Summary: JAMA Pediatrics have published a viewpoint that there needs to be further investigation into the health outcomes of children born to mothers with COVID-19 related stress. Factors that could lead to worsened health outcomes for a neonate are isolation, lockdowns, loss of employment, declining mental health and fear of the virus itself. How a mother responds to such stressors also needs to be considered, such as poor nutrition, smoking, disordered sleep and less exercise. More mothers were impacted by COVID-19 related stress than were infected with the virus itself during pregnancy, so the impacts are wide reaching.
Article Publication Date: 01.11.21
DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.4339
