anxiety level of pregnant women with pre-existing type I or II D.M. Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by searching scientific articles in the Pubmed database. Seven primary studies were included in the present thesis that were written in English, published in the last ten years and included women with pre-existing D.M. Results: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in pregnant women with D.M. was found to be 40% at the beginning of pregnancy, which is five times higher than in pregnant women without D.M. Pregnancy-related stress was associated with vaginal bleeding, preterm birth, induction of labor and use of birth control medications. A greater improvement in the score of the concise mental element was observed with lower HbA1c in late pregnancy. Conclusions: The prevalence of stress in early pregnancy is higher in women with diabetes and hyperglycemia compared to pregnant women without D.M., but the frequency of stress is not affected by their glycemic status.

Pregnancy-Specific Stress and Racial Discrimination Among U.S. Women.

Adverse birth outcomes among children born to women of color (WOC) have been associated with discrimination during pregnancy; however, little research has explored stressed caused by discrimination as well as pregnancy-specific stress. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stress and racial discrimination (lifetime and during pregnancy) between U.S. women of different racial/ethnic groups. Women between 18 and 45 years (n = 198; 101 non-Hispanic White, 58 Black, and 39 other WOC [i.e., Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, Mixed Race]) completed an online, cross-sectional survey between December 2019 and March 2020. Participants reported pregnancy-specific stress using the pregnancy distress questionnaire (PDQ) and pregnancy life events scale (PLE) and discrimination via the general ethnic discrimination scale (GED). ANOVAs explored differences between racial/ethnic groups' stress and discrimination. We found non-Hispanic White (p < 0.05) and other WOC (p < 0.01) reported higher distress during pregnancy than Black women, and other WOC (p < 0.05) reported more stressful prenatal life events (p < 0.05) than non-Hispanic Whites. However, Black (p < 0.001) and other WOC (p < 0.001) both experienced more ethnic discrimination throughout their lifetime and during their pregnancy than non-Hispanic Whites. Also, Black women experienced five times the stress from these encounters than White women (p < 0.001). Previously developed pregnancy distress questionnaires may be better suited for non-Hispanic White populations and may miss important experiences unique to marginalized populations such as racial/ethnic discrimination. Adaptations to pregnancy-related stress scales are warranted given the toxicity of discrimination during pregnancy.

A Comparative Study of Work Stress among Working Females Getting Paid and Working Women Unpaid (Housewives) During Pregnancy.

The potential impact of employment on pregnancy is an important issue as several occupational factors have been reported to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes through increased work stress. The current study was undertaken among pregnant women to understand the difference in pregnancy-related stress among pregnant working women getting paid (WWP) and working women unpaid (WWU) (housewives) and to assess workplace stress among working WWP. A total of 426 study participants which included 213 participants in each group were recruited from a tertiary care hospital in Chennai. All the study participants were interviewed using an A-Z scale to understand pregnancy-related stress while WWP were also interviewed using Workplace Stress Questionnaire (WSQ). It was observed that the mean score of WWP was significantly higher than the mean scores of WWU (t = 94.63; df = 1, P = 0.000). Those WWP who were working for >8 h daily had higher scores as compared to those working for ≤8 h. The study shows that the WWP had work stress in addition to background pregnancy-related stress.

Maternal stress during pregnancy and gestational duration: Acohort study from the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Preterm birth is one of the most important contributors to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Experiencing stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth. This association has been observed in previous studies, but differences in measures used limit comparability. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between two measures of maternal stress during pregnancy, life stress and emotional distress, and gestation duration. Women recruited in the Danish National Birth Cohort from 1996 to 2002, who provided information on their stress level during pregnancy and expecting a singleton baby, were included in the study. We assessed the associations between the level of life stress and emotional distress in quartiles, both collected at 31 weeks of pregnancy on average, and the rate of giving birth using Cox regression within intervals of the gestational period. A total of 80,991 pregnancies were included. Women reporting moderate or high levels of life stress vs no stress had a higher rate of giving birth earlier within all intervals of gestational age (e.g. high level: 27-33 weeks: hazard ratio (HR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04, 1.84; 34-36 weeks: 1.10, 95% CI 0.97, 1.25; 37-38 weeks: 1.21, 95% CI 1.15, 1.28). These associations between life stress and preterm birth were mainly driven by pregnancy worries. For emotional distress, a high level of distress was associated with shorter length of gestation in the preterm (27-33 weeks: 1.38, 95% CI 1.02, 1.86; 34-36 weeks: 1.05, 95% CI 0.91, 1.19) and early term (1.11, 95% CI 1.04, 1.17) intervals. Emotional distress and life stress were shown to be associated with gestational age at birth, with pregnancy-related stress being the single stressor driving the association. This suggests that reverse causality may, at least in parts, explain the earlier findings of stress as a risk factor for preterm birth.

Resilience, stress and anxiety in pregnancy before and throughout the pandemic: a structural equation modelling approach

The present study explored and compared the link between resilience and pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety, employing two structural equation models. One model focused on pregnant women before the outbreak of the pandemic, and the other on pregnancies throughout the pandemic. For this purpose, a total sample of 690 women during their pregnancy were collected: the Pre-Pandemic Group (P-PG) was composed of 341 pregnant women evaluated prior to the pandemic; and 349 pregnant women assessed at the time of the pandemic constituted the Pandemic Group (PG). The resilience, pregnancy-related stress, perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology of the women were assessed. For both samples, resilience was found to lower levels of pregnancy-specific stress, as well as general perceived stress, and anxiety symptomatology. Furthermore, pregnancy-specific stress and perceived stress showed a covariance relationship and, that these, in turn, increased the anxiety. Moreover, the PG showed greater levels of pregnancy-specific stress, anxiety, somatisations, and obsessions-compulsions, while the P-PG presented higher perceived stress levels.

Pregnancy-Related Stress Among Pregnant Women Receiving Tocolytic and Non-Tocolytic Treatments Where Both Used Complementary Medicine.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the pregnancy stress among pregnant women in receiving tocolytic and non-tocolytic treatments where both used complementary medicine. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 35 pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment and 35 receiving non-tocolytic treatment, where both used complementary medicine in a medical center in central Taiwan. A basic information questionnaire that contained demographic variables and types of complementary medicine used and the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale were used for the analysis. Results: The types of complementary medicines were surveyed using the multiple-choice questionnaire. Natural products (77.5%) were most commonly used by pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment, followed by alternative medicine (13.75%), manipulative and body-based practices (5%), and mind and body medicine (3.75%). In pregnant women who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment, natural products (59.1%) were most commonly used, followed by manipulative and body-based practices (16.4%), alternative medicine (15.4%), mind and body medicine (7.3%), and energy therapy (1.8%). According to the analysis of covariance test results, while both used complementary medicine in groups, pregnant women receiving tocolytic treatment were less stressed than those who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment (Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale score, p = 0.038), especially in dimension 2 (stress caused by infant care and changes in family relationships) (p = 0.015) and dimension 5 (stress caused by changes in physical appearance and function) (p = 0.008), which showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis results showed that the gestational age significantly associated with pregnancy stress (Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale score, p = 0.029; dimension 2, p = 0.016; and dimension 5, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Among both who used complementary medicine, pregnancy stress was significantly lower in pregnant women who were receiving tocolytic treatment than in those who were receiving non-tocolytic treatment. This finding can be used as a reference for future pregnant women’s health studies.

Factors influencing pregnancy stress in pregnant women in Korea: a cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between maternal knowledge and social support on pregnancy stress among pregnant women in Korea. The participants in this study were 148 pregnant women in Korea, recruited from online communities on pregnancy and/or childbirth, from June 2019 to April 2020. The collected data were analyzed using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Participants were at average 18.25±8.28 weeks gestation, 56% were in the second trimester, 31% had one or more health issues in the current pregnancy (e.g., hyperemesis gravidarum), and 76% were first-time mothers. Participants had moderate levels of pregnancy stress (mean, 23.09±7.11 points out of 48) and maternal knowledge (mean, 14.42±4.67 points out of 21), whereas social support was somewhat high (mean 45.88±7.81 points out of 60). Pregnancy stress was weakly negatively correlated with social support (r=-.37, p<.001). Main source of pregnancy information (β=-.21, p=.011), marital satisfaction (β=-.18, p=.036), and social support (β=-.19, p=.038) were identified as significant factors affecting pregnancy stress, and these variables had an explanatory power of 22.7% for pregnancy stress. Based on these findings, nurses should assess pregnancy-related stress during pregnancy and consider main source of pregnancy information and marital satisfaction when providing education or counseling. Moreover, strategies to reduce pregnancy stress through social support are needed to improve the quality of life for pregnant women.

"Ignored and Invisible": Perspectives from Black Women, Clinicians, and Community-Based Organizations for Reducing Preterm Birth.

The preterm birth rate for Black women in the U.S.is consistently higher than other racial groups. The crisis of preterm birth and adverse birth outcomes among Black people is a historical, systematic confluence of racism, stressors, and an unsupportive and hostile healthcare system. To inform the development of preterm birth risk reduction interventions, this study aimed to collect and synthesize the experiences of Black women who gave birth preterm along with clinicians and community-based organizations who serve them. A qualitative study design was employed whereby nine focus groups and 17 key informant interviews that included Black women, clinicians, and representatives from community-based organizations were facilitated in Los Angeles County from March 2019 to March 2020. Participants were recruited through the organizations and the focus groups took place virtually and in person. The process of thematic analysis was employed to analyze the focus group and interview transcripts. Five overarching themes emerged from the data. Black women experience chronic and pregnancy-related stress, and have lasting trauma from adverse maternal health experiences. These issues are exacerbated by racism and cultural incongruence within healthcare and social services systems. Black women have relied on self-education and self-advocacy to endure the barriers related to racism, mistreatment, and their experiences with preterm birth. Healthcare and social service providers must offer more holistic care that prioritizes, rather than ignores, the racial components of health, placing increased importance on implementing inclusive and culturally-appropriate patient education, attentiveness to patient needs, respectful care, and support for Black women.

Stress, Coping, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Pregnant Women in Outpatient Care During the 2021 Second-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic.

Aims: Women face many sources of stress throughout their lives, and some periods are particularly sensitive; pregnancy is one of them. The COVID-19 pandemic is a likely source of additional stress for pregnant women. Moreover, there is evidence that pregnant women have experienced high levels of anxiety and depression symptoms during the pandemic. Our study aimed to evaluate the association of pregnancy-specific stress, pandemic-related stress, and coping strategies with anxiety, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology in Italian women during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2020–June 2021). We also investigated whether there were differences in these levels of psychopathology compared to a prior study conducted during the first pandemic wave (April–August 2020) in Italian pregnant women.Methods: We assessed 325 pregnant women receiving outpatient prenatal care, using the Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ), Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS), the Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory (NuPCI), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) screening. The main analysis was conducted comparing multiple logistic regression models predicting each psychopathological outcome from specific covariates and NuPDQ, PREPS, and NuPCI scores.Results: 42.8% of the sample reported significant levels of anxiety, while 10.3% was positive on depression screening and 13.1% on OCD screening. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of high anxiety, depression, or OCD screening scores compared with the first pandemic wave. Controlling for covariates, we found that GAD-7 and PHQ-2 scores were predicted by pregnancy-specific stress; positive OCD screening was not. The model of high anxiety was improved by adding pandemic-related stress as a predictor (in particular, feeling unprepared for delivery and postpartum). Finally, coping strategies (avoidance, spiritual coping, and planning-preparation) significantly improved prediction of all three psychopathological outcomes.Conclusions: The present study suggests the importance of pregnancy-related stress, COVID-19 pandemic stress, and of coping strategies in counteracting or contributing to psychiatric symptomatology during the current pandemic.

Effects of Ocimum sanctum Gestational Administration on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects of Mice Offspring

Aims: Prenatal maternal stress and anxiety affect the offspring causing low birth weight, decreased motor activity, and developmental delays. Ocimum sanctum is cherished as the holiest herb in India and possesses strong adaptogenic, memory enhancer, and anti-stress properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract on preventing pregnancy related stress impact on the mice offspring.&#x0D; Methodology: Pregnant female mice were treated with O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract throughout the gestation period at 100 mg/kg, p.o, while exposed to resident–intruder social stress paradigm. Physiological, morphological, and behavioral aspects of offspring were observed for 6 weeks.&#x0D; Results: Pups of O. sanctum treated mothers showed significantly (P &lt; 0.05) improved body weight, body length, and head length. O. sanctum treatment has significantly reduced eye opening and pinna detachment period (P &lt; 0.05-0.01), and duration for gaining surface righting and mid-air righting refluxes (P &lt; 0.05). O. Sanctum has significantly increased (P &lt; 0.05-0.01) number of correct entries in radial arm maze and line crossing in open field performance.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study outcome proves the beneficial role of O. Sanctum in ameliorating prenatal stress and anxiety induced deleterious effect on offspring.