Personality of child affected by whether the mother was happy or stressed in pregnancy?

[Podrick]

I am wondering if relaxed and happy pregnancies tend to give you happy personalities and if stressful pregnancies tend to give you more stressed children...what is your opinion on this?

I was stressed throughout my pregnancy but somehow I created a happy relaxed little boy. I know of someone who suffered the bereavement of her parents during her pregnancies and her children are delightful happy children.

I can remember reading research which contradicts my anecdotal examples. I think stress in pregnancy has also been linked to low birthweight.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Na, I had so much shite during my pregnancy I'm surprised he was born late! He's relaxed (too relaxed) and easy going. I was just a ball of stress.

I had a horrendously stressful pg. My mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer when I was 4 months pg, she was very ill in the coming months, we travelled from Devon to London every other week, DD stopped growing at 32 weeks almost completely so that was a stress also.

DD was born, strong and happy, and has always been the happiest little girl I know. People comment on her happiness all the time. She is smiley, hardly ever grumpy, enjoys life to the absolute max.

Stressed with DS1 = completely laid back, placid baby (not at all small when born), toddler and child

Relatively relaxed with DS2 = stubborn but good baby and toddler

Stressed with DC3 = due tomorrow, so we'll have to wait and see

I used to wonder this too. I had a horrendous pregnancy with dd2, awful arguments and relationship problems. She was a little ball of rage, and with special needs to boot. I felt very guilty, in case it had been my fault.

Anyway, after me getting out of the relationship with her dad eventually, she has mellowed quite a lot. So my mood must have been affecting her, although whether it altered pregnancy hormones etc, I'll never know.

Worried frantically all the way through with dd2 after we lost dd1 - she's a laid back bundle of joy...

I was sooo stressed and got dumped etc. DD is very chilled out and happy.

I think my theory has fallen apart

My experience does back up your theory (the pregnancy in which I was least happy has resulted in the DC who probably finds it hardest to be happy), but judging by others' responses I'm starting to think that was coincidental. Which is good .

i was as stressed as a loon - we were moving house, got gazumped twice (ah, remember gazumping?), finally moved about five minutes before i had ds and i was working ludicrously long hours in a high stress job.
ds is happy, calm, easygoing and well behaved. podrick, i think your theory sucks