Pregnancy Problems
Apparently working too hard can cause pregnancy problems
Research from Ireland and France has shown that high physical work demands, being on a temporary contract, working long hours and working shifts are associated pregnancy problems including low birth weight and preterm delivery. This confirms known facts that stress in pregnancy leads to poor outcomes.
Researchers from University College Dublin, Ireland and INSERM in France conducted a prospective study on women in the Lifeways cohort, a group of women who have agreed to be studied regarding their lifestyle and the outcome of pregnancy. 676 women in this cohort were working at the time of their first prenatal visit, and delivered a single baby.
The participants were attending two large maternity units – University College Hospital Galway and Coombe Women’s Hospital in Dublin – and were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire. Information including the participant’s general health, socio-demographic status, lifestyle behaviours and employment was collected. This was followed-up with an examination of hospital medical records relating to mothers’ health during the pregnancy and their pregnancy outcomes.
Is work causing stress in pregnant women?
Significant and strong associations were found between high physical work demands and low birthweight (≤2500g); and temporary work contracts with preterm birth. Researchers suggest that women working under temporary work contracts may have poorer working conditions (ie. stress and anxiety because of job insecurity), which may pregnancy problems such as preterm birth.
Trends were observed in the working of long hours (40 hours or more a week) and shift work with a birthweight of ≤3000g. The findings also confirm how unhealthy behaviours during pregnancy such as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption lead to poor outcomes (in both cases, an increased incidence of birthweight of ≤2500g and ≤3000g). The analysis showed that being exposed to at least two of the four occupational factors identified as problematic increased the risk of having a baby with a birthweight of 2500g or less (Odds ratio 4.65) and preterm delivery (Odds ratio 5.18).
Based on the findings from their research, the authors conclude that high physical work demands, being on a temporary contract, working long hours and working shifts are occupational factors that can help healthcare professionals predict birthweight and preterm delivery.
Dr Isabelle Niedhammer, who co-authored the study said “Our prospective research analysed a large number of occupational exposures and linked them with adverse pregnancy outcomes (low birth weight, preterm delivery, and small-for-gestational age).
More support for women to prevent pregnancy problems
“This study underlines that more attention should be given to women’s working conditions during pregnancy, and effort should be intensified towards reducing exposure to physical work demands, shift work, and long working hours for pregnant women. Special attention should also be given to pregnant women working on temporary contracts.”
Professor Philip Steer, BJOG editor-in-chief, said “It is well known that physical and psychological stress in pregnant women can lead to adverse birth outcomes. This interesting piece of research has given doctors and midwives more information about non-medical reasons for an increased incidence of low birthweight and premature delivery.
“It makes it all the more important for women to attend their antenatal appointments so that such risk factors can be identified during the early stages of pregnancy and appropriate arrangements can then be made for the care of the woman and her baby.”
Source
Niedhammer I, O’Mahony D, Daly S, Morrison J, Kelleher C. Occupational predictors of pregnancy outcomes in Irish working women in the Lifeways cohort. BJOG 2009; DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02160.x
