Maternal Prenatal Psychosocial Stress in Relation to Maternal and Neonatal Anemia

Background Maternal prenatal psychosocial stress and iron deficiency are both common, and each may affect fetal iron stores and subsequent offspring neurodevelopment. The extent to which psychosocial stress affects maternal iron status and maternal-fetal iron regulation is not known. Objectives To assess 1 ) associations of prenatal stress and mental health with maternal anemia and neonatal hemoglobin (Hb), and 2 ) the extent to which prenatal stressors modify maternal anemia–neonatal Hb associations. Methods Observational data from participants enrolled in a randomized prenatal care trial were used. Prenatal distress, perceived stress, life stressors, and depression symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires in the second (T2) and third trimesters (T3). T2 and T3 anemia (Hb