The Impact of Maternal Stress on a Child’s Gut Microbiome: A Novel Study on Intergenerational Trauma

New research suggests that a mother’s stress may have a lasting impact on her child’s gut microbiome, which can in turn affect their mental and physical health. The study, published in the journal PNAS, analyzed data from a large study that looked at the experiences of mistreatment during childhood and anxiety during pregnancy, and found an association between maternal stress and the landscape of a child’s gut microbiome at 2 years old. The researchers also noted a correlation between certain gut microbes in toddlers and increases in mental health problems at 4 years old. While the study has some limitations and does not provide definitive answers, it adds to the growing field of research on the brain-gut connection and the effects of stress on gut health.