I was going to clean the kitchen whilst dd watched Tweenies and ds had a nap (exciting life I lead) but instead decided to post this message as have just read in the paper about the link between 'worrying alot' in pregnancy and having a hyperactive child. Apparently, there is a 50% increased chance. This is due to the fact that the baby's developing brain is affected by the stress hormone cortisol which reduces blood flow, thus cutting down the amount of oxygen/nutrients it receives. Whilst I'm not denying that this is proven research, it has made me feel quite angry. Afterall, do us mothers not blame ourselves for everything anyway? Also I feel that a certain amount of stress and worry is inevitable in pregnancy anyway. What about women who have had problems prior to getting pregnant or during previous pregnancies, how, realistically can they be expected not to worry? What about pregnant women reading this article, will it make them worry more about worring too much and create more stress? I wonder sometimes if perhaps this sort of research would be better directed at positive things that women can do during pregnancy to reduce stress and increase chances of having a happy, healthy baby. I've got myself all hot and bothered now, perhaps I should have stuck with the kitchen afterall. What do you think?