Children in mother's womb are experiencing the mother’s stress, shows a new study. Researcher Nadja Reissland from Durham University gave 15 mothers-to-be 4D ultrasound scans four times during their pregnancy.

It ought to be the most tranquil of sights – the face of an unborn child in the womb. But the tiny hand pulled up to the chin reveals that, upsettingly, this baby appears to be under stress.

The mothers-to-be were quizzed on their  levels of stress in the month leading up to each scan and the videos were analysed to see how often the unborn babies touched their faces. In total, the eight girls and seven boys did so 342 times.

The doctor also asked  mothers-to-be to estimate the level of stress in their life. The remarkable image was taken as part of a study showing unborn children touch their faces more often if their mother has been anxious, helpless or under pressure.

The more anxious the woman was, the more the unborn child mopped its brow. The study also found those whose mothers had been under pressure were more likely to use their left hand when touching their face. According to Reissland this is significant because attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, depression and schizophrenia all more common in people who are left-handed.

Although previous studies have found babies pick up on stress in the womb, this is believed to be the first to offer  photographic evidence.

‘It was found out that the babies were picking up on an increase in the stress hormone cortisol being  produced by their mothers. Researchers believe they are picking up on her anxieties – and then trying to soothe them away with the power of touch. And the tiny hand pulled up to the chin reveals that, upsettingly, this baby appears to be under stress,’ said Dr Reissland.