Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 2025. 3(178): 67-72. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.3(178).6772
Lakhno I. V.¹, Ovcharenko A. T.^2
1Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine
²MNPE “City polyclinic No. 24” Kharkiv City Council, Ukraine

For citation: Lakhno IV, Ovcharenko AT. (2025). The influence of stress on the maternal and fetal autonomic nervous regulation and the weight of newborn. Ukrainian Journal Health of Woman. 3(178): 67-72. doi: 10.15574/HW.2025.3(178).6772
Article received: Mar 19, 2025. Accepted for publication: May 21, 2025.

Wartime stress has multiple negative projections on the health of the mother and fetus.
Аim – to study the level of maternal stress variables, maternal and fetal heart rate variability (HRV), neonatal biometrics, Apgar score and possible relationships between them in women residents of Kharkiv and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 71 pregnant women at 26-37 weeks. Among them, 39 were local residents (group I), and 32 were IDPs (group II). The psychoemotional state of women was assessed by determining the level of anxiety and the level of stress experience using psychodiagnostic methods. Fetal HRV variables were obtained from a number of RR-intervals recorded from the mother's abdominal wall using non-invasive fetal electrocardiography.
Results. The study showed the absence of a statistically significant difference of maternal and fetal HRV indicators between study groups. Later delivery terms contributed to a significant increase in weight, body length, head circumference of newborns, and Apgar scores in the group I. The level of stress was higherin in the group II. The study of multivariate logistic regression showed the presence of a relationship between the SI (stress index) of the mother and the weight of the newborn, as well as with the level of anxiety according to Spielberger and Taylor.
Conclusions. Pregnant IDPs showed an increased level of anxiety and stress, as well as a reduced term of delivery, neonatal biometry and status compared to local residents of Kharkiv. Logistic regression indicators demonstrated a relationship between the SI of the mother and the weight of the newborn, as well as with the level of anxiety according to Spielberger and Taylor. Maternal stress is an important pathogenetic factor in nutritional disorders and fetal growth.
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the local ethics committee, and all participants gave written informed consent.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: stress, heart rate variability, non-invasive fetal electrocardiography, internally displaced persons, fetal growth restriction.

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