Yes, severe stress in expectant mothers may increase their offspring’s risk of congenital disabilities, such as [simple_tooltip text=spina bifida tooltip=A congenital disorder where the spinal cord doesnt fully develop, leading to physical and neurological complications ], congenital heart disease, [simple_tooltip text=anencephaly tooltip=A birth disorder where the babys brain and skull are underdeveloped, leading them to have a short life expectancy ], and [simple_tooltip text=orofacial clefts tooltip=A birth disorder associated with a split in baby’s lips and palate due to the incomplete joining of tissues ] (17).