Growing a male baby may be tougher on a woman’s body at a cellular level than growing a female, according to new research.
A small study of 56 mums-to-be, conducted by scientists at the University of Granada in Spain, showed that the mums who gave birth to baby boys (27) showed greater symptoms of oxidative stress than those who gave birth to baby girls (29).
Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralise their harmful effects.
The research team took blood samples taken from both the newborn babies and the umbilical cords and tested them for the substances the human body naturally produces when it is inflamed.
While scientists found no difference in pain levels during labour and birth among the women at the San Cecilio Clinic Hospital, they did prove that male babies create more free radicals during gestation, which can increase inflammation in the mother’s body.
Oxidative stress has previously been linked to Parkinsons disease, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, chronic fatigue and depression. It is hoped that further research can help doctors find a way to protect a woman’s immune system following the birth of a child.
The first study ever to look at the impact of a baby’s gender on inflammation in the mother’s body, the research is published in the journal Pediatric Research.
