1. Psychological predictors of gestational outcomes in second trimester pregnant women: associations with daily uplifts.
- Author
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Amiel Castro, R. T., Ehlert, U., Dainese, S. M., Zimmerman, R., and La Marca-Ghaemmaghami, P.
- Subjects
PREGNANT women ,PRENATAL depression ,LOW birth weight ,FETAL development ,PREGNANCY ,LABOR (Obstetrics) - Abstract
Purpose: We investigated whether pregnancy/birth anxiety is associated with shorter gestation while maternal chronic stress and depressive symptoms are associated with lower birth weight; we also examined whether experiencing daily uplifts prenatally may contribute to a more favorable birth outcome.Methods: Thirty-four healthy second trimester pregnant women responded to questions regarding their experience of pregnancy/birth anxiety, chronic stress, depressive symptoms, and daily uplifts. Information on birth outcome was obtained from medical records.Results: Maternal pregnancy/birth anxiety, depression, and stress were unrelated to birth outcomes. Daily uplifts were associated with gestational age at birth (B = 2.0, p = 0.01), neonatal weight (B = 46.9, p = 0.00), and size (B = 10.6, p = 0.01). Our results suggest that pregnancy/birth anxiety is not associated with shorter gestation as well as depression and stress seem to not predict lower birth weight.Conclusion: We expand the literature by showing that experiencing daily uplifts during mid-gestation may further fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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