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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
Published on: June 13, 2021
Maternal exposure to unexpected economic contraction and birth weight for gestational age
Claire E Margerison-Zilko1, Ralph Catalano, Alan Hubbard
1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. cmargerison@berkeley.edu
Background:
The macro-level economy may affect fetal health through maternal behavioral or physiologic responses.
Methods:
We used a multilevel design to examine associations between exposure to state-level unexpected economic contraction during each trimester of gestation and birth weight for gestational age percentile and small for gestational age (SGA), using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. We examined differences in observed associations by maternal educational attainment, race/ethnicity, employment status, and poverty status.
Results:
Exposure in the first trimester was associated with a 3.7 percentile point decrease in birth weight for gestational age (95% confidence interval [CI] = -6.8 to -0.6). This association appeared stronger for women "keeping house" or with <12 years education. Exposure in the first trimester was also associated with increased odds of SGA (odds ratio = 1.5 [95% CI = 1.1 to 2.1]) and term SGA (odds ratio = 1.6 [95% CI = 1.2 to 2.3]).
Conclusions:
Unexpected economic contraction during early pregnancy may be associated with reduced fetal growth.
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