Kamis, 28 Juni 2012

Women who work more than 25 hours a week while pregnant 'more likely to have smaller babies'

Women who work more than 25 hours a week while pregnant 'more likely to have smaller babies'

By Sophie Borland

PUBLISHED: 19:53 EST, 27 June 2012 | UPDATED: 02:18 EST, 28 June 2012


Pregnant women who work more than 25 hours a week tend to have smaller babies, according to research.

They weigh up to half a pound (200g) less than average at birth.

Scientists also found a connection between the amount of time pregnant women spent on their feet at work and the size of their babies, with those standing ‘often’ in jobs such as teaching or sales more likely to have smaller children.

Get some rest: Women who worked more than 25 hours a week subsequently had babies weighing 5-7oz (148-198g) less than average

Get some rest: Women who worked more than 25 hours a week subsequently had babies weighing 5-7oz (148-198g) less than average. (Posed by model)

One explanation is that more physically demanding work may reduce the flow of blood to the placenta, limiting the amount of nutrients and oxygen going to the foetus.

Experts do not know why working long hours in an office job would have a similar effect, but it may be due to stress.

Although smaller babies are not necessarily unhealthier, they are at higher risk from breathing problems, heart defects and conditions affecting their digestion. There is also evidence that they are at higher risk of learning difficulties and developmental problems later on.

The researchers from the University Medical Centre in Rotterdam in the Netherlands surveyed 4,680 expectant mothers, who were 30 weeks pregnant.

Put your feet up: Physically demanding work may reduce the flow of blood to the placenta

Put your feet up: Physically demanding work may reduce the flow of blood to the placenta

They were asked how many hours they worked a week and whether they ‘often’ spent long periods on their feet.

Those who worked more than 25 hours a week subsequently had babies weighing 5-7oz (148-198g) less than average. The circumference around the heads was nearly half an inch (1cm) shorter.

There were similar results for those who spent long periods on their feet while working during their pregnancy.

The authors, whose study is published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, said employers should do more to make pregnant women’s jobs as comfortable as possible.

‘Optimising the work environment is important since participation of women in the reproductive age in the workforce continues to increase,’ they said.

‘Preventive measures reducing certain occupational conditions, such as shift work, night hours, standing, lifting and noise, have proven to reduce the risks of adverse birth outcomes.’

Dr J enny Myers, from Manchester University’s Maternal and Foetal Health Research Centre, said: ‘The observed effects are not big enough to dramatically increase the number of growth-restricted babies, but it is not known whether these very subtle changes in growth trajectory have any significance in the long term.’

Prof Alex Burdorf, the lead author, said: 'We were not surprised that (the babies') head size was smaller in pregnant women who stand for a long time at work, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was only by a modest amount - three per cent smaller than average at birth.'

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I'm delighted for all the "I did it and my baby was fine" people but the reality is prem and small babies have a significantly higher neonatal death risk than full term good weight babies. Argue about your personal outcomes all you like but I'd rather look at the statistics. Most people don't have the luxury of starting their maternity leave during the second trimester so I welcome any research that address' how pregnant women and their babies can be better protected in the workplace and any government reform required to make that happen.

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Statistics are skewed by the fact that naturally most Women have larger babies With each subsequent pregnancy, and often reduce to part time hours as their family gets larger, I worked full time during my first pregnancy and had a 8lb 13oz baby, 30 hours with baby no 2 she was 10lb 13oz and no 3 only worked 10 hours a week he was 9lb 12oz. Smaller babies would have been great!!

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I worked full time while pregnant with twins, I worked up to 35 weeks pregnant and my boys werre 7lb 3oz and 7lb 15oz so this is a load of rubbish!

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Probably better educated, not so bored as non-working women. So they eat less, have smaller babies

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Cobblers, i worked full time and did some major hours, i worked until a week before my son was born and he weighed 9lb 6oz., my youngest son was weighed 10lb9oz..

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Err didn't happen to me- a 10.4 and a 9.10!!

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I worked 40hours a week with both mine right up to a week before and both my girls were a good size!! Good job I didn't work less according to this!

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From my own experience and from the comments here so far I think they got this very wrong.

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What aload of Bull I worked two jobs whilst pregnant sometimes working a 50+ week and my daughter was 9.7lb !

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All the people I've known who have worked through pregnancy have had larger babies and the ones who have sat at home have had smaller! LOL I worked right up to birth and mine were 8lbs 2oz and 8lbs 6oz.

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