Red Alert: Prenatal Stress and Plans to Close Military Bases

Abstract

In May 2005 the U.S. military announced a restructuring plan called Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Some areas were projected to lose 20 percent of employment, sparking much distress. Previous research shows that stress affects pregnancy and fetal development. I find that immediately following the announcement, the mean gestational age in the most affected areas dropped by 1.5 days for a period of 1-2 months. Births shifted from 39 to 37-38 weeks, a period linked to health risks. Similar changes appear in birth weight. Local changes in employment and mothers’ characteristics do not account for these effects.