Pregnancy, Stress, and Asthma
Four studies that were presented for discussion in Canada, conclude that other factors beside genetics can affect the baby’s immune system and determine whether it will develop asthma and/or allergies later on.
Stress levels were studied as were dust mites in the home. They found that higher stress levels increased the risk of asthma and allergies, and that the dust mites increased the risk even more.
Everything that the mother is exposed to is passed on to the baby. During the last trimester the mother begins to pass on her antibodies to the baby, thus strengthening the babies immune system.
Also worth mentioning is that women who have c-sections have babies with weaker immune systems, and first born children have a higher risk of allergies and asthma until age ten.
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