Stressed Moms, Struggling Babies: The Hidden Impact Of Maternal Mental Wellbeing

The theme of World Health Day 2025, ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’, resonates with particular urgency for mothers-to-be. While conversations often focus on physical health during pregnancy, doctors and public health experts are sounding the alarm about something less visible, yet equally critical: maternal mental health.

“Maternal stress and anxiety don’t just affect the mother — they directly impact foetal brain development,” Dr Irphan Ali, paediatrician and neonatologist at K.J. Somaiya Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, said.

During pregnancy, when a woman experiences chronic stress or depression, her body releases cortisol — a stress hormone that can cross the placenta. According to Dr Ali, this exposure in utero can interfere with the developing brain of the foetus, increasing the child’s risk for cognitive delays, behavioural issues, and mental health problems later in life.

The Silent Impact Of Anxiety And Depression

Globally, around 10-13% of pregnant women experience mental health disorders. In developing countries like India, the figure is often higher — up to 22%, according to WHO estimates. Despite this, mental health screenings are rarely a part of routine prenatal care.

Dr Ali said untreated maternal depression and anxiety can lead to developmental delays, preterm births, and low birth weight. But the risks don’t stop there. After birth, a mother’s mental health can affect the quality of caregiving, emotional bonding, and breastfeeding — all of which play crucial roles in a baby’s early development.

“Neurodevelopmental delays, problems with social engagement, and even speech delays are being increasingly linked to unresolved maternal mental health issues,” he added.

The Nutritional Link

Mental wellness also intersects with maternal nutrition. A well-nourished mother is more likely to have a healthy pregnancy — physically and emotionally. Deficiencies in iron, folic acid, or omega-3 fatty acids are not just associated with anaemia or birth defects, but also with mood disorders and cognitive risks for the child.

“Maternal nutrition is the foundation for foetal brain development,” Dr Ali said. “Ignoring it is like trying to build a house without bricks.”

In India, iron-deficiency anaemia affects over 50% of pregnant women, and folic acid supplementation still faces gaps in coverage. When combined with high stress levels and lack of support, this becomes a potent risk cocktail for mother and child.

Why Mental Health Must Be A Right

Despite this growing evidence, maternal mental health is often sidelined in India’s public health conversations. Experts argue that this is not just a health issue — it’s a rights issue.

Doctors these days reiterate to expectant mothers and their family members that the woman who is carrying the child in the womb has the right to comprehensive care, which includes their emotional wellbeing. They highlight that ‘mental health support is not a luxury, it’s a necessity’.

Routine mental health screening in antenatal visits can help identify at-risk women early, said Dr Irphan Ali. Counselling, peer support groups, stress-reduction techniques, and better nutrition must all be part of the equation.

What Needs To Change In India?

• Screening: Introduce mental health assessments into standard antenatal care
• Training: Equip ASHA workers and primary healthcare providers to recognise signs of maternal distress
• Support: Make counselling and support groups available at community health centres
• Nutrition: Strengthen iron, folic acid, and multivitamin delivery in rural and urban programmes.
• Awareness: Use local-language campaigns to reduce stigma around mental health.

Not A New Fad

The idea that a mother’s mental and emotional state profoundly shapes her child is not new. Indian epics have long acknowledged this connection — explaining it in a symbolic manner. In the Mahabharata, the story of Abhimanyu — the unborn son of Arjuna and Subhadra — beautifully illustrates this. While still in the womb, Abhimanyu overhears Arjuna narrating the strategy to break the deadly Chakravyuha formation in battle. However, because Subhadra falls asleep midway through the explanation, Abhimanyu is born with only partial knowledge — symbolising how deeply prenatal experiences can shape a child’s abilities and limitations.

Modern research echoes these ancient understandings. Studies now confirm that babies born during times of war, displacement, or in conflict zones often carry long-term emotional and cognitive scars. Maternal stress during pregnancy, especially under conditions of trauma or uncertainty, has been linked to higher risks of developmental delays, anxiety, and even chronic health conditions in children. When a mother’s well-being is compromised, so too is the foundation of her child’s future.

The writer is a senior independent journalist.

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