Psychosocial support for maternal stress during pregnancy: effect on birth weight

Article Abstract:

Studies have shown that moderate to severe maternal stress during pregnancy can contribute to the low birth weight of a newborn. Psychosocial support to alleviate stress may be beneficial in improving birth weight. The effect of psychosocial support on birth weight was assessed in 86 mothers with single fetus pregnancies. The mothers had no physical conditions that increased their risk of low birth weight. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale was administered to determine levels of stress, and women were selected based on the existence of a significant degree of stress in their lives. All subjects were white. Forty-three mothers were provided with psychosocial support between 20 weeks of pregnancy and delivery. The remaining 43 mothers received standard care at a birth clinic. Seven infants born to mothers who were given psychosocial support weighted less than 3,000 grams; 18 infants weighing less than 3,000 grams were born to mothers who were provided with standard care. Improvement in birth weight was related to improved growth of the fetus during pregnancy rather than to an extended period of pregnancy. These findings suggest that psychosocial support of the pregnant woman favorably affects the birth weight of the infant. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Stress (Psychology)

---

Explicit memory in pregnant women

Article Abstract:

Pregnancy appears to cause a decline in memory, particularly in the third trimester. Researchers analyzed memory loss in pregnancy by giving 10 pregnant women and 10 non-pregnant women various tests of recall. During their third trimester, the pregnant women were less likely to recall textual information compared to other times during and after the pregnancy. The non-pregnant women experienced no change in immediate and delayed recall. Although the pregnant women experienced anxiety and depression more often, this did not affect their memory.

Causes of, Pregnant women, Memory, Disorders of, Memory disorders

---

A review of the effects of hazardous waste on reproductive health

Article Abstract:

Studies have shown that babies born to parents who live near hazardous waste sites have a higher risk of birth defects and low birth weight. About one in four Americans lives within four miles of a hazardous waste site.

Health aspects, Birth defects, Hazardous waste sites

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Smoking during pregnancy and lactation and its effects on breast-milk volume. Flavin composition of human milk
• Abstracts: Hostile type A personalities. Hurry up and get hurt. Maybe looks can kill
• Abstracts: Dentists, allied professionals with AIDS. Lack of evidence for patient-to-patient transmission of HIV in a dental practice
• Abstracts: Paleonephrology and reflux nephropathy: from the 'big bang' to end-stage renal disease. Epidemic nephropathy in children
• Abstracts: Predicting risk of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. Tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children: a family infection

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.