Urinary cortisol is lower in pregnant women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Although cortisol levels increase during normal pregnancy, particularly high levels of cortisol or stress have been associated with adverse maternal/child outcomes. Obesity is associated with altered cortisol metabolism, but there is limited information on pregnancy-related changes in cortisol in pregnant women with overweight/obesity. The objective of this study was to examine weekly measures of urinary cortisol and perceived stress throughout ~10-36 weeks gestation, if levels differ by pre-pregnancy BMI categories, and whether concurrent measures of urinary cortisol and perceived stress are associated.

Methods

Longitudinal observational data from Healthy Mom Zone, a gestational weight management intervention, and an ancillary fetal growth study were c

SUBMITTER: Hohman EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9875043 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature