Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Neurosurgery: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study

There has been an increase in the recruitment of women into neurosurgery. Despite this, there is limited research on their childbearing experiences. This study explores the experiences and challenges of women in neurosurgery with a focus on preterm delivery and breastfeeding.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey (August-December 2023) of neurosurgery residents and faculty at American College of Graduate Medical Education-accredited programs collecting data on demographics, obstetric history, and breastfeeding experiences. Only participants who had themselves been pregnant were included in this analysis. The primary outcome was preterm delivery, while secondary outcomes were Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission and length of breastfeeding. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed with statistical significance set at a P -value <.05.

There were 49 participants who were eligible for this subanalysis. The mean age at first pregnancy was 32 years. Most (95.8%) intended to breastfeed for an average of 10.6 months with 54.3% reporting a gap between desired and achieved breastfeeding length. The mean achieved breastfeeding length was 8.5 months (± 6.02). Preterm delivery was significantly associated with requiring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit care ( P = .019). The number of operative hours per week during the third trimester was not associated with preterm delivery ( P = .401). On multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.11 95% CI: 1.011-1.22; P = .029) and having multiple children (OR: 11.28 95% CI: 1.2-104, P .033) were significantly associated with preterm delivery. With every 5-year increase in age, there is a 71% increased odd of preterm delivery (OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.05-2.79).

Our study shows a higher age at first pregnancy for women in neurosurgery and that an increase in age is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery. Larger studies are needed to identify and address barriers to childbearing in neurosurgery.