Maternal Childhood Adversity as a Risk for Perinatal Complications and NICU Hospitalization. (20th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ciciolla, Lucia; Shreffler, Karina M; Tiemeyer, Stacy
• Is Part Of: Journal of pediatric psychology. Volume 46:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 801
• Page End: 813
• Publication Date: 2021-07-20
• Subjects: early life adversity -- Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) -- prematurity and low birthweight -- health risk behavior -- sexual or reproductive health; Clinical child psychology -- Periodicals; 618.9289005
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsab027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-8693

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To examine maternal childhood adversity in relation to increased risk for maternal and infant perinatal complications and newborn Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admittance. Methods: A sample of 164 women recruited at their first prenatal appointment participated in a longitudinal study through 6 weeks postdelivery. Participants self-reported on their adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), negative health risks (overweight/obesity, smoking, and alcohol use), adverse infant outcomes, NICU admittance, and maternal perinatal complications across three pregnancy assessments and one post-birth assessment. Logistic binomial regression analyses were used to examine associations between maternal ACEs and adverse infant outcomes, NICU admittance, and maternal perinatal complications, controlling for pregnancy-related health risks. Results: Findings showed that women with severe ACEs exposure (6+ ACEs) had 4 times the odds of reporting at least one adverse infant outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.02–18.39), almost 9 times the odds of reporting a NICU admission (OR = 8.70, 95% CI: 1.34–56.65), and 4 times the odds of reporting at least one maternal perinatal outcome (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.43–13.39). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the extraordinary risk that mothers' ACEs pose for infant and maternal health outcomes over and above the associations with known maternal health risks during pregnancy, including overweight/obesity, smoking, and alcohol use. These results support a biological intergenerational transmission framework, which suggests that risk from maternal adversity is perpetuated in the next generation through biophysical and behavioral mechanisms during pregnancy that negatively affect infant health outcomes.