Effect of Prenatal Stress on Birth weight, Postnatal Weight gain and Developmental Milestones in Wistar Rats.

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of prenatal stress on postnatal physical development parameters which include mortality, birth weight, body weight gain, pinna detachment, eruption of upper and lower incisors teeth and eye opening Materials and Methods: Pregnant dams of Wistar incisors teeth and eye opening. Results: We found that prenatal stress significantly affected the birth weight and body weight gain in the stressed group and also caused delay in pinna detachment whereas teeth eruption and eye opening were not affected. Conclusion: This study reveals the pivotal significant adverse effect of stress during pregnancy on postnatal growth of the infant. Results of the study emphasize the importance of stress free pregnancy for the optimal physical growth of the child and its consequences on health in adult life.