Authors: Mary C. Kimmel; Emma Fransson; Janet L. Cunningham; Emma Brann; Karen Grewen; Dario Boschiero; George P. Chrousos; Samantha Meltzer-Brody; Alkistis Skalkidou · Research
How Does Heart Rate Variability During Late Pregnancy Relate to Mental Health?
Research examining heart rate variability patterns in pregnant women with anxiety, depression and trauma history provides insights into stress response.
Source: Kimmel, M. C., Fransson, E., Cunningham, J. L., Brann, E., Grewen, K., Boschiero, D., Chrousos, G. P., Meltzer-Brody, S., & Skalkidou, A. (2021). Heart rate variability in late pregnancy: exploration of distinctive patterns in relation to maternal mental health. Translational Psychiatry, 11(1), 286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01401-y
What you need to know
- Heart rate variability (HRV) measures how the time between heartbeats varies and can indicate how well the body’s stress response systems are working
- Pregnant women with anxiety disorders, high anxiety traits, or childhood trauma exposure showed distinct HRV patterns compared to other pregnant women
- These HRV differences suggest their bodies may have more difficulty regulating stress responses during pregnancy
Understanding Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability refers to the subtle changes in timing between heartbeats. A healthy heart doesn’t beat like a metronome - there are tiny variations between beats that reflect how well your body’s autonomic nervous system (ANS) is working. The ANS controls automatic functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
The ANS has two main parts:
- The parasympathetic system, which helps with rest and recovery
- The sympathetic system, which drives the “fight or flight” response
By measuring HRV, researchers can see how well these systems are balanced. Lower HRV often indicates the body is having trouble adapting to stress.
What This Study Found
The researchers measured HRV in pregnant women during their third trimester, around week 38 of pregnancy. They compared HRV patterns between women with and without various mental health conditions.
Key findings included:
- Women with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) showed reduced parasympathetic activity, suggesting their “rest and recover” system wasn’t working as effectively
- Those with panic disorder or social anxiety showed increased sympathetic (“fight or flight”) activity
- Women who experienced more than 5 traumatic events in childhood showed both reduced parasympathetic and increased sympathetic activity
- These HRV patterns were visible even when women weren’t actively experiencing symptoms
Why This Matters for Pregnancy
Pregnancy requires significant adaptations in how the body handles stress. The heart and blood vessels undergo major changes to support the growing baby. Mental health conditions can make these adaptations more challenging.
The study suggests that certain anxiety disorders and past trauma may impact how effectively a pregnant woman’s body can regulate stress. This could potentially affect both mother and baby’s wellbeing.
Looking Forward
The researchers used a simple finger sensor to measure HRV - a method that could potentially be used in regular prenatal care. While more research is needed, HRV monitoring might eventually help identify pregnant women who need additional support managing stress.
Conclusions
- Different types of anxiety disorders show distinct patterns in how they affect the body’s stress response systems during pregnancy
- Past trauma exposure appears to have lasting effects on stress regulation, visible during pregnancy
- Simple HRV monitoring could potentially help identify pregnant women who might benefit from additional mental health support