Stressful experiences, in turn, lead to elevated cortisol levels and increased cortisol reactivity in children.[68], [69] Cortisol has a complex relationship with growth hormone: while chronic hypercortisolism leads to reduced growth hormone and reduced growth, small increases in cortisol stimulate growth hormone secretion and production.[70] It is possible that increased cortisol in the children exposed to postpartum depression had a stimulating effect on growth hormone and thereby increased height. The gene discussed is GH1; the disease is postpartum depression.