Pregnancy comes with a host of well-known no-nos: raw fish, excessive caffeine, alcohol, and other substances. But could your job also pose a risk to your pregnancy? A recent study by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of Kansas delved into this question, focusing on expecting mothers in high-stress professions such as medicine and law.
The study, published as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, examined whether the demanding nature of certain careers, particularly those with long hours and high stakes, could lead to adverse birth outcomes. Researchers honed in on physicians and lawyers, particularly surgeons, to assess whether the stress associated with their jobs could impact pregnancy outcomes, including shortened gestation periods, lower birth weights, premature births, and health issues for newborns.
Lead author Anupam B. Jena, along with co-author David Slusky, found that indeed, high-stress jobs may increase the risk of negative birth outcomes. However, Jena emphasized that the effects observed were not extreme, providing some reassurance to expecting mothers in these professions.
Stress’s impact on pregnancy outcomes is well-documented, with previous studies linking stressful events to adverse birth outcomes. Even seemingly innocuous events, such as a sports victory, have been associated with increased risk of low birth weight in infants.
For physicians, the study found slightly lower birth weights and shortened pregnancies compared to lawyers. Surgeons, in particular, faced a higher risk of delivering prematurely. While these differences may seem modest, even small reductions in birth weight could be cause for concern, especially for infants already at risk.
However, the study’s authors caution against drawing drastic conclusions or suggesting that expecting mothers should avoid high-stress jobs altogether. Instead, they urge further investigation into specific workplace factors that may contribute to these outcomes, such as hospital environments, gender ratios, and policies on parental leave.
While workforce reforms aimed at reducing physician trainees’ hours showed little impact on birth outcomes, the researchers believe that addressing workplace stressors and implementing supportive policies could benefit physician mothers. However, they stress the importance of pregnant women advocating for themselves and discussing their job-related concerns with healthcare providers.
Moving forward, the team plans to refine their findings, explore other maternal health questions using available datasets, and investigate how specific hospital environments may affect physician mothers’ birth outcomes.
Ultimately, the study highlights the need to mitigate any potential impact on infant health and ensure the safety and well-being of both mothers and babies in high-stress work environments.
