Final answer:
Continuous maternal stress throughout the entire pregnancy can significantly impact fetal development and outcomes. The roles of prenatal care and key hormones like estrogen and progesterone are essential in supporting both mother and fetus health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Maternal stress during pregnancy has significant implications for fetal development. Stressful conditions such as famine or infections, if encountered by the mother, transmit different environmental signals to the fetus, thereby affecting developmental outcomes. It's crucial that a mother maintains a healthy lifestyle and receives regular prenatal care to minimize the risk of complications. The hormones estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) play vital roles in maintaining a pregnancy and supporting the fetus. Estrogen in particular promotes fetal viability and tissue growth.
Given the importance of maternal health throughout gestation, the statement 'Maternal stress during a pregnancy seems to have its greatest impact if it occurs throughout the entire pregnancy.' is supported. Continuous stress can potentially impact the fetus at various stages, from early development to preparing for birth, each with its own set of potential risks to the child's physical and cognitive development.