This book offers a comprehensive overview of how maternal psychological stress during pregnancy and postpartum affects both maternal health and fetal development. Drawing on the latest research, it explores how stress-related biomarkers like cortisol can cross the placenta, influencing the child's health from birth through adulthood-and even across generations. Written by leading experts, the 15 chapters examine the biological and psychological mechanisms involved, including the HPA axis and brain-gut axis. Topics include the impact of stress on pregnancy outcomes (e.g., pre-eclampsia, prematurity, low birth weight), neonatal health (e.g., colic, altered gut microbiota), and long-term risks such as autism, ADHD, and cardiovascular disease. The book also addresses key stressors-such as intimate partner violence, war, and economic hardship-with a focus on pregnancy-specific stress as particularly harmful. Essential reading for clinicians, researchers, and students in maternal and neonatal health, this volume also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders. .