The influence of maternal stress on offspring development can have significant consequences for offspring responses to stress. While stress can impact postnatal maternal care, stress during gestation can be transmitted to offspring via maternal effects; where maternal phenotype influences offspring phenotypes. Many studies have demonstrated maladaptive maternal effects, but prenatal stress exposure may provide adaptive benefits to offspring. Here I test the effects of reduced maternal stress on the offspring stress response in the House mouse (Mus musculus). Reduced prenatal stress results in daughters with a less reactive stress response, who receive increased maternal investment, while sons remain unaffected. Additionally, I examine the influence of different environments, and different maternal environments, on the stress response of mice. Results demonstrate stress responses are influenced by environment, and maternal environment, in a similar and sex-specific manner. I discuss the adaptive significance of stress-mediated maternal effects and the implications of these findings for animals and humans.