Trends in hair cortisol from preconception to the postpartum period

Cortisol is a biological marker of stress, and its levels reflect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress over time. Saliva, blood, and urine cortisol reflect acute stress, whereas assessment of hair cortisol is a better reflection of chronic stress. There is limited information on hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in the perinatal period, particularly, in the preconception and postpartum periods. In addition to being a biomarker for stress, high levels of cortisol are typically associated with poor psychosocial outcomes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objectives of this study were: (1) to measure HCC from six months preconception to six months postpartum; (2) to examine the relationship between HCC and demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress in the first six months postpartum period; (3) and to assess the associations between HCC and systemic inflammatory markers in the first six months postpartum.