1. Increased Risk of Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight & Developmental Delays: Ongoing stress and anxiety during pregnancy triggers the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Elevated levels of these hormones can cross the placenta, potentially affecting fetal development. High cortisol levels during pregnancy have been associated with low placental blood flow, preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental delays.
    
    

2. Increased Risk of Maternal Health Challenges: Anxiety and stress can lead to conditions such as hypertension or gestational diabetes. This is associated with complications like preeclampsia or an increased risk of stillbirth.
   
    

3. Increased Risk of Complications During Childbirth: Women or Birthing people with unresolved trauma or a history of pregnancy / infant loss may experience prolonged labor, difficulty progressing through stages of labor, or problems with fetal heart rate patterns that may require medical intervention.
   
   Chronic stress has also been linked to higher rates of cesarean section in women/birthing people who have experienced significant emotional trauma or pregnancy loss.
   
    

4. Delayed Attachment or Bonding With Babies: Parents who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss may have difficulty bonding with their child during pregnancy and after birth. The emotional pain of loss can make it harder to trust that the current pregnancy will result in a live birth, leading to a fear of attachment.
   
   Some parents may experience postpartum depression, anxiety, or attachment difficulties after childbirth, especially if the prior loss remains unprocessed. Difficulty in bonding can also occur because the parent may struggle with feelings of guilt, fear of loss, or anxiety about the new baby’s safety.
   
    

5. Increased Risk of Postpartum Depression: A history of infant loss or pregnancy loss is a significant risk factor for developing postpartum depression after childbirth. The grief from the previous loss, combined with hormonal fluctuations and the pressures of a new baby, can trigger or exacerbate symptoms of depression. Symptoms may include sadness, irritability, withdrawal from the baby, and a sense of overwhelming guilt
   
    

6. Potential Longterm Impacts on Children: Research indicates that children exposed to high levels of stress in utero may be at a higher risk for problems such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), difficulty regulating emotions, and depression. There is also an increase in the likelihood of experiencing mental health disorders later in life, particularly those related to anxiety and mood regulation.
    
   
    

7. Changes in Gene Expression (Epigenetics): Emerging research suggests that maternal stress can lead to changes in the way genes are expressed in the fetus. These changes could potentially have lifelong effects on children, influencing everything from their stress response to their susceptibility to various diseases later in life.

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SOURCES:

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• "Prenatal Stress and its Impact on Fetal Development" 
   

• "Effects of Prenatal Stress on Pregnancy & Human Development"
   

• "The Effects of Trauma History and Prenatal Affective Symptoms on Obstetric Outcomes"
   

• "A renewed sense of purpose": Mothers' and fathers' experience of having a child following a recent stillbirth
   

• "Increased risk for postpartum psychiatric disorders among women with past pregnancy loss
  "

• "The Effects of Prenatal Stress on Child Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes Start at the Beginning"
   

• "Effects of Prenatal Stress on Behavior, Cognition, and Psychopathology"
   

• "The Epigenetic Link between Prenatal Adverse Environments and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  "