Subscribe
Meet Us
Samhita Mukhopadhyay
Executive Editor
Chloe Angyal
Editor
Jos Truitt
Editor
Maya Dusenbery
Editor
Lori Adelman
Editor
Shark-Fu
Contributor
Zerlina Maxwell
Contributor
Anna Sterling
Contributor
Eesha Pandit
Contributor
Katie Halper
Contributor
Syreeta McFadden
Contributor
Alexandra Brodsky
Contributor
Sesali Bowen
Contributor
Pre-natal racism
The Chicago Sun-Times reported today that the stress of racism on pregnant African American women may cause their children to be born with a low birth-weight.
According to the article, several studies recently published in the American Journal of Public Health found that the “psychological stress of experiencing racial discrimination is at least partly responsible” for low birth-weight and premature babies.
Some possible triggers discussed in the research included stress-induced raised blood pressure, the release of a particular hormone linked to preterm deliveries, and the lowering of women’s immune system because of stress.
Talk about the far-reaching effects of racism…these kids aren’t even born yet and they’re feeling it. Sad.