The link between brain development, neonatal outcomes and maternal stress states

© 2017 Neonatal Nurses Association Evidence shows that excessive maternal stress experienced prenatally can have detrimental short-term and long-term consequences for offspring. This is due to the link between brain development and maternal stress states. The foetus' brain goes through a series of critical developmental stages before birth. Extreme stress during the prenatal period has programming effects on the brain development. This paper explores prenatal stress and its link to abnormal behavioural, cognitive, psychosocial and socio-emotional developmental outcomes in offspring.