Do you believe temperament begins in the womb?

[Anonymous]

I am one of the many women who found out they were expecting right at the start of the pandemic. It was scary and filled with mixed-emotions. I understand no amount of prenatal anxiety is healthy, but for seasoned moms, curious to hear antidotes on your child's temperament regarding your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I had a very stressful, unplanned pregnancy. It was an easy pregnancy (no morning sickness or other issues). My DS has ADHD and he would have it even if I had an easy pregnancy. It's genetic.

[Anonymous]

Yes I believe temperament is largely genetic and my kids emerged with distinct temperaments that have been consistent from the get go. However my low key kid gestated during the hardest period in my life, my more difficult child during an easier time so at least in my case there was no correlation between my experiences and their temperaments.

[Anonymous]

An anecdotal sample from my friends - those of us with active babies in utero had active kids, and the quiet ones stayed quiet.

[Anonymous]

I had a very chill pregnancy and have a very intense kid. Genetics and nurture matter, pregnancy conditions not so much.

[Anonymous]

Yes but because of genetics not a chill mommy.

[Anonymous]

I've been pregnant under stressful conditions twice and the two kids are nothing alike! One is high-energy and needs. The other is super chill.

[Anonymous]

I was very anxious with my first. This child is fearless. I wouldn't call him chill, but he's never been a worrier. He is "passionate" though. In many ways he is a perfect combination of my dad (gets very into things) and my husband's brother (reckless and happy). Nothing of me or my anxiety ridden pregnancy in him.

[Anonymous]

No, it’s about 80% genetic and 20% upbringing/early life.

[Anonymous]

I believe most of it begins even before your child gets to the womb...while it’s still traveling down the Fallopian tube .
There have been a number of studies on this with identical twins (same DNA) who grew up in different families through adoption. Temperament is largely genetic.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that there is a correlation between parental stress while the kid is utero and personality, but I do think that, for my kids, their activity level in the womb correlated with their activity out of the womb. My very active and athletic youngest moved noticeably more than his brothers. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a correlation.

[Anonymous]

I had an extremely stressful second pregnancy. DH went off the rails and I handled it poorly. We ended up separating for a few months. Then, black mold was discovered in our apartment and my older child and I had to move to a hotel. I had no idea where we were going to go when I left the hospital with my new baby.

She is an easy-going, chill and happy two-year-old now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that there is a correlation between parental stress while the kid is utero and personality, but I do think that, for my kids, their activity level in the womb correlated with their activity out of the womb. My very active and athletic youngest moved noticeably more than his brothers. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a correlation.

Not true for me. My most athletic and active son was the most laid back in the womb - to the point of me worrying! He was also the biggest so maybe he just didn’t have enough room.

[Anonymous]

I believe genetics is almost solely responsible for temperament. Womb conditions don’t effect temperament.
- mom of triplets, with two identical and one fraternal

[Anonymous]

There have been studies about this, and from what I have read, the impacts to the fetus are only in extreme cases like the Irish famine or the Holocaust.