Physiological alterations from poor mental health during pregnancy

Elucidate the physiological alterations in pregnant individuals that are induced by poor mental health, including depression, anxiety, and stress, and determine how these alterations contribute to adverse outcomes for both the gestational parent and the fetus.

Background

The review highlights that prenatal depression, anxiety, and stress can have lasting effects on fetal development, with evidence linking maternal mental health to offspring cognition, emotional problems, sleep disturbances, and physiological impairments. Examples include placental lipidome changes associated with antenatal depression and elevated cortisol as a theorized pathway, yet the specific physiological alterations in pregnant individuals remain undefined.

Despite growing evidence that physical activity may mitigate mental health issues during and after pregnancy, the precise physiological pathways by which poor mental health exerts its effects during gestation are not characterized, motivating targeted research to identify mechanisms and inform interventions.