Maternal life stress and health during the first 3 years postpartum

Health problems may occur in mothers and can persist during the postpartum. Life event stress (LES) is a risk factor for poor maternal health. We examined the relations of LES and rise in LES over time to maternal health during the first three years postpartum. We used data from 1,364 mothers obtained between 1991 and 2007 in the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Information on maternal sociodemographics and early postpartum health was collected 1 month after childbirth. Maternal reports on health status and LES were obtained at 6, 15, 24, and 36 months postpartum. Latent growth curve analyses were performed, with maternal sociodemographics and early postpartum health as covariates for which statistical adjustment was made. Maternal health declined steadily in a linear pattern with marked individual differences, whereas maternal LES increased gradually in a linear pattern. Moreover, faster maternal health decline was associated with poorer early health at 1 month postpartum, greater exposure to LES at 6 months postpartum, and faster rise in LES exposure over time. Decline in maternal health may be explained at least in part by the deleterious effects of exposure to stressful life events.