Mode Of Delivery Affect On Stress Response At Birth And Possible Shift Of Hpa Axis

The research is discussing the effects of prenatal stress (PS) on the development of socioemotional symptoms as well as neurodevelopmental disorders. The study arises from existing literatures where a significant relationship has been established between prenatal stress and social deficits such as autism and attention-deficit hypersensitivity disorder among children and schizophrenia among adolescents. King et al. identifies exposures to environmental hardships and stressful events as the underlying factor in the development of PS (274). The aspect has a negative impact on the immune and endocrine system as well as neurological development (Charil et al. 56). Studies have revealed that PS affects several aspects of brain development in the fetal stage. It increases rate of cell death and reduces rate of proliferation in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis (Schoenfeld and Gould 15).

Infants born very preterm are exposed to considerable procedural pain-related stress during weeks to months of life-saving procedures during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, that appears to impact the HPA axis long after NICU discharge. Importantly, the neuroendocrine system, the immune system and the central nervous system are

The prenatal period is when quick changes in the fetal organs are vulnerable to organizing change and stability but also building internal working system to trigger emotional responses (McEwen et al. 2013). It is a critical time for brain development and the PFC (McEwen et al. 2013). It exposes a selection of long -term modifications on brain development and behaviour (Entringer et al. 2009). Prenatal exposure to stress affects hormones in the body including the physiology and anatomy that relate to increasing drug levels, cortical communication and more (Entringer et al. 2009). Fetal stress is any event that interrupts a fetal process in stability in the body. (Entringer et al. 2009). During pregnancy, maternal stress impends the fetal nervous system and shortens the length of maturation due to many issues and concerns affecting the mother (Entringer et al. 2009). During pregnancy, maternal psychosocial stress threatens the fetal nervous system and contracts the length of gestation (Entringer et al. 2009). High levels of placental corticotrophin- releasing hormone

Giving birth comes with a wide variety of changes including physical, emotion and social. There are very high levels of sex hormones in circulation which cause increased ligament, joint and muscle laxity (Norman). Many women lose their social contacts due to upcoming life changes, must take time off work, and must stop previous hobbies (Norman). Relationship factors, hormone changes, sleep deprivation and support deeply effect a woman’s self-esteem and confidence during and after pregnancy (Norman).

At the microscopic level, emotional stress is paramount for the body's chemical response by providing strength and stamina. However, it is compounded by sustained periods of unresolved stress at the physiological level; the state worsens to become almost permanently established. This makes changes to rapidly take place within the reproductive system of both male and female causing an irregular menstrual cycles or frigidity in women and stress during the pregnancy period; this can result in the baby to become prone to asthma as well as, other allergies, while lowers the sperm count or impotence in men. In microscopic level, the emotional stress affects the reproductive system of

Stress is known to negatively impact health. Psychological responses, such as mood, emotion and coping, influence the way we perceive stress and the impact it has on the physiological response (Chida & Hamer, 2008). Past studies have used the hormone cortisol to test the stress response(Dickerson &

Does the transition from maternal care to nonparental childcare cause stress that is reflected both behaviorally and in cortisol levels?

4). It is also believed that this exposure can contribute to the development of mood disorders later in life. On the other hand, Deward (2008) states that while cortisol can cause miscarriage early in pregnancy, the mother naturally develops higher levels in later trimesters, which in turn help the baby 's development. Because chronic and serious stress can be harmful during pregnancy, Broderick and Blewitt (2015) stress the importance of reducing conflict and providing strong social support to the pregnant mother.

Elated one minute, depressed the next is one common scenario observable in mothers who recently delivered a baby. Women manifest mood swings or “baby blues” in the few days after childbirth. It is an identified psychological postpartum complication in new mothers. According to BC Reproductive Mental Health Program (2011), eighty percent (80 %) of women report to be experiencing postpartum blues within 3-5 days after giving birth. During this time frame, rapid mood swings, feeling of helplessness, disturbed sleep pattern or difficulty to sleep, and crying for no reason are common signs which are considered normal on women having the postpartum blues. This is a transient phenomenon which self-resolves within 10-14 days with no medical intervention required (Rai, S., Pathak, A., & Sharma, I., 2015). Although its etiology remains unidentified to date, biochemical, psychological, social and, cultural factors are not excluded as contributors to this condition.

The fact that cortisol levels have shown to be higher in first time mothers in not enough to assert that levels of stimulation is related to birth order. Cortisol levels increase in times of fright and stress, and this could be the possible explanation behind the high levels of cortisol in mothers who are giving birth for the first time in comparison to mothers who have experienced this situation before.

Another important part of this study was looking at how these effects occurred during different stages of prenatal development, as the “consequences of prenatal maternal stress were determined by the

Providing continuous physical and emotional support during labour can reducing maternal fear, stress, and anxiety and protect physiological birth (Steen, 2012). Research shows that fear and anxiety during labour and birth can be detrimental to physiological birth. An environment that women feel unsafe in may stimulate a surge of neuro-hormones that can influence both fetal and maternal physiology, causing irregularity of contractions, fetal distress and subsequent medical inteverntions (Fahy & Parratt, 2006). Conversly, maintaining an environment where women feel safe, protected and supported can facilitate favourable physiological performance (Fahy & Parratt, 2006). Midwives can do this by giving women one-on-one continuous support and placing her at the centre of care throughout childbirth (Steen, 2012). As observed in practice, by constantly reassuring the woman about her progress, her baby’s health and addressing any of her concerns, the midwife can provide a calm and relaxing environment that is conducive to the labouring woman (Buckley, 2015; Steen, 2012). The midwife worked with the woman, encouraging her throughout labour and birth by telling her that she was doing extremely well. The midwife also breathed in-tune with the woman while giving her a back massage, inducing a sense of comfort. The atmosphere was calm and this contributed to the woman garnering confidence in her ability to avoid medical pain relief. Downe (2008) noted that the positive impact of

Having taken this class I have come to understand a lot about my emotions and why I feel the way that I do about certain things throughout my life. Stress is something that has weighed heavy on me since a very young age. I have always wondered why I seemed to not be able to handle stress as well as my peers. Then I came to understand that mothers who experience high levels of stress during pregnancy release high levels of cortisol, and in turn this can have a lasting effect on the baby. (Wood, et. al., 2014) This includes the child not being able to deal with stress as well as he or she grows up and even an increased chance at the baby suffering from high blood pressure later in in life.

At one time or another, most people experience stress. The term stress has been used to describe a variety of negative feelings and reactions that accompany threatening or challenging situations. However, not all stress reactions are negative. A certain amount of stress is actually necessary for survival. For example, birth is one of the most stressful experiences of life. The high level of hormones released during birth, which are also involved in the stress response, are believed to prepare the newborn infant for adaptation to the challenges of life outside the womb. These biological responses to stress make the newborn more alert promoting the bonding process and, by extension, the child's physical survival.

A mother who struggles with depression post-partum is likely to expose her baby to more harmful effects. Gerhardt (2015) states that the baby of a depressed mother can find it difficult to cope with or get over stress, or they may be more fearful (p. 21). These babies also may respond to others with depression themselves, as their mother may be neglectful in their care (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 36). One of the reasons for this is because of their cortisol levels, which can fluctuate situationally. However, in infants this can affect their development (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 83) as well as their immune system (Gerhardt, 2015, p. 118), and is evidence that a mother with depression can have a significant impact on her child well beyond when the depression occurs. Additionally, Gerhardt (2015) notes that, “When they grow up, these babies of depressed mothers are highly at risk of succumbing to depression themselves.” (p.