ABSTRACT
@#Improving the quality of newborns is a health development strategy, which has attracted global attention. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight and small for gestational age, are major causes of perinatal mortality and disability. Based on review of international and national publications pertaining to associations between stressful life events during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes from 2007 to 2023, this review summarizes the correlation between stressful life events during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight and small for gestational age, and describes the underlying biological mechanisms. Previous studies have demonstrated the associations between maternal stressful life events during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the underlying mechanisms mainly include neuroendocrine regulation, inflammation and microbiota pathways; however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear until now. Further studies to identify the critical window period for the association between stressful life events and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and unravel the pathogenesis of adverse pregnancy outcomes are warranted, so as to provide insights into reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.