BACKGROUNDThe prevalence reported of maternal depression from the first to the third trimester was 7.4%, 12.8%, 12.0% respectively, which implies that around one-tenth of pregnant women suffer from psychological disorder during the whole pregnancy. It is assumed that during pregnancy the maternal-fetal circulation unit is also affected by maternal psychological status. The aim of this study is to explore the association between maternal psychological status and fetal dynamic blood flow circulation during pregnancy.

METHODSWe recruited 102 singleton low risk pregnant women between 30 to 33 gestational weeks. The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) was used to assess maternal psychological status. Ultrasound Doppler was used to measure blood flow changes in maternal-fetal circulation. Pulsatility index (PI) value was measured in umbilical artery (UA), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and maternal uterine arteries (UTA). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) was measured in MCA and velocity was measured in umbilical vein (UV). Statistical analysis was performed with standard nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests. Two-tailed P values <0.05 were considered statistical significance.

RESULTSOf the 102 pregnant women, 12 patients show high levels of poor mental health. Women with poor mental health have higher umbilical artery PI values than good mental health patients (P = 0.020). A higher MCA PI value is found in poor mental health patients but this does not reach statistical significance (P = 0.053). Women with hostility show lower placental scores (P = 0.030). Women with somatization demonstrate higher values in UA PI, MCA PI and MCA PSV (P = 0.049, 0.030 and 0.035 respectively). A higher MCA PSV value is also found in phobic anxiety patients (P = 0.046).

CONCLUSIONSPoor mental health during pregnancy is found to have an adverse effect on maternal-fetal circulation. Umbilical artery and fetal cerebral circulation are more sensitive and affected by maternal psychological disorder.