WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- The heart rate of a developing fetus can be affected when a pregnant woman suffers chronic anxiety and experiences stress-induced changes in her heart rate and blood pressure.
A Columbia University-led study confirmed that changes in a woman's cardiovascular activity caused by emotion do affect a fetus. However, the study, which appears in the February issue of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, didn't report any negative health effects on fetal health.
The study collected data on the heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure of 32 healthy women in their third trimester of pregnancy. The data was gathered before, during and after a psychological test meant to cause a stress response in the women. Fetal heart rates were monitored at the same time.
The women also filled out a questionnaire that measured their overall anxiety levels.
The researchers found fetal heart rate increases were related to a mother's overall anxiety level. Fetal heart rate increases were not related to elevated heart rate and blood pressure while the mothers took the stress test.
The study found changes in fetal heart rate were highly associated with the mother's general anxiety level and cardiovascular activity during the mothers' recovery period following the stress test.
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