Stress and Fetal Brain Development

University Hospital Tuebingen

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Pregnancy

Treatments: Drug: Betamethason Sodium Phosphate

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03831126

PerFet_maternal_stress_fMEG

Details and patient eligibility

About

The current proposal aims to investigate the impact of acute stress on the fetal autonomic nervous system.

Full description

Over the last decades there is growing evidence that increased maternal stress levels lead to an adverse effect on the physiological, metabolic and neuronal development of the fetus during gestation with possible long-lasting effects. Several studies showed that maternal stress also affects fetal endocrine processes during pregnancy and increases the risk for childhood and adult obesity. Thus, the aim of the study is to investigate the effect of acute stress related to the action of the artificial glucocorticoid betamethasone on fetal heart and brain activity. The fetal activity will be measured with biomagnetic sensors.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• German speakers (fluently)
• Gestational age between 28 and 34 weeks
• Treatment with Betamethasone for improvement of fetal lung function -

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking (regularly)
• Alcohol and drug consumption during pregnancy
• Congenital fetal disorders
• Women with bed rest
• acute depression or other psychiatric disorder (self report)

Trial design

24 participants in 1 patient group

betamethasone treatment

Treatment:

Drug: Betamethason Sodium Phosphate