The psychoneuroimmunology of pregnancy

This review develops the hypothesis that psychosocial stress during the prenatal period has negative effects on pregnancy and birth outcome via altering maternal immune function. Clinical literature addressing the role of prenatal stress in pregnancy and infant outcome, immunity and infection during pregnancy, and the impact of stress on health in non-pregnant adults is synthesized to support a model of the psychoneuroimmunology of pregnancy in which stress-induced immunosuppression in pregnancy contributes to pregnancy complications and suboptimal infant development. Possible mechanisms for the impact of stress on pregnancy and birth are discussed as well as suggested avenues for exploration of these connections.