Physiological and Psychological Stress Responses to Labor and Delivery as Expressed by Salivary Cortisol: A Prospective Study. Issue 3 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, N.; Asali, A.A.; Agassi-Zaitler, M.; Neumark, E.; Eisenberg, M.M.; Hadi, E.; Elbaz, M.; Pasternak, Y.; Fishman, A.; Biron-Shental, T.
• Is Part Of: Obstetric anesthesia digest. Volume 40:Issue 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Maternal Morbidity and Mortality -- Analgesia for Labor; Anesthesia in obstetrics -- Periodicals; Anesthesia in obstetrics -- Abstracts -- Periodicals; 617.968205
• DOI: 10.1097/01.aoa.0000693760.86332.e6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-665X

Abstract

Abstract : ( Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2019;221:351.e1–351.e7) Pregnant women experience both physiological stress and psychological stress during labor and delivery, but research is limited on measurement of stress levels during labor. Previous studies on physiological stress during labor have found a significant increase of total and free plasma cortisol concentrations; this increase is considered to be crucial for helping labor progression and promoting maternal and fetal well-being. While there are few studies on psychological stress during labor, researchers found epidural anesthesia helps alleviate women's anxiety. In addition, postpartum stress levels can affect breastfeeding duration and health care service usage. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to accurately record the levels of physiological and psychological stress during labor to determine their effect on obstetric and neonatal outcomes.