Pregnancy complications may leave women more vulnerable to the long-term heart effects of stress, a recent study suggests.

A study of more than 3,000 women in their first pregnancy found persistently higher stress levels were associated with higher blood pressure after pregnancy, specifically in women who had adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, preterm birth, having a baby that was small for gestational age, meaning smaller than expected for that stage of pregnancy, or stillbirth.

Among women who experienced these complications, higher stress levels over time were associated with blood pressure that was 2 mm Hg higher than that of the low-stress group during the years two to seven after delivery.

This was not the case among women who did not experience adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Virginia Nuckols, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Delaware’s department of kinesiology and applied physiology, said: “For women who were having babies for the first time and had complications, referred to as adverse pregnancy outcomes, we found that higher stress levels over time were associated with higher blood pressure levels 2-to-7 years after delivery.

“This suggests that women who had pregnancy complications may be more susceptible to the negative effects of stress on their heart health, and taking steps to manage and reduce stress could be important for protecting long-term heart health.”

The researchers analysed records of 3,322 first-time mothers aged 15 to 44 who did not have high blood pressure before pregnancy.

The women were enrolled at 17 medical centres in eight US states, were pregnant with one baby and were having their first child. According to the authors, 66 per cent of participants self-identified as white, 14 per cent as Hispanic and 11 per cent as Black.

Blood pressure and stress levels were measured during the first and third trimesters, and again two to seven years after delivery.

Stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, a standard questionnaire that asks how often people feel situations are uncontrollable, unpredictable or overwhelming.

Those who experienced moderate to high stress levels were often younger, between 25 and 27 years of age, had higher body mass index, a measure based on height and weight, and lower educational attainment.

The authors said it is not yet clear exactly how higher stress leads to higher blood pressure in women who had pregnancy complications, and that several factors are likely to be involved.

Nuckols added: “Future studies should examine why women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes may be more susceptible to stress-driven increases in blood pressure and test whether stress reduction interventions can actually lower cardiovascular risk for these women.”

High blood pressure during pregnancy can have lasting effects on maternal health, including preeclampsia, eclampsia, stroke or kidney problems, according to the American Heart Association’s 2025 guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation and management of high blood pressure in adults.

Monitoring blood pressure before, during and after pregnancy is crucial to help prevent and reduce the risk of long-term complications.

Laxmi Mehta is chair of the American Heart Association’s Council on Clinical Cardiology and director of preventive cardiology and women’s cardiovascular health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and was not involved in the study.

Mehta said;’ “This study highlights the powerful connection between the mind and heart, emphasising the importance of stress management, particularly for those who have experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes.

“For the clinical care team, it reinforces the need to proactively assess and address stress as part of the comprehensive care we provide to our patients.

“Future research on whether targeted interventions to reduce or manage stress has a meaningful impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes will be important as well.”

A second pregnancy alters the female brain in ways distinct from a first, according to research examining how motherhood affects brain structure and function.

The study tracked 110 women using repeated brain scans. Some became mothers for the first time, others had a second child, while a third group remained childless, allowing researchers to identify pregnancy-related brain changes.

During a first pregnancy, the greatest changes occurred in the default mode network, a brain system involved in self-reflection and social processes. During a second pregnancy, this network changed again, but less strongly.

Instead, a second pregnancy was associated with more changes in brain networks linked to directing attention and responding to stimuli, functions that may be useful when caring for more than one child.

Each pregnancy produced both shared and distinct effects on the brain, with patterns differing between first and second pregnancies.

Elseline Hoekzema, head of the Pregnancy Brain Lab at Amsterdam UMC, said: “With this, we have shown for the first time that the brain not only changes during the first pregnancy, but also during a second. During a first and second pregnancy, the brain changes in both similar and unique ways. Each pregnancy leaves a unique mark on the female brain.”

Milou Straathof, a researcher who analysed the data, said: “It appears that during a second pregnancy, the brain is more strongly altered in networks involved in reacting to sensory cues and in controlling your attention. These processes may be beneficial when caring for multiple children.”

The researchers also found a link between brain changes and the bond between mother and child, which was more pronounced during a first pregnancy than a second. They also observed associations between structural brain changes and peripartum depression, a form of depression that can occur during pregnancy or after birth, in both first and second pregnancies.

This provides the first evidence that changes in the cortex, the brain’s outer layer, during pregnancy are linked to maternal depression.

For women who became mothers for the first time, this link was especially visible after childbirth. For women having their second child, it was particularly apparent during pregnancy.

The researchers said: “This knowledge can help to better understand and recognise mental health problems in mothers. It is important that we understand how the brain adapts to motherhood.

They added that the findings could support better care for mothers, including the prevention and treatment of postnatal depression. Although most women experience pregnancy once or multiple times, scientists are only beginning to understand how it affects the brain.

Matresa has raised £315k in pre-seed funding to build a maternal health platform offering personalised screening and support in the UK.

The funding comes as maternal deaths in the UK are at their highest level in more than 20 years, according to the company.

Founded by former nurse Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, Matresa is developing a platform that combines clinical expertise, behavioural science and AI insights to support women through matrescence, the transition from pregnancy into early parenthood.

Sanchez-Morris launched the company after working in a paediatric intensive care unit, where she saw gaps in support for mothers before and after birth.

Sanchez-Morris said: “Poor maternal healthcare isn’t just happening in a vacuum: it affects other areas of healthcare, and stunts women’s career growth, which in turn impacts businesses and the wider economy.

“Tailored care isn’t a privilege – it’s a right. Women and mothers deserve to feel safe and supported, and we need to do more to tackle this crisis.”

One in five women experience maternal mental health disorders or serious complications after childbirth, according to the company.

It says earlier intervention could prevent many of these outcomes, yet gaps in services persist. Preventable maternal health issues are estimated to cost the economy between £13bn and £15bn a year.

The platform also targets employers by offering visibility and insight during maternity leave. Currently, one in three mothers leave the workforce within a year of childbirth, with replacement costs for skilled employees ranging from £30k to £150k.

The pre-seed round was led by SFC Capital.

Edward Stevenson, fund principal at SFC Capital, said: “SFC Capital was delighted to lead this investment round in Matresa.

“We made this investment given the talent and strength of Mari-Carmen and the growing problem that the company is solving. She has demonstrated to us tenacity and determination in all our interactions, all of which suggest to us that she is 100 per cent committed to improving maternal health for women everywhere.”

Matresa is set to launch this summer.