A GUIDE TO HEALTHY PREGNANCY MANAGING AILMENTS AND FINDING SOLUTIONS

A_Guide_to_Healthy_Pregnancy

EFFECTS OF PRENATAL FACTORS ON POSTNATAL INFANT MENTAL HEALTH

Yasin Çalışkan

Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, İstanbul, Türkiye

Çalışkan Y. Effects Of Prenatal Factors On Postnatal Infant Mental Health. Çetin A, ed. A Guide to Healthy Pregnancy: Managing Ailments and Finding Solutions. 1st ed. Ankara: Türkiye Klinikleri; 2025. p.137-147.

ABSTRACT

Biological, psychosocial, environmental, and nutritional factors during the prenatal period influence an infant’s mental health and long term development. Events in utero, such as maternal stress, nutritional deficiencies, toxic exposures, and epigenetic changes, alter the neurodevelopment of the fetus. More specifically, high maternal stress will alter the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and may lead to problems later in life with stress regulation and emotional disorders. In addition, psychosocial stressors and malnutrition have been associated with epigenetic changes and structural brain changes, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which impact cognition, mood, and behavioral development. The environmental factors of exposure to pollutants and teratogens such as alcohol increase the vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders, while poor maternal nutrition leads to neural tube defects, delay in cognitive development, and risks of metabolic syndrome. Stress and nutrient deficiencies affect synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and stress response mechanisms in utero, which commonly later present as sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and feeding problems in the postnatal life of the infant. Other postnatal effects of prenatal stress also include behavioral symptoms such as colic, irritability, and sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Anxiety, depression, and attachment problems are more frequent in children who have experienced prenatal adversities. These effects also extend into the realm of increased risks for developmental disorders, including Autism Specturum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), via genetic-environmental interactions and epigenetic mechanisms. Interventions are protective in nature; they are directed toward stress management, psychosocial support, and nutritional counseling. The community-based supportive system and programs promoting intake of omega-3 improve maternal well-being and reduce fetal vulnerabilities. Earlier interventions at the maternal health and environmental safety stage will reduce prenatal risks and ensure healthy development. Further studies should be guided toward the understanding of prenatal factors, improvement in diagnosis, and multidisciplinary approach to ensure optimum fetal and postnatal outcomes for a healthier generation.

Keywords: Mental health; Stress; Fetal development; Epigenesis; Neurodevelopmental disorders; İnfant health

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