HG can cause increase in emotional and behavioral problems

[butterfly]

Hey, I just read the article posted on this site. Given it is based on self-report, but that is a significantly higher risk. It makes me wonder if perhaps it could be the other way around? It could be HG causing the problems? But, both HG and emotional and behavioral problems also have genetic factors. If it turns out to be a neurological issue in how our bodies react to some hormone or something I wonder if it is linked. I'm SO not saying HG could be in our minds or women get it because of emotional issues. I wonder if those of us with a predisposition to depression/anxiety/bipolar disorder are more predisposed to HG? Then we are more passing down the depression/anxiety/bipolar gene rather than it being a physical problem from the pregnancy. Just wondering because I noticed that the women in my family who have had HG are the same ones that have suffered from depression/anxiety/bipolar disorder...thoughts?

[DebbieS]

I'm not sure about a link between genes related to anxiety/depression etc & those with HG. For my own situation we don't have any family history of anxiety/depression etc, though my mother had HG 4 times. I developed PTSD & anxiety after a traumatic HG pregnancy, but no-one else has had problems. The article seems to suggest that starvation/dehydration or other maternal stresses could be a factor (which I find scary for my children!).

[aaronsmommy]

There was going to be a study that looked at cognitive/behavioral correlation between hg moms and their kids. Not sure what happened to that one, but it is certainly one that we'd like to get done.

[butterfly]

I know I'd feel bad if my kid has problems because of starvation/dehydration. But, with the oldest, the bipolar part is fairly genetic as I understand it, although I wonder if it was just a predisposition and the HG triggered it in her. They oldest and youngest both have sensory integration disorder and those were the two pregnancies where I experienced the most starvation and dehydration- so one has had this before-although I know it is more common in kids with hearing loss.

For us we have the issues, doesn't really matter why as we are stuck with them. But, I'd hate for more moms and babies to have problems if it could be prevented.

Personally I didn't totally lose it and get PTSD, major depression or bipolar II (they are still trying to figure me out) until after my last traumatic pregnancy. Thinking I was predisposed looking at family, but it "turned it on." Thanks again HG- appreciate that!

[angielizzy]

My sister has bipolar and didnt have hg. The hg comes from my mums side of the family where nearly all women get some degree of hg except my mum who had no sickness and my sister who had twins and morning sickness. The bipolar comes from my dads side of the family were it seems to effect most middle children.