Maternal stress during pregnancy, its objectivation by ultrasound observation of fetal intrauterine movements and child's temperament at 6 months and 6 years of age: a pilot study.

Niederhofer showed in 1994 that maternal stress during pregnancy seemed associated with development of personality in early childhood. This study examined the correlation between maternal stress during pregnancy for 121 women, its ultrasound objectivation by observation of intrauterine fetal movements, child's temperament in early childhood, and child's marks at the age of 6 years while controlling for possible confounding variables. Only intrauterine fetal movements were not associated either with stress during pregnancy or early personality.