
© Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33343-4
Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33343-4"> Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33343-4"> Image segmentation of a representative placenta. (a) T2-weighted placenta image; (b) Manual segmentation of the placenta.
Elevated maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the structure, texture and other qualities of the placenta in pregnant mothers — a critical connection between mothers and their unborn babies — according to new research from the Developing Brain Institute at Children's National Hospital.
Published in Scientific Reports, the findings spotlight the underappreciated link between the mental health of
pregnant mothers and the health of the placenta — a critical organ that develops during pregnancy to nourish and protect babies.
The long-term neurodevelopmental impact on their children is under investigation.
"During the pandemic,
mothers were exposed to a litany of negative stressors including social distancing, fear of dying, financial insecurity and more," said Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., chief and director of the Developing Brain Institute, which led the research.
"We now know that this vital organ was changed for many mothers, and it's essential that we continue to investigate the impact this may have had on children who were born during this global public health crisis."
Comment: People's immune systems are compromised more than ever thanks to lockdowns, the experimental coronavirus jabs, soaring food prices and rising shortages; in addition to the fact our planetary environment is clearly in flux, and so it's likely that people will be increasingly susceptible to 'inconvenient' infections such as these: