Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : December 18, 2014 10:23 AM IST
New York, December 17: Mother s mental and physiological well-being influences the baby to a great extent, even during pregnancy. It is imperative that the mother lives in a balanced and peaceful state of mind for the sake of the baby. The onus is always on the family to ensure this, else things could get complicated with the mother and the baby during pregnancy and thereafter.
How domestic violence affects mother and baby in the womb?
Researchers have found that domestic violence could affect children even before they are born. Children born to abused pregnant women could show emotional and behavioural trauma symptoms within the first year of their lives.
What are the symptoms that are more prominent in such children?
Children born to mothers who were subjected to domestic violence during pregnancy show symptoms include nightmares, startling easily, being bothered by loud noises and bright lights, avoiding physical contact and experiencing trouble being happy. 'For mothers, knowing that the prenatal experience of domestic violence can directly harm their babies maybe a powerful motivator to help them get out of such abusive situations,' said study co-author Alytia Levendosky, psychology professor at the Michigan State University in the US. (Read: Beware traffic pollution can harm your baby (even in the womb)!)
What did the study conclude?
The study of 182 mothers, aged 18-34, found a surprisingly strong relationship between a mother's pre-natal abuse by a male partner and post-natal trauma symptoms in their children. Prenatal abuse could cause changes in the mother's stress response systems, increasing her levels of the hormone cortisol, which in turn could increase cortisol levels in the foetus, Levendosky added. 'Cortisol is a neurotoxic, so it has damaging effects on the brain when elevated to excessive levels,' Levendosky said.
The study appears in the research journal Child Abuse & Neglect. (Read: Mother s health influences baby size the most)
Source: IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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