Comparative analysis of physiological adaptation of neonates of abused and nonabused mothers.

The investigators examined: (a) the relationships between the mother's abuse status and the newborn's stress responses, and (b) differences in newborn stress responses of abused and nonabused mothers before and after a phenylketonuria (PKU) heel stick. The t-tests show a trend toward statistical significance. Abuse had strong effect sizes on cortisol and oxygen levels at 25 minutes. Findings support further research on the impact that maternal stress resulting from abuse has on neonatal outcomes.