Can Trauma before pregnancy affect a baby?
From previous studies we know that stress during pregnancy can affect a baby, but the latest study indicates that stress prior to pregnancy may also have an effect on a baby.
Researchers performed the tests on rats because their cerebral activity is similar to humans.
They found;
Offspring from mothers stressed before pregnancy showed reduced social contact.
Female offspring showed more symptoms of anxiety,
Rats whose mothers were stressed immediately before pregnancy were hyperactive.
I find this study interesting because Personality Disorders are often passed on to children from their parents. It was always assumed that these disorders are passed on to children solely because of how parents behaved towards their children, but where this theory falls short for example, is that children from parents that were refugees, can developed a personality disorder if their parent had it and yet did not experience the same amount as trauma as the parent?
Post Traumatic Stress unresolved can develop into a personality disorder. We may now have to consider whether, in addition to parental behaviour, epigenetic markings on genes to pregnancy can be passed on to a baby?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090512093301.htm
