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The aim of this study was to investigate if fetal circulation is affected by maternal anxiety. 37 nulliparous women were studied prospectively in the third trimester of pregnancy, with self-rate tests of anxiety (STAI). Doppler ultrasound examination of the umbilical artery and fetal middle cerebral artery was performed at 37-40 gestational weeks. The pulsatility index (PI) was calculated and corrected for heart rate. The women were divided into groups of increasing levels of anxiety. The fetuses of women with high trait anxiety scores had significantly higher PI values in the umbilical artery (p = 0.0056), significantly lower PI values in the fetal middle cerebral artery (p = 0.0029) and significantly lower cerebro-umbilical PI ratios (p = 0.0002), suggesting a change in blood distribution in favor of brain circulation in the fetuses. Maternal weight, weight-increase, height, age, marital status, smoking habits, drinking habits and socio-economic factors known to affect fetal well-being did not interfere with these findings. No significant differences in birth-weight, length and head circumference were found between infants born to mothers with higher trait anxiety levels compared to mothers with lower trait anxiety levels. Our results suggest that maternal stress, in terms of trait anxiety, influences fetal cerebral circulation.
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
January 2016,
The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
November 1963,
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
December 2023,
Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.),
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
January 2013,
Pregnancy hypertension,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
January 1989,
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
January 1978,
JOGN nursing; journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
October 2012,
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
May 1984,
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai zasshi,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
February 1988,
Obstetrics and gynecology,
K Sjöström, and
L Valentin, and
T Thelin, and
K Marsál
October 2012,
The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology,
