American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 203, Issue 1 , Pages 34.e1-34.e8, July 2010

Prenatal life events stress: implications for preterm birth and infant birthweight

  • Peng Zhu, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
    • ,
  • Fangbiao Tao, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Fangbiao Tao, MD, Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, 81th Meishan Rd., Hefei, PRC
    • ,
  • Jiahu Hao, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
    • ,
  • Ying Sun, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
    • ,
  • Xiaomin Jiang, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Child and Maternal Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Hefei, People's Republic of China

Received 22 June 2009; received in revised form 17 October 2009; accepted 10 February 2010. published online 26 April 2010.

Objective

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of maternal exposure to severe life events during different stage of gestation on preterm birth and infant birthweight.

Study Design

A sample of 1800 women who delivered after 32 weeks' gestation were assessed with questionnaires that measured stressful life events during different stages of pregnancy. Demographic characteristics and birth outcomes were collected through the interviews and medical charts.

Results

There was an increased risk of preterm birth among women with higher levels of life events stress during the first trimester (adjusted risk ratio, 2.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–5.09) and second trimester (adjusted risk ratio, 2.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–6.47). Each unit increase of perceived life events stress during first trimester was associated with a 99.09 g decrease in infant birthweight.

Conclusion

Prenatal severe life events, especially in the first trimester, may play an important role in increasing the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight.

Key words: birthweight, life events, pregnancy, preterm birth, stress

 

 This study was supported in part by a grant from Key Projects in the National Key Technology Research and Development Program (#2006BAI05A03), The Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, Ministry of Education of China (#20060366002), and the Natural Sciences Foundation of Anhui Educational Committee (#KJ2008B294).

 Cite this article as: Zhu P, Tao F, Hao J, et al. Prenatal life events stress: implications for preterm birth and infant birthweight. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;203:34.e1-8.

PII: S0002-9378(10)00236-X

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.02.023

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 203, Issue 1 , Pages 34.e1-34.e8, July 2010

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