Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Predicted by Prenatal Maternal Stress Among U.S. Women at the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Preis, Heidi Mahaffey, Brittain Pati, Susmita Heiselman, Cassandra Lobel, Marci
Copyright Year	2021
Description	Abstract Background High stress prenatally contributes to poor maternal and infant well-being. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created substantial stress for pregnant women. Purpose To understand whether stress experienced by women pregnant at the beginning of the pandemic was associated with a greater prevalence of adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods Pregnant women across the USA aged ≥18 years old enrolled in a prospective cohort study during the pandemic onset (T1) in April–May 2020. This report focuses on the 1,367 participants who gave birth prior to July–August 2020 (T2). Hierarchical logistic regression models predicted preterm birth, small for gestational age infants, and unplanned operative delivery from T1 stress, sociodemographic, and medical factors. Results After controlling for sociodemographic and medical factors, preterm birth was predicted by high prenatal maternal stress, delivering an infant small for gestational age was predicted by interpersonal violence and by stress related to being unprepared for birth due to the pandemic, and unplanned cesarean or operative vaginal delivery was predicted by prenatal appointment alterations, experiencing a major stressful life event, and by stress related to being unprepared for birth due to the pandemic. Independent of these associations, African American women were more likely than other groups to deliver preterm. Conclusion Pregnant women who are experiencing high stress during the COVID-19 pandemic are at risk of poorer perinatal outcomes. A longitudinal investigation is critical to determine whether prenatal maternal stress and resulting outcomes have longer-term consequences for the health and well-being of children born in the midst of the current pandemic. Pregnant women who experienced greater stress during the COVID-19 pandemic onset were more likely to have a preterm birth, to deliver a small-for-gestational-age infant, and to have an unplanned operative delivery.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC7980766&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	13
ISSN	08836612
Volume Number	55
DOI	10.1093/abm/kaab005
PubMed Central reference number	PMC7980766
Issue Number	3
PubMed reference number	33724334
Journal	Annals of Behavioral Medicine: A Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine [Ann Behav Med]
e-ISSN	15324796
Language	English
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Publisher Date	2021-03-01
Publisher Place	US
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model) © Society of Behavioral Medicine 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Subject Keyword	Pregnancy Birth Prenatal maternal stress Adverse perinatal outcomes COVID-19 pandemic Pandemic-related stress Behavioral medicine
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Psychology Psychiatry and Mental Health