Monday, January 20, 2020

Work and Pregnancy

Pregnant women who work overtime or night shift are at an increased risk of preterm delivery or miscarriage, according to a new meta-study out of the University of Alberta, which looked at 62 studies from 33 countries. Pregnant women who work over 40 hours per week have a

• 21 percent higher risk of preterm delivery,

• 38 percent higher risk of miscarriage,

• 43 percent higher risk of underweight babies, and

• 16 percent higher risk that their babies would be small for their gestational age

than those who work 40 or fewer hours per week.

Pregnant women who work fixed night shifts have a

• 21 percent higher risk of preterm delivery and

• 23 percent higher risk of miscarriage

than those who work fixed day shifts.

Pregnant women who work rotating shifts have a

• 13 percent higher risk of preterm delivery,

• 75 percent higher risk of preeclampsia,

• 19 percent higher risk of gestational diabetes, and

• 18 percent higher risk of underweight babies

than women who work fixed day shifts.

According to the study’s senior researcher, Margie Davenport, “Our body’s daily cycle is greatly influenced by ambient light in that darkness signals sleep and light signals that it’s time to wake up. During night shift work, the day is flipped and, over time, this is thought to trigger hormonal adaptations that may influence how the baby grows and the timing of delivery.”

Many women work in industries that require shift work, particularly in healthcare, where 80 percent of the labour force is women. The study’s authors recommend that pregnant women avoid overtime and night shifts as much as possible. Where this isn’t possible, women should focus on improving other aspects of their lifestyle, such as eating well, exercising, and getting a good sleep.

Sources: cos-mag.com, reuters.com, WHO

Work and Pregnancy

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