Stressed Mothers More Likely to Have Left Handed Babies

Stressed mothers are more likely to have left-handed movements in the womb, a new research claims.

In a collaborative study,   researchers at the University of Durham and University of Lancaster highlight that stress can affect the development of the fetus and advise mothers-to-be to stay calm.

The researchers emphasize that this study does not mean that maternal stress causes fixed left-handedness in infants after birth.  The finding is based on 4D ultrasound scans and 57 scans of 15 healthy fetuses. On the whole the researchers recorded 342 facial touches by the babies in the womb.

As a part of the study, the researchers scanned the healthy fetuses at four stages between 24 and-36 weeks of pregnancy.  The mothers were questioned on the levels of stress they experienced in the four weeks between each scan.

The researchers noticed that greater the level of stress, greater was the frequency with which the fetuses touched their face with their left hand.  These frequent fetal touches in response to mother's stress are an indication of a left-handed tendency.

Since more left-handed behavior was seen in fetuses born to stressed mothers, based on this the researchers concluded that maternal stress does effect the lateral behavior of the babies.

Lead author Dr Nadja Reissland, in Durham University's Department of Psychology, said: "Our research suggests that stressed mothers have fetuses who touch their face relatively more with their left hand. This suggests maternal stress could be having on effect on the child's behaviour in the womb and highlights the importance of reducing maternal stress in pregnancy. Such measures may include increased emphasis on stopping stressful work early, the inclusion of relaxation classes in pre-natal care and involvement of the whole family in the pre-natal period..."

The finding was documented in the journal Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition.