X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Poverty, Crime, and Its Effects to Newborns' Brain Development

5 min read

Newborns’ Brain Development gets influenced by more than just what we do in front of our kids. Studies say that a soon-to-be mum’s exposure to crime and poverty can influence the child’s brain development before birth.

In this article, you’ll read:

  • Marital exposure to crime and poverty can affect a child’s brain development
  • Setting up a healthy environment for pregnant mums
  • 12 ways to stay healthy during pregnancy

Marital Exposure to Crime and Poverty Can Affect Newborns’ Brain Development

The Washington University School of Medicine researchers from St. Louis are scanning newborn babies’ brains. In the study, they have found that maternal exposure to poverty and crime can affect young brains.

An unhealthy environment for soon-to-be mums can influence a baby’s brain structure and function even before birth. It has devastating effects on the health of a child.

The university suggests that some environmental factors can negatively affect a child’s brain function. Along with this, they are currently preparing an infant MRI scan as part of ongoing research.

Poverty Affects Almost All Newborns’ Brain Development

Poverty, Crime, and Its Effects to Newborns Brain Development

Image source: iStock

While the infants sleep, the researchers perform MRI scans on them. The study considers how the mums faced social disadvantages such as poverty. According to the findings, these newborns developed smaller brains compared to babies whose mums have higher household incomes.

Even full-term babies born to mums living in poverty revealed smaller volumes across the entire brain. It has smaller volumes compared to the brain of babies whose mums had higher household incomes.

Regina L. Triplett, MD, a postdoctoral fellow in neurology, says, “Our concern is that as babies begin life with these smaller brain structures, their brains may not develop in as healthy a way as the brains of babies whose mothers lived in higher-income households.”

The experts conducted brain scans only a few days to weeks after birth. Afterwards, the results showed minor folding of brains among infants born to mums living in poverty.

Concerning this, fewer and shallower folds signify brain immaturity. It is because a healthy human brain folds as it grows and develops. It provides the cerebral cortex with a more extensive functional surface area.

High Crime Rates Influence a Child’s Brain Function

Newborns Brain Development

Image source: iStock

Rebecca F. Brady is a graduate student from the Medical Scientist Training Program. She is involved in a different study regarding pregnant mums. This research also focuses on the environmental effects of high crime on newborns’ brain development. Their young brain functions differently during the first weeks of life than babies born to mothers living in safer neighbourhoods.

“Instead of a brain-wide effect, living in a high-crime area during pregnancy seems to have more specific effects on the emotion-processing regions of babies’ brains,” Brady concluded.

Aside from that, infants’ mums exposed to crime display weaker connections between two brain structures. They are brain structures that process emotions and structures that help regulate and control those emotions.

“Maternal stress is believed to be one of the reasons for the weaker connections in the babies’ brains,” Brady added.

As a result, studies have emphasised how a mum’s pregnancy experience could heavily affect her child’s brain development. It demonstrates that a mother’s situation during her hesitation significantly impacts her infant’s brain.

Promoting a Healthy Environment for Pregnant Women

One of the most important goals of most nations is to reduce poverty and lower crime rates. With this, soon-to-be mums can live at ease and have a stress-free pregnancy.

The experts believe that protecting pregnant women from crime can positively impact their child’s brain development. Getting them out of poverty will do more than just improve their newborns’ brain development and connections.

“Several research projects around the country are providing money for living expenses to pregnant mothers now, and some cities have determined that raising pregnant mothers out of poverty is good public policy,” Smyser said.

12 Ways to Stay Healthy During Pregnancy

Poverty, Crime, and Its Effects to Newborns Brain Development

Image source: iStock

Partner Stories
8 Wonderful Effects of Coconut Water For Pregnancy
8 Wonderful Effects of Coconut Water For Pregnancy
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
The Complete Delivery Bag List For The Entire Family
The Complete Delivery Bag List For The Entire Family
Can Pregnant Women Eat Instant Noodles?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Instant Noodles?

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dr Meadows works as an experienced obstetrician. Throughout her practice, she came up with 12 tips to help mums develop a healthy pregnancy. You can check out the pointers below:

  • Eat healthy food. Your baby needs enough nutrients to grow healthy in the womb.
  • Take a daily prenatal vitamin
  • Stay hydrated; aim for eight or more cups of water each day.
  • Visit your prenatal care check-ups consistently
  • Avoid certain foods, such as raw foods and rare meats, dairy products, and unpasteurised milk.
  • Do not drink alcohol
  • Do not smoke
  • Get moving; try to be consistent with having daily exercises and staying active in other ways.
  • Get a flu shot. It can protect you from severe illness and protect your baby after birth.
  • Have plenty of sleep; ample sleep (7 to 9 hours) is essential for you and your baby.
  • Reduce stress. Encourage your loved ones to help you manage stress in your life.
  • Plan the right time to get pregnant. Choose the time when you are in your healthiest state.

WUSTL School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

ALSO READ:

Early Learning Activities to Stimulate Baby’s Brain Development

“Nobody Likes Me” – How to React to Negative Self-Talk in Kids

Best Musical Instruments for Toddlers to Develop Their Brains

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

ddc-calendar
Get ready for the baby’s arrival by adding your due date.
OR
Calculate your due date
img
Written by

Kamille Uriella Batuyong

  • Home
  • /
  • Becoming a Parent
  • /
  • Poverty, Crime, and Its Effects to Newborns' Brain Development
Share:
  • Lovely Baby Names Inspired by Your Favourite Romantic Movies

    Lovely Baby Names Inspired by Your Favourite Romantic Movies

  • Running Won’t Harm You Or Your Unborn Child, Experts Say

    Running Won’t Harm You Or Your Unborn Child, Experts Say

  • What Hair Removal Method Is Safe During Pregnancy?

    What Hair Removal Method Is Safe During Pregnancy?

  • Lovely Baby Names Inspired by Your Favourite Romantic Movies

    Lovely Baby Names Inspired by Your Favourite Romantic Movies

  • Running Won’t Harm You Or Your Unborn Child, Experts Say

    Running Won’t Harm You Or Your Unborn Child, Experts Say

  • What Hair Removal Method Is Safe During Pregnancy?

    What Hair Removal Method Is Safe During Pregnancy?

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on pregnancy.