Why stress during pregnancy affects your baby's gut health
There's a growing body of science showing that the stress a pregnant woman experiences doesn't stay with her—it may affect the baby's body, brain, and future well-being. The connection lies in something you can't see but that shapes nearly every system in our body: the microbiome.
According to Psychology Today, 'Stress during pregnancy alters hormones including cortisol,' which can shift the mother's gut microbes—and those changes can be passed on to her baby. Researchers are finding that the microbial inheritance a baby receives from their mother may be just as important as their genetic inheritance.
'Our microbes are not an afterthought. They are an integral part of every animal on the planet, and our bodies accommodate them in countless ways.' —Psychology Today.
Related: 6 Ways to Reduce Stress During Pregnancy
How stress in pregnancy can shape your baby's microbiome
A baby's microbiome—aka their unique mix of gut bacteria—begins forming even before birth. During pregnancy, the microbes in the vagina gradually shift to prepare for what researchers call a 'bacterial baptism' at delivery. These microbes, along with those delivered through breast milk, become a foundational part of a newborn's health.
But stress changes that. In a 2025 study using rats as a model for human pregnancy, researchers found that when the mother was exposed to chronic stress, her offspring were born with a distinct microbial signature linked to long-term depression. When those microbes were transferred to other rats, they too developed depressive behaviors—suggesting a link between maternal stress, microbiome changes, and mental health outcomes in offspring.
While we can't ethically stress out human moms in a lab, real-world research shows similar trends. A University of Pittsburgh study found that pregnant women experiencing high levels of stress were more likely to give birth to children who later showed symptoms of ADHD and aggression—effects that lasted well into adolescence.
These findings don't mean moms should be blamed or held to unrealistic standards. They're a call to action—for families, partners, communities, and health systems to do better.
'The upshot is that pregnant women should be pampered if we want the best for their babies.' —Psychology Today.
How to protect your peace (and your baby's health)
No one can eliminate all stress, especially during pregnancy. But small changes can help buffer its effects.
Here are three expert-backed ways to support a healthier microbiome—and a more peaceful pregnancy:
1. Feed your gut, and your baby'sFiber-rich foods can help support a healthy gut microbiome, which may also buffer against stress. A high-fiber diet during pregnancy has been shown to improve outcomes for both mom and baby. Try incorporating more:
Beans and lentils
Berries
Onions and garlic
Asparagus
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and kimchi
Even better, invite your partner or a friend to help prep meals. As Psychology Today puts it:
'Steaming or sautéing a few veggies is not a lot to ask to provide optimal results for your kids.'
Related: New research suggests pregnancy sleep patterns may offer an early clue about preterm birth
2. Make rest a priorityYour nervous system and your microbiome are in constant conversation. Gentle movement, slow mornings, a midday nap, or simply doing less are biological necessities.
3. Set boundaries early and oftenFrom work stress to social obligations to unsolicited parenting advice, pregnancy can feel like an open invitation for overwhelm. Create protective boundaries—physical and emotional—that help you stay grounded. Ask for help. Delegate. Say no. These are strategic decisions for your baby's health.
Your support network matters—now more than ever
Research also shows that moms of color and low-income moms are more likely to experience chronic stress during pregnancy, due to systemic inequalities and lack of access to care. Protecting a pregnant woman's peace shouldn't be left solely to her partner or her willpower—it requires a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing maternal health and mental health.
If you're a loved one, a friend, or a partner to someone who is pregnant, this is your chance to show up. Emotional care is baby care. Helping a mom feel safe, supported, and less stressed is a kind gesture and a health intervention that can shape the next generation.
Sources:1. Pregnant Moms Need Pampering. July 29, 2025. Psychology Today. Pregnant Moms Need Pampering.2. The impact of prenatal stress on child behavior. 2016. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 3. Prebiotic fiber and the maternal microbiome. 2020. Frontiers in Nutrition. Prebiotic fiber and the maternal microbiome.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Option Care Health, Inc. (OPCH): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Option Care Health, Inc. on Brian's Substack by Brian Flasker. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on OPCH. Option Care Health, Inc.'s share was trading at $29.35 as of July 31st. OPCH's trailing and forward P/E were 23.29 and 19.65, respectively according to Yahoo Finance. A home infusion nurse in full PPE gown delivering treatments to a patient in their own home. Option Care Health (OPCH) has evolved into the dominant independent provider of home and alternate site infusion services in the U.S., originating from Madison Dearborn Partners' 2015 acquisition of Walgreens Infusion Services. The 2019 reverse merger with BioScrip and full divestiture by Walgreens and MDP by 2023 paved the way for OPCH to operate with full independence. Led by CEO John Rademacher and CFO Michael Shapiro, both with substantial equity stakes, OPCH has built a national infrastructure of 91 pharmacies and 99 infusion suites, covering 96% of the U.S. population. The company's integrated model provides cost-effective, high-quality infusion therapies in outpatient and home settings, capitalizing on a healthcare trend shifting treatments away from costly hospitals. This platform serves over 1,400 contracts with 800+ partners, including all top 10 national insurers. Acute therapies, though operationally complex, act as a competitive wedge, while chronic therapies anchor long-term recurring revenues. OPCH's mix—75% chronic, 25% acute—combined with a focus on generics and biosimilars, ensures resilience against pricing volatility. With its Advanced Practitioner (AP) model, OPCH is pushing clinical boundaries, managing more complex therapies in lower-cost settings and enhancing utilization of its already-built infrastructure. Only ~50% of its infusion suite capacity is currently utilized, leaving ample runway for capital-light growth. Despite industry concerns like drug pricing reforms and labor shortages, OPCH's embedded relationships, clinical capabilities, and scalable model offer strong visibility into cash flow and earnings. Trading at ~15.4x 2025 owner earnings with a 17.4% expected IRR, OPCH represents a high-quality compounder with an entrenched moat and significant upside. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Chemed Corporation by 310 Value in April 2025, which highlighted the durability of its earnings, temporary volatility in its subsidiaries, and disciplined share repurchases. The company's stock price has depreciated by approximately 29% since our coverage. This is because temporary segment headwinds persisted longer than expected. The thesis still stands as Chemed's core fundamentals remain intact. Brian Flasker shares a similar view but emphasizes OPCH's capital-light model and payer-aligned infrastructure. Option Care Health, Inc. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 40 hedge fund portfolios held OPCH at the end of the first quarter, which was 40 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of OPCH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
Amanda Kloots Is Trying To Shift Mindsets About Pain And Recovery
You could say that Amanda Kloots is on a recovery mission of sorts. The dancer, fitness instructor and co-host of the TV show The Talk from 2021 to 2024 certainly has a long history of go-go-go and pushing through pain. But her C-section in 2019 helped her see the importance of acknowledging pain and getting the appropriate amount of rest and recovery. And now she's encouraging everyone to do the same—meaning shifting everybody's mindset in the same way. Kloots Urges You To Listen To Your Pain Kloots has teamed up with Advil to launch The Strength Shift, a campaign to shift what is considered real strength. You've probably heard phrases like 'no pain, no gain' and 'fight through the pain' that have portrayed strength as the ability to put up with stuff and push through pain. But Kloots pointed out the weaknesses in such a portrayal of strength, especially when the pain is real physical pain by saying: 'Strength should be more about acknowledging the pain, and shifting whatever you are doing.' Yep, Kloots talked a lot of shifts during our recent conversation in New York City. She related to me that this was only a relatively recent revelation that she's had about recovery. 'It wasn't until the last couple of years that I have taken stock of my body and when I need I to pay attention and not push through pain,' she said. 'The shift started during my recovery from the C-section." A C-section stands for Cesarean section, which is a surgical procedure that involves making an incision in a pregnant mother's abdomen and uterus in order to take out the baby. It's an alternative way to deliver a baby when going through the vaginal canal is either risky or not possible. Taking the baby out that way can really take a lot out of you because it is after all surgery. Kloots continued by saying, "It was the first surgery I ever had, the first time I was forced to not work out for six weeks, the first time I took stock in how I have to rest and recover.' Pain exists not just to be a pain but as part of your body's warning system. When something is amiss in your body like inflammation, torn tissue or a broken bone, that triggers pain receptors that send nerve signals to your brain, giving you the sensation of pain. Remember pain is trying to tell your brain, 'Yeah, you might want to pay attention to this.' Without the benefit of pain, you could, for example, go around with something like an axe in your back and not even notice it. Therefore, when you have pain, the answer isn't keep doing what you are doing, especially if what you are doing is causing or even worsening the pain. 'Your body will often tell you when something's wrong,' said Kloots. 'You can end up ignoring a lot of things in tour body. We all do.' She added, 'The key is acknowledging these things. This includes not only pain but how your skin is reacting, how much energy you have and how you are sleeping.' Kloots Emphasizes The Need For Recovery Pain and various other signs can be clues that you are not factoring enough recovery into that whole stress-and-recovery cycle that's part of getting stronger. Training does involve applying different stresses to your body such as lifting weights, moving your body parts and increasing your breathing and heart rates. But constantly doing this would be sort of like running the dishwasher constantly. At some point, without rest and recovery, your body is gonna break down. In fact, recovery is a big part of getting stronger. Take weight lifting for example. When you lift that heavy barbell up and down, you can create micro-tears in your muscles. These tears can contribute to the soreness that you feel after a workout but are too small to impair the functioning of your muscles in the longer run. The key is when these micro-tears have time to heal, your muscles can end up growing in strength and perhaps even size in the process. The same applies to your mind. Kloots emphasized that people often overlook the mental stress of training and the need for mental recovery as well. Doing the exact same type of training each and every day without adequate rest in between can lead you to feel, 'Oh no, not that bleeping thing again" and eventually burn the bleep out. That's why proper mind and. body recovery is a necessary part of training. That mean's not only rest but other 'Rs' like rejuvenation, rehydration, refueling through proper nutrition, repair of what's been damaged, re-synthesis of the proteins and other body components needed, reduction of inflammation and restoration to a balanced state, otherwise known as homeostasis. Kloots Offers Tips On Recovery One way to enforce recovery is to regularly schedule rest days. 'I try to give myself one day offf a week, usually Sundays,' Kloots related. 'That's my day with my son. It allows my muscles to recover. I also may do things like a sauna or a cold plunge.' She also suggested shifting your mindset of what constitutes recovery. 'People can be fearful of acknowledging pain because they think it means that they have to stop doing what they do,' Kloots explained. 'But it doesn't necessarily mean that. You can work other parts of the body, keep moving and stay active.' Kloots gave the example of her suffering a shoulder injury from boxing. She took anti-inflammatories to target the pain and inflammation. 'Meanwhile, I did what I could do to keep moving my body, such as lower body exercises,' she recalled. 'I acknowledged and treated my pain and built my strength around it.' This is one of the reasons why Kloots physical activity remains so varied. It includes tennis, boxing, dance, jump roping and other types of cardio. 'I do different things in different parts of the day,' Kloots related. She's also worked with Advil to develop a resilience-building workout as part of The Strength Shift. She demoed this workout, which includes different stretches, versions of planking, jumping jacks and squats, all designed to be low impact but strength-building with some cardio. I was even able to get through the workout even though I ironically had suffered a back injury from boxing two days prior. This workout is now available at Tone House. Kloots Recommends A Shift In Mindset Kloots also recommended a shift in mindset so that you have more gratitude for what your body can do. You can view the ability to work out as a gift that is not necessarily guaranteed. 'It used to be 10 years ago was that a good workout was at least three hours,' she explained. 'My whole mindset has shifted. Now, post-COVID, I am 43 and so grateful for the strength in my body.' Kloots warned that it can be tough to have this mindset. It can be easy to be distracted by 'work life and stress, being on our phones and the day to day clutter. It can take over our focus,' Kloots remarked. 'It can be hard to block all that out. You can always be in survival mode, fight or flight.' And being in survival mode all the time is not good, as I explained when covering in Forbes my recent conversation with Deepak Chopra, MD. She in her words. This doesn't mean that Kloots isn't still super active and doesn't keep adding things to her plate. In addition to the aforementioned stuff, she just launched a supplement company called Proper Health in January 2025. And this coming January she'll be in a reality TV show. Amanda Kloots is showing how having all that shift going on can help you still do a whole lot of stuff.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Singer Jessie J returned to hospital with ‘infection' and ‘fluid on my lungs'
Singer Jessie J has revealed she returned to hospital where an 'infection' and 'a little fluid' on her lungs were discovered. The 37-year-old, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, said she has since discharged herself from the hospital where she was treated after breast cancer surgery just weeks ago, revealing in July that she had since seen 'no cancer spread'. In a post on Instagram, the Price Tag singer said: 'Six weeks post surgery and I was back in the same ward I was after my surgery. Not expected or planned. 'I had and still have symptoms that pointed towards a blood clot on the lung, it is not a blood clot thank god. 'They ran a lot of tests, which ended up showing I have an infection (still trying to figure out what) and a little fluid on my lungs. 'Finding it hard to breathe in, but I discharged myself last night (I hate being in hospital) and will continue the investigation as an outpatient.' She went on to say it was 'frustrating' that her career plans had to change due to her surgery and hospital visits, and added that she had been 'working so hard to get to this point and excited to do it all'. Cornish said: 'I know for me, the true hard journey of this whole thing physically was the day I went into surgery. 'The recovery physically is far from quick or easy, and mentally it's been the most challenging time for me, especially as a mum with a toddler and being unable to be the mother I usually am.' The star said her visit to hospital was a 'reminder to myself to slow down' even though she felt she was already at a slow pace. Cornish added: 'This isn't a speedy recovery and it isn't meant to be. 'As an ADHD Aries, fire breathing dragon t-rex, I can do it myself, I'm always ok woman. That slow pace has been a hard reality to accept to be honest. 'I love moving and working and being up and active but I can't be right now, and that's what it is, and I am finding the strength knowing that all can be adjusted to align with a slower pace and the support of my very small inner support circle.' The London-born singer welcomed her son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman, in 2023, having had a miscarriage in November 2021. She has battled with ill-health throughout her life, having been diagnosed with a heart condition aged eight, suffering a minor stroke aged 18 and having briefly gone deaf in 2020. The singer-songwriter has had three number one songs in the UK singles chart with Domino, Price Tag and Bang Bang. She was awarded four Mobo awards in 2011 including best UK act, best newcomer, best song for Do It Like A Dude and best album with Who You Are, and won the Brit Award for rising star in 2011.
