the first two trimesters of gestation intrauterine cortisol is primarily produced by the maternal adrenal glands. However, during the third trimester the fetal adrenal glands begin to endogenously produce cortisol and become responsible for most intrauterine cortisol by the time the fetus reaches term. Psychological stress and psychopathology Mental state of the mother during pregnancy affects the fetus in the uterus, predominantly via hormones and genetics. The mother's mood, including maternal prenatal anxiety, depression and stress during pregnancy correlates with altered outcomes for the child. That being said, not every fetus exposed to these factors is affected in the same way and to the same degree, and genetic and environmental factors are believed to have a significant degree of influence. Depression Maternal depression poses one of the greatest risks for increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes for a baby that is developing in the uterus, especially in terms of susceptibility to a variety of psychological conditions. Mechanisms that may explain the connection between maternal depression and the offspring's future health are mostly unclear and form a current area of active research. Genetic inheritance that may be rendering the child more susceptible may play a role, including the effect on the intrauterine environment for the baby whilst the mother suffers from depression. Psychological stress Maternally experienced psychological stress that occurs either prior to or during gestation can have intergenerational effects on offspring. Stress experienced during gestation has been linked with preterm delivery, low birth weight, and increased risk of psychopathology. The new mother may suffer from after-effects too, such as postpartum depression, and subsequently may find parenting more difficult as compared to those who did not experience as much stress during their pregnancies. Toxins Toxins such as alcohol, tobacco and certain drugs to which the baby is exposed to during its development are thought to contribute to fetal programming, especially via alterations to the HPA axis. If the exposure occurs during a critical phase of fetal development, it could have drastic and dire consequences for the fetus. Alcohol Prenatal and/or early postnatal exposure to alcohol (ethanol) has been found to have a negative effect on child's neuroendocrine and behavioral factors. Alcohol passes through the placenta on being ingested by the mother during her pregnancy, and makes its way to the baby in utero. Changes posed to the fetus through ethanol exposure may significantly effect growth and development; these are collectively known as