Maternal anxiety in pregnancy and fetal homeostasis.

Although it is recognized that pregnant women may be extremely anxious and that anxiety is accompanied by sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, little clinical consideration has been given to the potential harm to the fetus. A review of the literature, including research on both animal and human pregnancies, reveals what is known about this subject. A section on implications for maternity care follows, including a summary of the possible effects of anxiety during pregnancy, identification of women most at risk from anxiety, and intervention measures.