Can stress cause a stillbirth?
On One Hand: Stress and Stillbirth Are LinkedAccording to the National Institutes of Health, studies show that there are clear links between psychological stress during pregnancy and an increased risk of stillbirth. According to Massachusetts General Hospital, stress is associated with high levels of stress hormones, such as catecholamines. In studies of animals, high levels of catecholamine are linked to decreased placental blood flow and fetal asphyxia.On the Other: A Link Is Not A CauseAlthough it appears clear that prenatal stress and stillbirth are linked, this does not mean that stress causes stillbirth. Instead, one or more factors may cause both the stress and the stillbirth. For instance, one cause of stillbirth is physical trauma; a woman suffering physical trauma may also suffer stress, making both stillbirth and stress possible effects of a common injury.Bottom LineIt is unclear whether stress causes stillbirth. According to the UK Daily Mail, a study of nearly 20,000 pregn
