Do pre-, early, and mid-pregnancy life events influence gestational length?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether the frequency and quality of reported life events during the 6 months before pregnancy to mid-pregnancy influence gestational age at birth.Seventy nulliparous women were studied at 12 and 25 gestational weeks with a 64-item self-rated life event questionnaire developed for obstetric groups. Life events were categorised into eight psychosocial areas according to the diagnostic and statistic manual (DSM-III-R). The women rated each experienced event as strainful or not strainful. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound biometry before 20 gestational weeks. The number of life events during the following periods was recorded from 6 months before pregnancy to 12 gestational weeks, from 12 gestational weeks to 25 gestational woks, and from 6 months before pregnancy to 25 gestational weeks.No significant relationships were found between the number of reported life events and pregnancy duration. Life events in different psychosocial areas also did not influence gestational age at birth. A non-significant relationship (p = 0.06) was found between pregnancy duration and the number of strainful events reported from 6 months before pregnancy to 25 gestational weeks, shorter pregnancy duration being found in women reporting many strainful events. Our findings suggest that life events in general do not influence pregnancy duration. However, if they are perceived as strainful, pregnancy length tends to decrease.