Stress in Pregnancy Increases ADHD Risk

Stress during pregnancy leads to the presence of stress hormones in the womb, producing unruly, short-tempered children, reports a study at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London. Children exposed to their mother’s stress in the womb are more prone to suffer from ADHD and have other emotional problems that made it difficult for them to have a good relationship with their peers.

The research, involved more than 1,700 mothers and their babies, right from the womb to school. Interestingly, besides attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that shows itself through inattentiveness, hyperactivity, lack of self control and other behavioral problems, stress hormones decided the hand a child would use predominantly later on. When stress hormones enter the womb, they do not allow the normal flow of hormones between the brain's two hemispheres, and this causes an inability for one side to become dominant and along with it, a wide variety of problems in behavior.

Pregnant women who go through an emotional trauma as in a relationship breakdown or bereavement were doubly prone to have a child who was 'mixed-handed' at the age of five.

Alina Rodriguez , who led the study, persuades pregnant women not to panic.  "It is really important to put it into perspective and to go about your business and try to relax, get support from different people and do things that make you feel good."

A stress-free pregnancy is the best way to ensure having emotionally-healthy children. 

 
 
  

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Source-Medindia