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- We can all argue
that stress is

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a part of our everyday lives.

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But this is especially important
for women trying to conceive.

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A new study found an association
between prenatal stress

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and birth outcomes.

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The more physically
and psychologically

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a woman is stressed, the less
likely she is to have a boy.

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The study was published
in the journal proceedings

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of the National
Academy of Sciences,

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and looked at 27
stress indicators

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of 187 pregnant women
between the ages of 18 to 45.

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And what they found
is that the physically

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stressed group had
four boy babies

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for every nine baby girls.

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And for the mentally
stressed group,

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two boys for every three girls.

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All had healthy pregnancies.

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Why this outcome?

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Well, previous studies
show that males

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are more vulnerable to a
negative utero environment.

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And "the womb is an
influential first home

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as important as the one
a child is raised in--

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if not more so," says
one study leader.

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And these findings support
life changing events like 9/11

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or President Kennedy's
assassination--

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at which male births
decreased, says researchers.

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Also, this stress could
lead to preterm births.

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It's worth noting
that this study

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only shows an association
between stress

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and birth outcomes.

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But doctors say there
could be other factors

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that come into play.

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In all, doctors say finding
ways to decrease stress

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should be a part of
your prenatal routine

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to ensure a healthy pregnancy
for both mom and baby.