The steroid hormones progestagens, estrogens, androgens, and glucocorticoids as well as
their precursor cholesterol are required for successful establishment and maintenance of …

We have examined factors concerned with the maintenance of uterine quiescence during
pregnancy and the onset of uterine activity at term in an animal model, the sheep, and in …

We report the existence of a 'placental clock', which is active from an early stage in human
pregnancy and determines the length of gestation and the timing of parturition and delivery …

A review of research on prenatal depression effects on the fetus and newborn suggests that
they experience prenatal, perinatal and postnatal complications. Fetal activity is elevated …

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that maternal stress is associated with elevated
maternal levels of corticotropin releasing hormone and activation of the placental-adrenal …

Abstract Postpartum depression affects 10–20% of women following birth and exerts
persisting adverse consequences on both mother and child. An incomplete understanding of …

Prenatal maternal stress has been found to have long-lasting effects on the behavioral and
physiological development of the offspring. These programming effects on the fetus would …

I. Introduction W ITH advancing pregnancy in humans and nonhuman primates, the placenta
and fetal adrenal produce extremely large amounts of the steroid hormones estrogen …

Mechanisms underlying the initiation of parturition remain unclear. Throughout most of
pregnancy, uterine quiescence is maintained by elevated progesterone acting through …

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of maternal psychological
distress on estimated fetal weight during midgestation and explore the maternal …