Pre-pregnancy stress induces maternal vascular dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum.

An estimated 20% of women suffer from a stress-related mood disorder including depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy, making these disorders among the most common complications of pregnancy. These stress-related disorders are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, which are associated with poor cardiometabolic health postpartum. Despite these associations, the direct impact of stress and related disorders on maternal vascular health, and contributing mechanisms, remain understudied.