Having a tough childhood doesn’t seem to leave a detectable mark on DNA or RNA damage in the blood of new moms, even when accounting for other health factors.

Even if someone had a rough childhood, their blood doesn't show more signs of DNA damage from oxidative stress after having a baby, based on multiple tests.

Women who had tough childhoods have immune cells that produce more reactive oxygen molecules, even though those molecules aren’t causing more DNA damage.

Women who experienced more abuse or neglect as children tend to have higher levels of a specific chemical in their blood that's linked to long-term inflammation, even after having a baby.