The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective

Sam Schoenmakers, E. J. (Joanne) Verweij, Roseriet Beijers, Hilmar H. Bijma, Jasper V. Been, Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen, Marion P. G. Koopmans, Irwin K. M. Reiss and Eric A. P. Steegers
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Sam Schoenmakers: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
E. J. (Joanne) Verweij: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Roseriet Beijers: Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, 6525 XZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Hilmar H. Bijma: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jasper V. Been: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Marion P. G. Koopmans: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Irwin K. M. Reiss: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Eric A. P. Steegers: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-23

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on society, particularly affecting its vulnerable members, including pregnant women and their unborn children. Pregnant mothers reported fear of infection, fear of vertical transmission, fear of poor birth and child outcomes, social isolation, uncertainty about their partner’s presence during medical appointments and delivery, increased domestic abuse, and other collateral damage, including vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, pregnant women’s known vulnerability for mental health problems has become a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, also because of the known effects of prenatal stress for the unborn child. The current narrative review provides a historical overview of transgenerational effects of exposure to disasters during pregnancy, and the role of maternal prenatal stress. We place these effects into the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hereby, we aim to draw attention to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women of reproductive age (15–49 year) and its potential associated short-term and long-term consequences for the health of children who are conceived, carried, and born during this pandemic. Timely detection and intervention during the first 1000 days is essential to reduce the burden of transgenerational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: first 1000 days; COVID-19; prenatal stress; hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis; mitigation measures; DOHAD; pregnancy; child outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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