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Long-term effects of antepartum bed rest on offspring
Carlo Valerio Bellieni1, Franco Bagnoli, Serafina Perrone
1Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, viale Mario Bracci, IT-53100 Siena, Italy. bellieni@iol.it
Insights
Children born after maternal bed rest during pregnancy showed higher rates of allergies and motion sickness. This may be linked to prenatal stress and understimulation of the vestibular system.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Health
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Maternal bed rest during pregnancy is a medical intervention for high-risk pregnancies.
- The long-term effects of prolonged prenatal bed rest on offspring development are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential differences in health outcomes and developmental aspects between children exposed to maternal bed rest and a control group.
- To explore correlations between prenatal bed rest and conditions such as allergies, motion sickness, and sleep behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing 43 children of mothers who underwent prolonged bed rest (bed rest offspring; BRO) with 43 control children.
- Data collected via a 20-item maternal questionnaire regarding child development and health.
Main Results:
- The bed rest offspring (BRO) group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of allergies (p = 0.005) and motion sickness (p = 0.03).
- BRO children also showed a greater need for rocking to fall asleep (p = 0.01).
- A subset of BRO children born at term were more likely to play musical instruments later in life compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged maternal bed rest during pregnancy may be associated with increased risks of allergies and motion sickness in offspring.
- Potential mechanisms include the effects of beta-stimulating drugs used for premature labor and the impact of maternal stress on fetal development.
- Understimulation of the fetal vestibular system during bed rest could contribute to motion sickness and altered sleep-rocking needs.
Abstract:
We studied the children of mothers who were confined to bed during pregnancy for more than 15 consecutive days (mean 3.69 months) in the years 1986-1990 (bed rest offspring; BRO). We studied 86 children: 43 BRO and 43 control children. Data were obtained by means of a 20-item questionnaire filled in by the mothers. The BRO group differed from the control group in incidence of allergies (p = 0.005), motion sickness (p = 0.03), and need to be rocked to fall asleep (p = 0.01). More BRO born at term than controls played musical instruments later in life. Two possible explanations for more allergies among the BRO group are the use of beta-stimulating drugs against premature delivery and the effects of prolonged stress on the developing immune system. Understimulation of the developing vestibular system during gestation may affect some aspects of its development and may explain the higher incidence of motion sickness and need for vigorous rocking in BRO.