First-trimester job strain and low birth weight
Women with high levels of job strain early in pregnancy may be more likely than other women to have an underweight baby.
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Women with high levels of job strain early in pregnancy may be more likely than other women to have an underweight baby.
In a large study of 8266 pregnant Dutch women, the researchers found that those who reported high levels of job strain during the first trimester tended to give birth to smaller babies. On average, their newborns were about 2.5 ounces lighter compared with women with less job stress, and their risk of having a small-for-gestational-age baby was 50 percent higher. These effects appeared stronger when combined with a work week of 32 hours or more.
Among these women, newborn birth weight was more than 5 ounces lighter compared with women with low job stress and shorter work weeks. They also had double the risk of having a small-for-gestational-age baby. The study defined high job strain as work with both high demands - either high physical stress, heavy mental workloads or time pressures - and little opportunity for the women to control how they worked. Such strain is often seen in lower-income jobs.
Still, the link between job strain and birth weight remained when the researchers considered women's education and other factors. It's likely that chronic stress plays a role. Research suggests that high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine can impair fetal growth, particularly in the first trimester.
The good news is that working during pregnancy seemed to have no effect on birth weight for most women. Only 4 percent of women in the study had both high levels of job strain and a longer work week. However, the researchers emphasised that the low numbers did not mean that women in such jobs should be ignored. While many women curb their workload late in pregnancy, the researchers concluded that some may need to do so early on.
In a large study of 8266 pregnant Dutch women, the researchers found that those who reported high levels of job strain during the first trimester tended to give birth to smaller babies. On average, their newborns were about 2.5 ounces lighter compared with women with less job stress, and their risk of having a small-for-gestational-age baby was 50 percent higher. These effects appeared stronger when combined with a work week of 32 hours or more.
Among these women, newborn birth weight was more than 5 ounces lighter compared with women with low job stress and shorter work weeks. They also had double the risk of having a small-for-gestational-age baby. The study defined high job strain as work with both high demands - either high physical stress, heavy mental workloads or time pressures - and little opportunity for the women to control how they worked. Such strain is often seen in lower-income jobs.
Still, the link between job strain and birth weight remained when the researchers considered women's education and other factors. It's likely that chronic stress plays a role. Research suggests that high levels of stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine can impair fetal growth, particularly in the first trimester.
The good news is that working during pregnancy seemed to have no effect on birth weight for most women. Only 4 percent of women in the study had both high levels of job strain and a longer work week. However, the researchers emphasised that the low numbers did not mean that women in such jobs should be ignored. While many women curb their workload late in pregnancy, the researchers concluded that some may need to do so early on.
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