Stress During Pregnancy May Increase Baby's Asthma and Allergy Risk

Filed in archive Medical Issues on May 29, 2008

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Pregnancy should be a time filled with happy and positive vibes. Stay away from negativity and stress - it may make your pregnancy more difficult and who knows what effects such an emotional climate may have on your unborn child. For one, it has been found that stressed moms-to-be may have a higher likelihood of having kids with asthma and allergies.

Babies born to mothers experiencing high levels of stress had more IgE in their blood at birth than did babies born to less-stressed moms. IgE is an antibody involved in allergic and asthmatic reactions.

"Moms who had elevated levels of stress had children who seemed to be more Reactive to allergens, even when exposed to low levels of allergens," said study co-author Dr. Rosalind Wright, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

So try to relax, smile, and take everything in stride. Easier said than done in some cases, but definitely worth the try!