Mothers who consume statins are likely to protect the hearts of babies in the womb from the adverse effects of stress during pregnancy says a new study. The findings showed that intake of statins -- widely-prescribed drugs to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood -- help to counteract the negative impact of stress hormones on foetal growth and heart development in mice. Babies that are exposed to excessive stress hormones in the womb are often born underweight and have a greater risk of heart disease in later life. At present there is no treatment and babies may be born prematurely