The Relationship of Maternal Catecholamines

stress and aDxiety have long been known many bodily fUDctions. Psychologic stress marked increase in catecholamine release from the adrenal medulla, iDcreased sympathetic nervous system activity, and changes in circulating levels of adrenocortical and other hormones. The early psychosomat literature suggests that epinephrine is elaborated duriDg ar, whereas norepine phrine is elaborated during aDger (FuDkenstein, 1956). More recent ly, Frankenhaeuser (1975) suggests that the epinephrine level iDcreases under circumstances of no­ vel ty, ant ic ip at ion, unpredic t ability, aDd general emo­ tional arousal, whereas the level of norepinephrine increases during increased physical activity. In Dimsdale's study (1980) reported that while exercise induces a response of the sympathetic nervous system, psychological stress induces primarily an adrenal response. Pregnancy is a crisis period of maj or importance to women and their famil s. Some degree of anxiety is preseDt duriDg pregnancy progresses. Anxiety during pregnancy has been related to age, parity, general educa­ tion, weight gain, and trimester of pregDancy. (Friederich, 1977). Meternal anxiety has been implicated as one variable in the etiology of maternal and fetal complica­ tions. Anxiety in pregnancy women has been associated with hyperemesis gravidarum, difficult and proloDged labor and habitual abortion (Myers, 1979). Fetal compli­