Health of the child to be born

Does the mental health of parents affect the health of the child to be born ?

Pregnancy is a period of profound transformation, marked by physical, emotional, and psychological changes. For some women, this period can be accompanied by stress and anxiety, which can have repercussions on their own mental health as well as that of their unborn child.

Psychoanalyst Daniel Stern refers to the term “psychic transparency” to describe the state of emotional vulnerability and heightened receptivity to emotions and unconscious thoughts during pregnancy. This transparency can make pregnant women more sensitive to stress and negative emotions, which can affect their mental health and that of their baby. It is therefore crucial to understand the importance of psychological support for pregnant women experiencing psychological distress. We wonder how the mental health of parents of an unborn child can impact the future health of the latter during their lifetime.

For instance, the scientific article titled “Maternal prenatal stress phenotypes associate with fetal neurodevelopment and birth outcomes” (Maternal prenatal stress phenotypes associate with fetal neurodevelopment and birth outcomes - PubMed) explores the various types of prenatal stress in pregnant women and their impacts on fetal neurodevelopment and birth outcomes. In this study, researchers identified three prenatal stress profiles: the healthy group (HG), the psychologically stressed group (PSYG), and the physically stressed group (PHSG). The results show that prenatal stress can influence birth sex, birth complications, and the development of the fetus’s central nervous system.

Going further, a study ([Evolution of genomic imprinting in mammals: what a zoo!] - PubMed) on the novel mechanism of microRNA maturation regulation demonstrates that its disruption could have significant implications for understanding various diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression. The maturation of microRNAs is a complex and finely regulated process, essential for their biological function.

Another research mentions that genomic imprinting (Empreinte génomique, la bataille des sexes ?), an epigenetic mechanism where the expression of certain genes depends on their parental origin, can have significant effects on the development of future diseases. In humans, around 100 to 200 genes are subject to this imprinting, influencing fetal growth and placental development. Anomalies in this mechanism could lead to genetic syndromes, developmental anomalies, and certain cancers. Specifically, growth syndromes (excessive growth and increased risk of pediatric tumors or intrauterine growth retardation), certain cancers (abnormal methylation of chromosomal regions), neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity) were found to result from such anomalies. Genomic imprinting thus plays a crucial role in normal development and overall health.

It is therefore important to continue research in this area longitudinally, to better understand and prevent these conditions by also measuring the mental health of parents. In parallel, it also seems essential to provide adequate psychological support to pregnant women to mitigate the negative effects of prenatal stress. This psychological support allows the detection and treatment of mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that may occur during pregnancy and helps develop a healthy and harmonious mother-child relationship.

Sources:

1. WALSH K. et al., (2019), Maternal prenatal stress phenotypes associate with fetal neurodevelopment and birth outcomes, Bruce S. McEwen, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1905890116
2. PROUDHON C., BOURC’HIS D., (2010) Evolution of genomic imprinting in mammals: what a zoo!, PubMed, DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2010265497
3. PAOLONI-GIACOBINO A., (2005), Empreinte génomique, la bataille des sexes, Revue Médicale Suisse, DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2005.1.25.1687