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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Pregnancy planning and neonatal outcome - a retrospective cohort study
Isa Reuterwall1, Jenny Niemeyer Hultstrand2, Alisa Carlander3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Region Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden. isa.reuterwall@regionvastmanland.se.
Background:
Unplanned pregnancy is common, and although some research indicates adverse outcomes for the neonate, such as death, low birth weight, and preterm birth, results are inconsistent. The purpose of the present study was to investigate associated neonatal outcomes of an unplanned pregnancy in a Swedish setting.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study in which data from 2953 women were retrieved from the Swedish Pregnancy Planning Study, covering ten Swedish counties from September 2012 through July 2013. Pregnancy intention was measured using the London Measurement of Unplanned Pregnancy. Women with unplanned pregnancies and pregnancies of ambivalent intention were combined and referred to as unplanned. Data on neonatal outcomes: small for gestational age, low birth weight, preterm birth, Apgar score < 7 at 5 min, and severe adverse neonatal outcome defined as death or need for resuscitation at birth, were retrieved from the Swedish Medical Birth Register.
Results:
The prevalence of unplanned pregnancies was 30.4%. Compared with women who had planned pregnancies, those with unplanned pregnancies were more likely to give birth to neonates small for gestational age: 3.6% vs. 1.7% (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7). There were no significant differences in preterm birth, Apgar score < 7 at 5 min, or severe adverse neonatal outcome.
Conclusions:
In a Swedish setting, an unplanned pregnancy might increase the risk for birth of an infant small for gestational age.
