The impact of maternal stress on the development of necrotizing enterocolitis: A comprehensive review

Riadh Cheddadi, Nitika Narendra Khandekar, Venkata Yeramilli, Colin Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal inflammatory disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Numerous predictors have been implicated in the development of NEC, with a relatively less emphasis on maternal factors. Pregnancy drives women into a new stage of life that increases their susceptibility to biological and psychological stress. Additionally, maternal stress during pregnancy has been linked to various complications that can negatively impact both the mother and the developing fetus. These detrimental effects are facilitated by various systemic modifications. Similarly, there is evidence from animal studies that suggest a relationship between maternal stress and the occurrence of NEC due to the alterations observed in neonates. In this review, we will (1) discuss the physiological and psychological burden of maternal stress and how it can be linked to NEC, (2) summarize various predictors and risk factors of NEC, and (3) discuss the most widely utilized animal models for assessing the effects of prenatal stress on offspring.

Original languageEnglish
Article number151324
JournalSeminars in pediatric surgery
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • Cortisol
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis
  • Pregnancy
  • Stress

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