Mode of first delivery and women's intentions for subsequent childbearing: findings from the First Baby Study

The association between prenatal psychosocial factors and autism spectrum disorder in offspring at 3 years: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Few studies of risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been prospective in design or investigated the role of psychosocial factors measured during pregnancy. We aimed to investigate associations between prenatal psychosocial factors and risk of ASD in offspring, as part of a multicenter prospective cohort study of more than 2000 mother-child pairs.

METHODS

Nulliparous women aged 18-35 years, living in Pennsylvania, USA, were interviewed during pregnancy and multiple times postpartum over the course of a 3-year period. There were 2388 mothers who completed the Screen for Social Interaction Toddler Version (SSI-T), a measure of risk of ASD, when their child was 3-years old. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between prenatal psychosocial factors-including total scores on three scales (social-support, stress and depression), trouble paying for basic needs, mental illness diagnosis and use of antidepressants-and risk of ASD in offspring at the age of 3-years, controlling for relevant confounding variables.

RESULTS

There were 102 children (4.3%) who were scored as at-risk of ASD at 3-years. Prenatal psychosocial factors that were significantly associated with risk of ASD in the adjusted models were lower social-support (p < 0.001); stress (p = 0.003): depression (< 0.001), trouble paying for basic needs (p = 0.012), mental illness diagnosis (p = 0.016), and use of antidepressants (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that maternal experience of adverse psychosocial factors during pregnancy may be important intrauterine exposures related to the pathogenesis of ASD.

The First Baby Study: What women would like to have known about first childbirth. A mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Although prenatal care providers aim to prepare women for first childbirth, little research has explored retrospectively what birthing people would like to have known before first childbirth.

AIM

To describe women's reports of what they would like to have known before first childbirth but feel they were not told.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of the First Baby Study, a large prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA. Telephone interviews were conducted with 3006 women 1 month after their first childbirth. Women were first asked: "Was there anything that you would have liked to have known before your delivery that you were not told?". If "yes" they were asked a second question: "Please tell me what you would have liked to have known before your delivery".

ANALYSIS

A convergent mixed-methods analysis including descriptive analytics to compare characteristics of women by answers to the first question, and qualitative content analysis of women's open-ended answers to the second question.

FINDINGS

A total of 441 women (14.7%) reported there was something they would like to have known before their first childbirth. Women described that communication with care providers was their main concern. They would have liked a better understanding of their options before birth, more agency in decision-making, and more information about the topics of their body, their birth, their baby, and what to expect beyond birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight important topics for childbirth education, and the impact of gaps in shared decision-making, patient-provider communication, and supportive care practices for first childbirth, especially where women have identified vulnerabilities.

Recovery from Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury in a Prospective Cohort of First Births

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) for primiparous women who gave birth vaginally and to compare recovery by OASIS status in three domains as follows: (1) physical health and functioning, (2) mental health, and (3) healthcare utilization.

STUDY DESIGN

This secondary analysis used data from 2,013 vaginal births in the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study of women with first births between 2009 and 2011. Interview data at multiple time points were linked to birth certificate and hospital discharge data. The key exposure of interest was OASIS (3rd or 4th degree perineal laceration, identified in the hospital discharge data; n = 174) versus no OASIS (n = 1,839). We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between OASIS and a range of outcomes including physical health and functioning, depression, and health care utilization, assessed at 1 month and 6 months postpartum.

RESULTS

Eight percent of women had OASIS. In adjusted models, there were no differences in general physical health and functioning measures by OASIS (such as fatigue and overall self-rated health), but women with OASIS had higher rates of reporting perineal pain (p < 0.001), accidental stool loss (p = 0.001), and bowel problems (p < 0.001) at 1-month postpartum. By 6-month postpartum, there were no differences in reported physical health and functioning. There were no differences in probable depression at 1- or 6-month postpartum. Women with OASIS were more likely to attend a comprehensive postpartum visit, but there were no other differences in health care utilization by OASIS.

CONCLUSION

Women with OASIS were at increased risk of accidental stool loss, bowel problems, and perineal pain in the immediate postpartum period. Women who had OASIS had similar physical functioning across a range of general health outcomes to women who gave birth vaginally without OASIS.

KEY POINTS

· Higher risk of bowel problems and accidental stool loss 1-month postpartum with OASIS.. · Higher risk of perineal pain 1-month postpartum with OASIS.. · No differences in health outcomes at 6-months postpartum by OASIS..

Helping first-time mothers establish and maintain breastfeeding: Access to someone who can provide breastfeeding advice is an important factor

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

First-time mothers often need help with breastfeeding and may feel isolated and uncertain about whom they can turn to for help with breastfeeding challenges. Exploration of whether access to breastfeeding advice helps new mothers initiate and continue breastfeeding is necessary. This study investigated the associations between ease of access to breastfeeding advice for first-time mothers and breastfeeding initiation and duration.

METHODS

This was a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of 3,006 women who delivered their first child in Pennsylvania, USA; with prenatal and postpartum interviews. At 1-month postpartum participants reported the extent to which they had access to "Someone to give you advice about breastfeeding if you needed it", via a 5-point scale ranging from "none of the time" to "all of the time".

RESULTS

There were 132 women (4.4%) who reported that they had access to someone to give them advice about breastfeeding "none of the time"; 697 (23.3%) reported access "a little of the time" or "some of the time"; and 2,167 (72.3%) reported access "most of the time" or "all of the time". While the majority of the new mothers were breastfeeding at 1-month postpartum (72.5%), less than half were still breastfeeding at 6-months postpartum (44.5%). The higher the level of access to advice about breastfeeding the more likely women were to establish breastfeeding by 1-month postpartum and to still be breastfeeding at 6-months.

CONCLUSIONS

For first-time mothers, ease of access to someone who can give them advice about breastfeeding facilitates breastfeeding establishment and continuation.

Timing of hospital admission at first childbirth: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

It is difficult for women in labor to determine when best to present for hospital admission, particularly at first childbirth. While it is often recommended that women labor at home until their contractions have become regular and ≤ 5-minutes apart, little research has investigated the utility of this recommendation. This study investigated the relationship between timing of hospital admission, in terms of whether women's labor contractions had become regular and ≤ 5-minutes apart before admission, and labor progress.

METHODS

This was a cohort study of 1,656 primiparous women aged 18-35 years with singleton pregnancies who began labor spontaneously at home and delivered at 52 hospitals in Pennsylvania, USA. Women who were admitted before their contractions had become regular and ≤ 5-minutes apart (early admits) were compared to those who were admitted after (later admits). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations between timing of hospital admission and active labor status on admission (cervical dilation 6-10 cm), oxytocin augmentation, epidural analgesia and cesarean birth.

RESULTS

Nearly two-thirds of the participants (65.3%) were later admits. These women had labored for a longer time period before admission (median, interquartile range [IQR] 5 hours (3-12 hours)) than the early admits (median, (IQR) 2 hours (1-8 hours), p < 0.001); were more likely to be in active labor on admission (adjusted OR [aOR] 3.78, 95% CI 2.47-5.81); and were less likely to experience labor augmentation with oxytocin (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.35-0.55); epidural analgesia (aOR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38-0.72); and cesarean birth (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Among primiparous women, those who labor at home until their contractions have become regular and ≤ 5-minutes apart are more likely to be in active labor on hospital admission and less likely to experience oxytocin augmentation, epidural analgesia and cesarean birth.

Factors associated with labor after cesarean in a prospective cohort

BACKGROUND

The goals of this study were (a) to determine how experiences in the first perinatal period shape birth mode preference among individuals with a first birth by cesarean; and (b) to examine the relationship between birth mode preference and other factors and subsequent labor after cesarean (LAC).

METHODS

Data are from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort of 3006 primiparous individuals. The analytic sample includes individuals with a first cesarean birth and a second birth during the 5-year follow-up period (n = 394). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between experiences in the first perinatal period and subsequent preference for vaginal birth, and between preference for vaginal birth and LAC in the second birth.

RESULTS

About a third of the sample preferred vaginal birth in a future birth, and 20% had LAC. Factors associated with higher odds of future vaginal birth preference were favorable prenatal attitude toward vaginal birth, lower perceived maternal-infant bonding at 1 month after the first birth, post-traumatic stress symptoms after the first birth, and desiring more than 1 additional child after the first birth. Odds of LAC were nearly 8 times higher among those who preferred vaginal birth (AOR = 7.69, P < .001). Fatigue after the first birth, post-traumatic stress symptoms after the first birth, and having higher predicted chances of vaginal birth after cesarean were also associated with higher odds of LAC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the formation of preferences around vaginal birth may present a modifiable target for future counseling and shared decision-making interventions.

Cesarean Section and Child Development at 3 Years: A Prospective Cohort Study of First Births in Pennsylvania

OBJECTIVES

The rising cesarean birth rate globally has led to increasing concern about long-term unintended consequences, with particular focus on child neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study investigated the association between cesarean birth and early child neurodevelopment, measured at 3 years of age.

METHODS

This was a large multicenter longitudinal prospective cohort study of first-time mothers and their offspring in Pennsylvania. Mothers completed adapted versions of two measures of child development at 36- months postpartum: the modified Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (M-PEDS) and a shortened Ages and Stages Questionnaire (S-ASQ). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between mode of delivery and delayed child development, controlling for confounding variables.

RESULTS

There were 695 (29.3%) children born by cesarean delivery and 1676 (70.7) born vaginally. Children born by cesarean had increased odds of scoring as developmentally delayed on both measures of child development: the M-PEDS (8.9% cesarean and 5.1% vaginal, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-2.24)) and the S-ASQ (6.3% cesarean and 3.3% vaginal, aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.09-2.54). Additional factors associated with developmental delay were male sex, and the maternal factors of high pre-pregnancy body mass index, thyroid disorder, and diabetes.

CONCLUSION

In this large prospective cohort study of first-time mothers and their offspring, cesarean delivery was found to be associated with an elevated risk of delayed child development at age 3 years. This analysis highlights the importance of continued research to understand the impact of cesarean delivery on child development.

Fertility Intention to Have a Third Child in China following the Three-Child Policy: A Cross-Sectional Study

China's three-child policy was implemented in May 2021 to stimulate a rise in fertility levels. However, few previous studies have explored fertility intentions to have a third child and have only focused on childless or one-child populations, resulting in a gap in findings between fertility intention and fertility behavior. Thus, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study on 1308 participants with two children. Results showed that only 9.6% of participants reported planning to have a third child and 80.2% of the population had heard of the policy but had no idea of the detailed contents. Participants with two daughters (OR = 3.722, 95% CI = 2.304-6.013) were willing to have one more child. Instrumental values (OR = 1.184, 95% CI = 1.108-1.265) and policy support (OR = 1.190, 95% CI = 1.124-1.259) were the facilitators. Perceived risk (OR = 0.883, 95% CI = 0.839-0.930) and higher educational level (OR = 0.693, 95% CI = 0.533-0.900) were the leading barriers to having one more child. Therefore, the government should deepen parents' understanding of the "three-child policy" and devise ways of reducing the negative impacts of having a third child to boost the intention to have more children. Our proposed approach can also be used to better understand the reasons for low fertility rates in other countries.

Person-Centered Maternity Care and Health Outcomes at 1 and 6 Months Postpartum

Objectives: Person-centered care has been increasingly recognized as an important aspect of health care quality, including in maternity care. Little is known about correlates and outcomes of person-centered care in maternity care in the United States. Materials and Methods: Data were from a prospective cohort of more than 3000 individuals who gave birth to a first baby in a Pennsylvania hospital. Person-centered maternity care was measured via a 13-item rating scale administered 1-month postpartum. Content validity was established through exploratory factor analysis. The resulting scale had scores ranging from 13 to 54, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.86. Using linear and logistic regression models to control for covariates, we examined associations between participants' characteristics and person-centered maternity care and between person-centered maternity care and postpartum outcomes. Results: Participants had a mean total score of 47.80 on the person-centered maternity care scale. Patient factors independently associated with more person-centered maternity care included older age, more positive attitude toward vaginal birth during pregnancy, and spontaneous vaginal birth. In adjusted models, higher person-centered maternity scale scores were strongly associated with many positive physical and mental health outcomes at 1 and 6 months postpartum. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the importance of person-centered maternity not just due to its intrinsic value but also because it may be associated with both mental and physical health outcomes through the postpartum period. Results suggest that policy efforts are necessary to ensure person-centered maternity care, especially for delivery hospitalization experience.

Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in offspring at 3 years: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drugs during pregnancy globally. Recent studies have reported associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurobehavioral problems in children, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders. Little research has investigated these associations in preschool-age children or the potential confounding effects of prenatal stress. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and offspring neurobehavioral problems at the age of 3 years, with a focus on the potentially confounding effects of prenatal stress.

METHODS

We used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, with 2,423 mother-child pairs. Women reported medication use and completed a prenatal stress inventory during their third trimester. Child behavioral problems were measured at the age of 3 years, using the 7 syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for ages 1 ½ to 5.

RESULTS

There were 1,011 women (41.7%) who reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy scored significantly higher on 3 of the 7 CBCL syndrome scales: withdrawn, sleep problems and attention problems. Scores on all 7 of the CBCL syndrome scales were significantly associated with prenatal stress. After adjustment for prenatal stress and other confounders, 2 syndrome scales remained significantly higher in children exposed to acetaminophen: sleep problems (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.51) and attention problems (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.45).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings corroborate previous studies reporting associations between prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and attention problems in offspring and also show an association with sleep problems at age 3 years. Because use of acetaminophen during pregnancy is common, these results are of public health concern and suggest caution in the use of medications containing acetaminophen during pregnancy.

Perinatal Education Participation: Description and Identification of Disparities

While perinatal education programs are designed to help nulliparous women prepare for childbirth and care of a newborn, many women in the United States do not attend such programs. This article presents partial data from a longitudinal study of 2,884 women aged 18-35 years who birthed their first child in Pennsylvania from 2009-2011. These partial data focused on women's participation in perinatal education and identify disparities in attendance. Overall, 79.1% reported attending one or more perinatal education programs. Women who were White, college educated, aged 30 years or older, and not in poverty were more likely to attend perinatal education programs. These results suggest a need for improved efforts to provide free or low-cost perinatal education to women across the socioeconomic spectrum in the U.S, especially in Pennsylvania.

Paternal Education and Its Impact on Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration: An Understudied and Often Overlooked Factor in U.S. Breastfeeding Practices

Objective: The primary objective was to determine the role that paternal education level plays in the initiation and duration of breastfeeding for their infants. Materials and Methods: As part of a prospective cohort study, primiparous women, aged 18-35 years, living in Pennsylvania, were enrolled and interviewed during pregnancy (N = 3,006) and at 1 and 6 months postpartum. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between paternal education level and breastfeeding initiation and duration, controlling for maternal education level and other covariates-including marital/relationship status, household poverty level, maternal age, race/ethnicity, smoking, attending breastfeeding class during pregnancy, mode of delivery, gestational age, and plans to return to work ≤2 months after delivery. Results: Information on both paternal and maternal education levels and breastfeeding outcomes was available for 2,839 couples. Most of the women reported that they planned to breastfeed (92.5%); 92.0% initiated breastfeeding; and 49.5% of those who initiated breastfeeding were still breastfeeding by 6 months postpartum. Paternal education level was independently associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration in both regression models-the higher the level of education of the father, the more likely breastfeeding was initiated and the mother was still breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum, even after controlling for maternal education level and other relevant covariates. Conclusions: In this large prospective cohort study of first-time mothers and their newborns, paternal education level was independently associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration. These findings highlight the importance of including the father in prenatal breastfeeding education initiatives.

Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among pregnant women in Pennsylvania 2020

Data on factors associated with vaccine acceptance among pregnant women are critical to the rapid scale up of interventions to improve vaccine uptake. When COVID-19 vaccines were still in the testing phases of research, we surveyed pregnant women accessing prenatal care at an academic medical institution in Central Pennsylvania, United States to examine factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine once a vaccine became available was asked as part of an ongoing study on the COVID-19 pandemic and pregnancy (n = 196). Overall, 65% of women reported they would be willing or somewhat willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Women who had received an influenza vaccine within the past year were more likely to be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who had never received an influenza vaccine or those who received it over one year ago (aOR 4.82; 95% CI 2.17, 10.72). Similarly, women who were employed full-time were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who were not employed full time (aOR 2.22; 95% CI 1.02, 4.81), and women who reported feeling overloaded were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than women who did not feel overloaded (aOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.02, 4.68). Our findings support the need to increase vaccination education among pregnant women before vaccines are rolled out, especially those who have not received an influenza vaccine within the past year. Improved understanding of willingness to vaccinate among pregnant women will improve future pandemic responses and current vaccination efforts.

Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse after First Childbirth and Unintended Pregnancy within Six Months

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate factors associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse after first childbirth and assess whether early intercourse is associated with unprotected intercourse, subsequent pregnancy, and unintended pregnancy over 6 months.

METHODS

This secondary analysis used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective study of women aged 18-35 years with singleton pregnancies who delivered at 76 hospitals in Pennsylvania. At 1 and 6 months postpartum, women were asked about intercourse and the use of birth control since childbirth. We compared women who resumed intercourse in the first month after childbirth (early resumption) with those who resumed intercourse later, via multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 261 of 2,643 women (9.9%) reported first intercourse within the first postpartum month (7-31 days). Women who resumed intercourse early were less educated, younger, and less likely to breastfeed, have had a perineal laceration, or have had an episiotomy than those who resumed intercourse later. In addition, they were more likely to have unprotected intercourse in at least one of the first 6 months after first childbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-3.09); to be pregnant by 6 months postpartum (aOR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.48-6.20); and to report that pregnancy as unintended (aOR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.50-7.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 10% of women resumed intercourse in the first month after childbirth. Because early resumption of intercourse was associated with a greater likelihood of unprotected intercourse and unintended pregnancy within 6 months of first childbirth, clinicians should focus efforts on comprehensive family planning and contraception counseling beginning in the prenatal period.

Childbearing intention and its associated factors: A systematic review

AIM

This study aimed to provide comprehensive information about the core determinants of fertility intentions.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, SCOPUS and GOOGLE SCHOLAR were searched for the relevant articles published from 1946-December 2017. We updated our records by searching three computerized databases (Ovid MEDLINE, SCOPUS and WOS) from 2018-January 2021.

RESULTS

53 studies included in the qualitative synthesis. The results of some studies indicated the impact of demographic factors, physical and psychological health, happiness and child desire. The most frequent variables in a couple's mesosystem were marital status, parity, partnership satisfaction and gender role attitude. The mesosystem of childbearing intention also included family and peers network. The EXEO system of the ECSM includes certain variables, such as job characteristics, urban residence, housing condition. The macrosystem comprises cultural and societal principles with broader influences on the couple's system.

Natural history of urinary incontinence from first childbirth to 30-months postpartum

PURPOSE

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of UI in a large cohort of primiparous women before and during pregnancy and over the course of 30-months postpartum, and to identify risk factors for UI during and after pregnancy.

METHODS

Nulliparous women aged 18-35 years with singleton pregnancies were interviewed in their third trimester and asked about urinary incontinence before and during pregnancy (n = 3001). After delivery these women were interviewed at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30-months postpartum and asked about urinary incontinence occurring in the month prior to each interview. Multivariable logistic regression models identified risk factors for UI during pregnancy and during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Overall, 4% reported having urinary incontinence before pregnancy and 36.8% during pregnancy. The strongest predictor of urinary incontinence during pregnancy was urinary incontinence before pregnancy (adjusted OR 13.11, 95% CI 7.43-23.13). Among the women with no subsequent pregnancies, the rate of urinary incontinence increased from 12.5% at 6-months postpartum to 27.4% at 30-months postpartum, 52.1% reported UI at one or more postpartum data collection stages, and the strongest predictors of postpartum UI were UI before pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.95 (95% CI 1.60-9.75) and during pregnancy (adjusted OR 4.36, 95% CI 3.24-5.87).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that primiparous women who report UI before and during pregnancy should be monitored for the continuation or worsening of UI over the course of the first 2-3 years postpartum, and treatment options discussed.

Influence of prenatal perceived stress on postpartum weight retention is mediated by high gestational weight gain in women with overweight

Women with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are at risk for poor psychosocial well-being and postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Scant research has examined longitudinal interrelations of GWG, psychosocial factors, and PPWR. This study examined: (a) pre-pregnancy weight status (ie, normal, overweight, obesity) differences in PPWR and its psychosocial determinants (perceived social support, perceived stress, depression) in women with excessive GWG (ie, above 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines); and (b) whether GWG mediated associations between psychosocial determinants and PPWR. Women (N = 1352) reported third trimester perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms, GWG, and 6- and 12-month PPWR via telephone interviews. Multivariate ANOVA analyses showed women with normal weight had higher 6-month PPWR than women with obesity; univariate ANOVA showed no group differences in psychosocial factors. Hayes mediation analyses indicated that GWG mediated the association between perceived stress and PPWR in women with overweight but not women with normal weight or obesity; perceived stress predicted GWG, and in turn, PPWR. Prenatal perceived stress may be a modifiable target of GWG and PPWR. Future research is needed to examine the utility of tailoring perinatal weight regulation interventions to reduce perceived stress in pregnant women with overweight.

A prospective cohort study of post-traumatic stress disorder and maternal-infant bonding after first childbirth

OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk factors for childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) measured 1-month after first childbirth, and the association between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study 3006 nulliparous women living in Pennsylvania, USA, were asked about CR-PTSD at 1-month postpartum, and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression models identified risk factors for CR-PTSD and associations between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum, controlling for confounding variables - including postpartum depression, stress and social support.

RESULTS

Nearly half (47.5%) of the women reported that during labor and delivery they were afraid that they or their baby might be hurt or die, and 225 women (7.5%) reported experiencing one or more CR-PTSD symptoms at 1-month postpartum. Depression, stress and low social support during pregnancy were associated with CR-PTSD, as well as labor induction, delivery complications, poor pain control, and unplanned cesarean delivery. Women with CR-PTSD reported a less positive childbirth experience, less shared decision-making, and were more likely to score in the bottom third on maternal-infant bonding at 1-month postpartum (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.3, p < 0.001); at 6-months postpartum (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8, p < 0.001); and at 12-months postpartum (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this large-scale prospective cohort study we found that CR-PTSD was consistently associated with lower levels of maternal-infant bonding over the course of the first year after first childbirth.

Out-of-Pocket Medical Bills from First Childbirth and Subsequent Childbearing

INTRODUCTION

Many families in the United States struggle to pay medical debt. This study aims to investigate the association between having out-of-pocket medical bills from first childbirth sent to debt collection agencies and subsequent childbearing.

METHODS

As part of a large-scale birth cohort study (N = 2,169), women in Pennsylvania who delivered their first child in 2009 through 2011 were asked if any of the out-of-pocket medical expenditures resulting from the delivery were sent to debt collection agencies. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between childbirth medical bills going to debt collections in the first year after delivery and subsequent childbearing over the following 2 years, controlling for relevant confounders, including maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, marital status, poverty level, insurance coverage, pregnancy intendedness, difficulty paying for basic needs, plans to have another child, pregnancy complications, and childbirth maternal and neonatal complications.

RESULTS

Women received out-of-pocket medical bills for as much as $32,000. Overall, 8.3% reported having medical bills from the childbirth sent to debt collections. These women were substantially less likely to have a subsequent child during the follow-up period (22.4%) compared with their counterparts, whose medical bills did not go to collections (44.4%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

When out-of-pocket medical bills from first childbirth are more than American families can afford to pay, they may postpone having a second child. This finding may be particularly true when childbirth medical bills are sent to debt collection agencies.

Postpartum Perceived Stress Explains the Association between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms

BACKGROUND

Limited research has focused on longitudinal interrelations between perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms beyond the first postpartum months. This study tested an alternative primary hypothesis within the stress process model examining whether perceived stress mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms from 1 to 24 months postpartum. Secondary purposes examined whether these factors 1) changed from 1 to 24 months postpartum and 2) predicted depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Women (N = 1,316) in a longitudinal cohort study completed validated measures of perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postpartum via telephone interviews. Analyses examined changes in psychosocial factors (repeated measures analysis of variance) and the extent to which perceived social support and perceived stress predicted depressive symptoms and supported mediation (linear regression).

RESULTS

Perceived social support decreased, perceived stress increased, and depressive symptoms remained constant from 1 to 18 months, then increased at 24 months. Low perceived social support predicted 6-month depressive symptoms, whereas perceived stress predicted depressive symptoms at all time points. Perceived stress mediated the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms across 24 months such that low perceived social support predicted perceived stress, which in turn predicted depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention scientists may want to focus on strengthening perceived social support as a means to manage perceived stress in an effort to prevent a long-term trajectory of depression.

Mode of first delivery and postpartum weight retention at 1 year

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of obesity in the US has increased markedly in women in their reproductive years over the past 3 decades, partially due to higher rates of postpartum weight retention. This was a prospective cohort study that investigated mode of delivery as an independent risk factor for postpartum weight retention at 1 year postpartum.

METHODS

Data from 2500 first-time mothers, aged 18-35 with singleton pregnancies were included in this analysis. Postpartum weight retention was measured at 1 year after delivery and was defined as weight at 1 year compared to weight just before becoming pregnant. Logistic regression models assessed the association between mode of first delivery and subsequent weight retention of 10 pounds or more, adjusting for key confounders including pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, age, education, poverty status, smoking, race/ethnicity, gestational age, pregnancy complications, breastfeeding and exercise habits during pregnancy and in the first year after delivery.

RESULTS

At 12 months after delivery the women who had delivered by cesarean were more likely to have a postpartum weight retention of 10 pounds or more (27.9%), than those who had delivered vaginally (22.2%), unadjusted OR 1.35 (95% CI 1.11-1.65, p=.003). Even after controlling for confounding variables, mode of delivery remained significantly associated with postpartum weight retention of 10 pounds or more, adjusted OR 1.30 (95% CI 1.04-1.62, p=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Cesarean delivery at first childbirth is associated with increased risk of weight retention of 10 pounds or more at 1 year postpartum.

Fertility intentions and the way they change following birth- a prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Women's fertility intentions, their desired number of children and desired inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) are related to micro (personal) and macro (socio-cultural) level factors. We investigated factors that contribute to changes in women's fertility intentions in Israel, a developed country with high birth rates.

METHODS

Pregnant women (N = 1163), recruited from prenatal clinics and hospitals in two major metropolitan areas, completed self-report questionnaires prenatally (≥24 weeks gestation) and postpartum (2 months after childbirth). Women reported their socio-demographic background and obstetric history prenatally, their desired number of children and IPI at both time-points, and their objective and subjective birth experiences postpartum.

RESULTS

The findings indicated that background characteristics were related to prenatal fertility intentions. The strongest contributor to prenatal fertility intentions was women's degree of religiosity- the more religious they were, the more children they desired and the shorter their intended IPI. Women's postpartum fertility intentions were mostly consistent with their prenatal reports. In regression models, women who were very-religious, more educated and had previously given birth were less likely to report a lower number of desired of children at postpartum, compared to their prenatal report. Women who reported greater birth satisfaction and gave birth for the first time were less likely to change desired IPI.

CONCLUSION

Having a negative birth experience could adversely affect women's fertility intentions. Yet, in a pronatalist and medicalized birth culture, social pressures may decrease the effects of birth experiences on fertility intentions.

Association Between Mode of First Delivery and Subsequent Fecundity and Fertility

IMPORTANCE

More than 20% of births globally are by cesarean delivery, including more than 30% in the US. Prior studies have reported lower rates of childbearing after cesarean delivery, but it is not clear if this is due to maternal choice or lower conception rates.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between mode of first delivery and subsequent conceptions and live births.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The First Baby Study was a multicenter prospective cohort study of women aged 18 to 35 years with singleton pregnancies, enrolled and interviewed before first childbirth, who delivered in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2011 and were followed up for 36 months after delivery (until April 2014). Data analysis for this study took place between May and July 2019 and in January 2020.

EXPOSURES

Mode of first delivery (cesarean or vaginal).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Rates of subsequent conceptions and live births. Discrete-time Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to compare the rate of subsequent conception (vaginal vs cesarean) among those who completed the 36-month survey, accounting for reported months of unprotected intercourse during the follow-up period and adjusting for relevant covariates. A log binomial regression was used to compare the age-adjusted rate of subsequent live birth (vaginal vs cesarean) among those who completed the 36-month survey.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 2423 women who were retained to the 36-month survey (mean [SD] age at baseline was 27.2 [4.4] years and 712 [29.4%] delivered by cesarean). There were 2046 women who had unprotected intercourse during the follow-up period, 2021 of whom provided data on months of unprotected intercourse. Cesarean delivery was associated with lower rates of conception after unprotected intercourse during the follow-up period (413 of 599 [68.9%]) compared with vaginal delivery (1090 of 1422 [76.7%]) (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.96). Cesarean delivery was also associated with reduced likelihood of a subsequent live birth (305 women [42.8%]) compared with vaginal delivery (857 women [50.1%]), with an age-adjusted risk ratio of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.92).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In the 3 years following first childbirth, women who delivered their first child by cesarean had lower rates of conception after unprotected intercourse, and fewer of these women had a second child than those who delivered vaginally.

Women's preference for vaginal birth after a first delivery by cesarean

BACKGROUND

Nearly 90% of United States pregnant women with a prior cesarean give birth by repeat cesarean. Public health goals encourage greater use of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), but there is little prospective data on predictors of women's preference for VBAC. We characterized predictors of women's preferred mode of delivery after a first cesarean and thematically categorized reasons for their preference.

METHODS

Data were from a cohort of 3006 women whose first childbirth was in Pennsylvania in 2009-2011. The analytic sample included women who had their first birth by cesarean and reported mode of delivery preference for their next delivery at 12 months postpartum (n = 616). Associations with future birth mode preference were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, and reasons for preference were categorized using content analysis.

RESULTS

At 12 months postpartum, 45% of women who delivered by cesarean in their first birth wanted to have their next delivery vaginally. Independent predictors of VBAC preference were Black race/ethnicity, nonrecurrent indication for the first cesarean, planning three or more additional children, and difficulty recovering from the first cesarean. The most common reason for preferring a vaginal birth was wanting the experience of vaginal birth; the most common reason for preferring cesarean birth was that the first birth was by cesarean.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of respondents preferred VBAC in future births, but national estimates indicate that only about 12% of women with prior cesareans have a VBAC. This suggests a need to ensure greater access to VBAC for women who want it.

Early maternal-newborn contact and positive birth experience

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of early maternal-newborn contact for the health and well-being of the newborn and promotion of breastfeeding. However, little research has investigated the association between early maternal-newborn contact and the mother's birth experience.

METHODS

As part of a large-scale prospective, cohort study (the First Baby Study [FBS]), nearly 3000 women who delivered in Pennsylvania (2009-2011) reported how soon after delivery they first saw, held, and fed their newborns. Birth experience was measured via telephone interview 1 month postpartum, using the FBS Birth Experience Scale, a 16-item scale which addresses women's feelings about the delivery. General linear models were used to measure associations between time to first maternal-newborn contact and birth experience, controlling for relevant confounders, including maternal age, race/ethnicity, insurance coverage, delivery mode, gestational age, and pregnancy and delivery complications.

RESULTS

The sooner that new mothers first saw, held, and fed their newborns after delivery the more positive their childbirth experiences (all P-values < 0.001). Women who delivered by cesarean were less likely to see, hold and feed their newborns shortly after delivery than those who delivered vaginally (all P-values < 0.001), and reported less positive birth experiences (P < 0.001). However, if they first saw, held, and fed their newborns shortly after delivery, they reported more positive birth experiences than those who delivered vaginally (P = 0.010).

DISCUSSION

Early maternal-newborn contact after delivery was associated with positive birth experiences for new mothers, particularly those who delivered by cesarean.

Breastfeeding initiation and duration and child health outcomes in the first baby study

Despite the known benefits of breastmilk, associations between breastfeeding and child overall health outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to understand associations between breastfeeding and health outcomes, including child weight, through age 3. Analysis included women (N = 3006) in the longitudinal, prospective First Baby Study from 2009 to 2014. For this analysis, breastfeeding initiation and duration were measured using self-reported data from the 1-, 6- and 12-month surveys; child illnesses were analyzed from the 6-, 12-, and 24-month interviews; height and weight at age 3 were used to determine overweight/obese (≥85th percentile) and obese (≥95th percentile). Adjusted logistic regressions were utilized to determine significance. Greater duration of breastfeeding was associated with fewer reported acute illnesses at 6 months (p < 0.001) and fewer diarrheal illness/constipation episodes at 6, 12, and 24 months (p = 0.05) in adjusted analyses. Fewer breastfed children, compared to non-breastfed children, were overweight/obese (23.5% vs. 37.8%; p = 0.032) or obese (9.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.012) at age 3. Breastfeeding duration was negatively associated with overweight/obese (never breastfed: 37.8%, 0-6 months: 26.9%, >6 months: 20.2%; p = 0.020) and obesity (never breastfed: 21.6%, 0-6 months: 11.0%, >6 months: 7.3%; p = 0.012). Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that duration of breastfeeding is associated with fewer reported acute illnesses at 6 months of age and diarrheal illness and/or constipation episodes at 6, 12, and 24 months. Additionally, results from our study suggest a protective effect of breastfeeding from childhood overweight/obesity, as children who received breastmilk for 6 months or longer had lower odds of overweight/obesity at age 3 years.

Patterns of Gestational Weight Gain and Infants Born Large-for-Gestational Age Across Consecutive Pregnancies

INTRODUCTION

Factors that occur between consecutive pregnancies may influence repeated excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and infants born large-for-gestational age (LGA). We examined interpregnancy interval, weight retention, and GWG in women's first pregnancy as predictors of excessive GWG and LGA in women's second pregnancy.

METHODS

We used data from women's first two live births during the First Baby Study, a 3-year prospective observational cohort of first-time mothers (N = 549). GWG was calculated as weight at delivery minus prepregnancy weight for first and second pregnancies and categorized using the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Weight retention at 6 and 12 months and interpregnancy interval (time from first live birth to conception of second infant) were quantified. Infants were considered LGA if birthweight was in the 90th percentile or greater for gestational age.

RESULTS

Many women (51.7%) exceeded GWG recommendations in both pregnancies. Women who exceeded guidelines in their first pregnancy had a 5.08 greater odds (p < .01) for exceeding guidelines in their second pregnancy, compared with women who did not exceed guidelines in their first pregnancy. Interpregnancy interval and weight retention had no association with exceeding guidelines in women's second pregnancy. Exceeding guidelines in women's first pregnancy resulted in a 4.48 greater odds (p < .01) of first-born infants being LGA, and exceeding guidelines in women's second pregnancy resulted in a 1.82 greater odds of second-born infants being large-for-gestational age (p = .02), compared with women who met guidelines in their first or second pregnancy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Exceeding GWG guidelines in women's first pregnancy predicted exceeding guidelines in their second pregnancy, independent of interpregnancy interval and weight retention.

Mode of Delivery Preference Among Pregnant Nulliparous Women

Background: Nearly a third of women in the United States deliver by cesarean at first childbirth. The extent to which women's prenatal mode of delivery preference contributes to the cesarean decision is not clear. Little research has measured pregnant nulliparous women's prelabor mode of delivery preference in relation to actual mode of delivery in the United States. Materials and Methods: A total of 3006 pregnant nulliparous women were asked about mode of delivery preference during pregnancy as part of the First Baby Study, a prospective study of women delivering in Pennsylvania hospitals, 2009-2011. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between women's preference for cesarean delivery and two decision stages: (1) the decision to have planned prelabor cesarean and (2) the intrapartum decision to have unplanned cesarean among those attempting vaginal delivery, adjusting for confounders. Results: Overall, 3.1% preferred cesarean delivery, 3.0% had no preference, and 93.9% preferred vaginal. Among those who preferred vaginal delivery, 4% had a planned cesarean; among those with no preference, 13.3% did; and among those who preferred cesarean, 33.7% did. In adjusted models, preference for cesarean was strongly associated with having planned prelabor cesarean (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.26-11.12), but was not significantly associated with unplanned cesarean among those who attempted vaginal delivery (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI = 0.77-2.38). Conclusions: Although preference for cesarean delivery among nulliparous women was uncommon, women who preferred cesarean were more likely to have planned prelabor cesarean delivery than those who preferred vaginal delivery.

Factors influencing women's perceptions of shared decision making during labor and delivery: Results from a large-scale cohort study of first childbirth

OBJECTIVE

To examine correlates of shared decision making during labor and delivery.

METHODS

Data were from a cohort of women who gave birth to their first baby in Pennsylvania, 2009-2011 (N = 3006). We used logistic regression models to examine the association between labor induction and mode of delivery in relation to women's perceptions of shared decision making, and to investigate race/ethnicity and SES as potential moderators.

RESULTS

Women who were Black and who did not have a college degree or private insurance were less likely to report high shared decision making, as well as women who underwent labor induction, instrumental vaginal or cesarean delivery. Models with interaction terms showed that the reduction in odds of shared decision making associated with cesarean delivery was greater for Black women than for White women.

CONCLUSIONS

Women in marginalized social groups were less likely to report shared decision making during birth and Black women who delivered by cesarean had particularly low odds of shared decision making.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Strategies designed to improve the quality of patient-provider communication, information sharing, and shared decision making must be attentive to the needs of vulnerable groups to ensure that such interventions reduce rather than widen disparities.

Factors associated with pregnancy intention among women who have experienced a short birth interval: findings from the 2009 to 2011 Mississippi and 2009 Tennessee Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

PURPOSE

One-third of all pregnancies in the United States are conceived within 18 months of a prior live birth. Preventing unintended pregnancies may help to decrease the prevalence of pregnancies with these short interpregnancy intervals. However, data on factors associated with pregnancy intention among women who have had short birth intervals are sparse. Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data were used to further evaluate these associations.

METHODS

Because only Mississippi and Tennessee Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System include a survey question about birth interval length, this analysis was limited to women from those states who recently had a short birth interval (n = 384). Pregnancy intention and demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive data were obtained from surveys and birth certificates. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Nearly 76% of women with short birth intervals reported their pregnancy as unintended. Women who were non-Hispanic black or consumed alcohol during pregnancy had statistically significant increased odds of reporting the pregnancy with a short birth interval as being unintended (OR = 3.98; 95% CI: 1.73-9.16 and OR = 10.56; 95% CI: 1.80-61.83, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Although all women should be counseled on postpartum contraceptive use, findings suggest that important subpopulations of women may benefit from more targeted counseling during prenatal care visits and the immediate postpartum hospital stay regarding the importance of using contraception to not only better space pregnancies but also prevent unintended pregnancies.

New mothers' feelings of disappointment and failure after cesarean delivery

BACKGROUND

Childbirth is an important life event and how women feel in retrospect about their first childbirth may have long-term effects on the mother, child, and family. In this study, we investigated the association between mode of delivery at first childbirth and birth experience, using a new scale developed specifically to measure women's affective response.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of 3006 women who were interviewed during pregnancy and 1-month postpartum. The First Baby Study Birth Experience Scale was used to measure the association between mode of delivery and women's postpartum feelings about their childbirth, taking into account relevant confounders, including maternal age, race, education, pregnancy intendedness, depression, social support, and maternal and newborn complications by way of linear and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Women who had unplanned cesarean delivery had the least positive feelings overall about their first childbirth, in comparison to those whose deliveries were spontaneous vaginal (P < .001), instrumental vaginal (P = .001), and planned cesarean (P < .001). In addition, those who delivered by unplanned cesarean were more likely to feel disappointed (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 6.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.62-8.35]) and like a failure (adjusted OR 5.09 [95% CI 3.65-7.09]) in comparison to women who had spontaneous vaginal delivery; and less likely to feel extremely or quite a bit proud of themselves (adjusted OR 2.70 [95% CI 2.20-3.30]).

CONCLUSIONS

Delivering by unplanned cesarean delivery adversely affects how women feel about their first childbirth in retrospect, and their self-esteem.

Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery and actual delivery mode: Variation by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status

OBJECTIVES

Researchers documenting persistent racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status disparities in chances of cesarean delivery have speculated that women's birth attitudes and preferences may partially explain these differences, but no studies have directly tested this hypothesis. We examined whether women's prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery differed by race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status, and whether attitudes were differently related to delivery mode depending on race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Data were from the First Baby Study, a cohort of 3006 women who gave birth to a first baby in Pennsylvania between 2009 and 2011. We used regression models to examine (1) predictors of prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery, and (2) the association between prenatal attitudes and actual delivery mode. To assess moderation, we estimated models adding interaction terms.

RESULTS

Prenatal attitudes toward vaginal delivery were not associated with race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Positive attitudes toward vaginal delivery were associated with lower odds of cesarean delivery (AOR=0.60, P < .001). However, vaginal delivery attitudes were only related to delivery mode among women who were white, highly educated, and privately insured.

CONCLUSIONS

There are racial/ethnic differences in chances of cesarean delivery, and these differences are not explained by birth attitudes. Furthermore, our findings suggest that white and high-socioeconomic status women may be more able to realize their preferences in childbirth.

Labor induction and cesarean delivery: A prospective cohort study of first births in Pennsylvania, USA

BACKGROUND

Mode of delivery at first childbirth largely determines mode of delivery at subsequent births, so it is particularly important to understand risk factors for cesarean delivery at first childbirth. In this study, we investigated risk factors for cesarean delivery among nulliparous women, with focus on the association between labor induction and cesarean delivery.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of 2851 nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies who attempted vaginal delivery at hospitals in Pennsylvania, 2009-2011, was conducted. We used nested logistic regression models and multiple mediational analyses to investigate the role of three groups of variables in explaining the association between labor induction and unplanned cesarean delivery-the confounders of maternal characteristics and indications for induction, and the mediating (intrapartum) factors-including cervical dilatation, labor augmentation, epidural analgesia, dysfunctional labor, dystocia, fetal intolerance of labor, and maternal request of cesarean during labor.

RESULTS

More than a third of the women were induced (34.3%) and 24.8% underwent cesarean delivery. Induced women were more likely to deliver by cesarean (35.9%) than women in spontaneous labor (18.9%), unadjusted OR 2.35 (95% CI 1.97-2.79). The intrapartum factors significantly mediated the association between labor induction and cesarean delivery (explaining 76.7% of this association), particularly cervical dilatation <3 cm at hospital admission, fetal intolerance of labor, and dystocia. The indications for labor induction only explained 6.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased risk of cesarean delivery after labor induction among nulliparous women is attributable mainly to lower cervical dilatation at hospital admission and higher rates of labor complications.

Fathers make a difference: positive relationships with mother and baby in relation to infant colic

BACKGROUND

Maternal psychological factors like depression, anxiety and stress have been associated with infant fussiness or colic. However, little research exists on whether positive factors such as social support and the happiness of the mother-partner relationship are associated with lower rates of infant fussiness or colic.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the association between infant colic and three types of maternal support: general maternal social support (during pregnancy and post partum), the happiness of the mother-partner relationship (during pregnancy and post partum) and partner involvement in caring for the newborn.

METHODS

Participants were 3006 women in the First Baby Study, a prospective study of the effect of mode of first delivery on subsequent childbearing. Women were interviewed by telephone during pregnancy and 1 month after first childbirth and asked about social support and if their baby had a variety of problems since birth, including 'Colic - crying or fussiness three or more hours a day'. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to model the association between maternal support and infant colic, controlling for confounders, including maternal race or ethnicity, insurance, marital status, smoking, mode of delivery, maternal post-partum depression, breastfeeding, other neonatal illnesses and newborn gestational age.

RESULTS

Infant colic was reported by 11.6% of new mothers. High general maternal social support (in comparison with low), measured during pregnancy, was associated with lower reported infant colic (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40-0.75) and measured post partum (AOR, 0.51, 95% CI, 0.39-0.67); high relationship happiness (in comparison with low), measured during pregnancy (AOR, 0.71, 95% CI, 0.54-0.93), and measured post partum (AOR, 0.22, 95% CI, 0.12-0.40); and high partner involvement with newborn care (in comparison with low) (AOR, 0.60, 95% CI, 0.44-0.81).

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of maternal social support during pregnancy and post partum are associated with lower rates of maternal reported infant colic.

Risk Factors for Dyspareunia After First Childbirth

OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk factors for dyspareunia among primiparous women.

METHODS

This was a planned secondary analysis using data from the 1- and 6-month postpartum interviews of a prospective study of women who delivered their first neonate in Pennsylvania, 2009-2011. Participants who had resumed sexual intercourse by the 6-month interview (N=2,748) constituted the analytic sample. Women reporting a big or medium problem with painful intercourse at 6 months were categorized as having dyspareunia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of patient characteristics, obstetric and psychosocial factors, and breastfeeding on dyspareunia.

RESULTS

There were 583 women (21.2%) who reported dyspareunia at 6 months postpartum. Nearly one third of those breastfeeding at 6 months reported dyspareunia (31.5%) compared with 12.7% of those not breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.33-3.59, P<.001); 32.5% of those reporting a big or medium problem with perineal pain at 1 month reported dyspareunia at 6 months compared with 15.9% of those who did not (adjusted OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.93-3.10, P<.001); 28.3% of women who reported fatigue all or most of the time at 1 month reported dyspareunia at 6 months compared with 18.0% of those who reported fatigue less often (adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.30-1.98, P<.001); and 24.1% of those who scored in the upper third on the stress scale at 1 month reported dyspareunia at 6 months postpartum compared with 15.6% of those who scored in the lowest third (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.18-2.02, P=.001).

CONCLUSION

In this prospective cohort study, we identified specific risk factors for dyspareunia in primiparous women that can be discussed at the first postpartum visit, including breastfeeding, perineal pain, fatigue, and stress.

Short Interpregnancy Intervals: Results from the First Baby Study

BACKGROUND

Short interpregnancy interval (SIPI), defined as 18 months or fewer between delivery and subsequent conception, has become an independent marker of maternal and child health.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of 18 months of data from The First Baby Study, a prospective cohort of women followed from pregnancy through 3 years after their first birth. Women with SIPIs by 6, 6 to 12, and 12 to 18 months were compared with those without conceptions at those times. We then analyzed pregnancy intention of the subpopulation of women with a SIPI of 18 months or fewer. Logistic regression analyses determined associations between maternal characteristics, including sociodemographic and reproductive indicators, and SIPI incidence and intention.

FINDINGS

Of 3,006 participants, 795 (26.5%) had a repeat pregnancy within 18 months: 58 (1.9%) occurred within 6 months, 242 (8.1%) between 6 and 12 months, and 495 (16.5%) between 12 and 18 months. Incidence of SIPI at each interval differed by maternal characteristics, including income, marital status, and intention. Most women (84%) with a SIPI of 6 months or less classified them as unintended. Less than 2% of women with SIPIs of 18 months or fewer reported any contraceptive use in the postpartum period and no pregnancies occurred with the use of very effective methods, including long-acting reversible contraception.

CONCLUSIONS

The population of women at risk for SIPI is not homogenous. Among those with SIPIs, there is a stark contrast in intention between those who conceive early (≤6 months) versus later (≥12 months). Given that almost no pregnancies occurred when women used postpartum contraception, contraceptive counseling and unfettered access should be available for those at greatest risk for an early, repeat, unintended pregnancy.

Concordance between Women's Self-Reported Reasons for Cesarean Delivery and Hospital Discharge Records

BACKGROUND

Women's self-reports of whether they had a cesarean delivery are nearly 100% accurate, but there is little extant research on how accurately women self-report reasons for cesarean delivery when asked to recall this information in the postpartum period.

OBJECTIVE

We compared women's self-reported reasons for cesarean with their hospital discharge records and examined correlates of variability in agreement between sources.

METHODS

Data are from the First Baby Study, a cohort of 3,006 women who gave birth to their first baby between 2009 and 2011. Survey data were linked to hospital discharge records. Among women who delivered by cesarean (n = 846), we assessed the probability that women's self-reported reasons for cesarean delivery were confirmed by hospital discharge records (positive predictive value [PPV]), and whether agreement differed by reason for cesarean or by women's characteristics.

RESULTS

Overall, 91% of women reported a reason for their cesarean that was present in the discharge data. PPV varied by reason for cesarean, with high PPV for dystocia, macrosomia, and cephalopelvic disproportion (91.1%), and lower PPV for malposition (81.7%). In multivariable models, women with more education and higher family income had higher odds of concordance.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite some variation in the probability that women's self-reported reason for cesarean is supported by the hospital discharge record, more than 90% of women reported a reason that was found in their discharge record. Accurate recall of reasons for prior cesarean may help women and clinicians to manage future pregnancies.

Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Throughout the Peri- and Postpartum Period: Results from the First Baby Study

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of childbearing, but the course of PPD is not well understood. We analyze trajectories of depression and key risk factors associated with these trajectories in the peripartum and postpartum period.

METHODS

Women in The First Baby Study, a cohort of 3006 women pregnant with their first baby, completed telephone surveys measuring depression during the mother's third trimester, and at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. A semiparametric mixture model was used to estimate distinct group-based developmental trajectories of depression and determine whether trajectory group membership varied according to maternal characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 2802 (93%) of mothers completed interviews through 12 months. The mixture model indicated six distinct depression trajectories. A history of anxiety or depression, unattached marital status, and inadequate social support were significantly associated with higher odds of belonging to trajectory groups with greater depression. Most of the depression trajectories were stable or slightly decreased over time, but one depression trajectory, encompassing 1.7% of the mothers, showed women who were nondepressed at the third trimester, but became depressed at 6 months postpartum and were increasingly depressed at 12 months after birth.

CONCLUSIONS

This trajectory study indicates that women who are depressed during pregnancy tend to remain depressed during the first year postpartum or improve slightly, but an important minority of women become newly and increasingly depressed over the course of the first year after first childbirth.

Antenatal Maternity Leave and Childbirth Using the First Baby Study: A Propensity Score Analysis

BACKGROUND

Most employed American women work during pregnancy and continue working through the month they deliver. Yet, few studies estimate the relationship between maternity leave taken during pregnancy and maternal health. We evaluate the association of antenatal leave (ANL) uptake with obstetric outcomes, assessing the potential role of protective and adverse selection pathways on this relationship.

METHODS

We sample 1,740 employed women who delivered at term from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort of nulliparous women in Pennsylvania. We use propensity scores to estimate the relationship between ANL and negative delivery outcomes (labor induction, long labor duration, unplanned cesarean delivery, and self-reported negative birth experience). We estimated propensity scores using a range of employment, health, and sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

One-half of the sampled women worked until the day before or day of delivery. Women who stopped working at least 2 days before delivery experienced 16% more negative delivery outcomes, on average, than women who worked until delivery, driven largely by a 25% higher predicted probability of unplanned cesarean section deliveries. These robust findings hold up to a range of sensitivity analyses and demonstrate selective mechanisms operating in ANL uptake.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that, even after controlling for an extensive set of observable employment, health, and sociodemographic characteristics, women who take ANL continue to differ in unobserved characteristics that lead to negative delivery outcomes. Like most U.S. states, Pennsylvania does not grant paid maternity leave. In a context of limited maternity leave availability, only relatively unhealthy women take ANL.

Brief Report: Cesarean Delivery and Subsequent Fecundability

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that cesarean delivery is associated with fewer subsequent births relative to vaginal delivery, but it is unclear whether confounding by pregnancy intention or indication for surgery explained these results. We evaluated the association between cesarean delivery and subsequent fecundability among 910 primiparous women after singleton live birth.

METHODS

In a cohort of Danish women planning pregnancy (2007-2012), obstetrical history was obtained via registry linkage; time-to-pregnancy and covariate data were collected via questionnaire. Fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Relative to spontaneous vaginal delivery, emergency cesarean delivery with cephalic presentation showed little association with fecundability (FR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.83, 1.3), but cesarean delivery with breech presentation (FR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.97) and planned cesarean delivery with cephalic presentation (FR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.25, 1.0) were associated with reduced fecundability.

CONCLUSIONS

The cesarean-fecundability association varied by previous fetal presentation and emergency status.

Psychosocial Stress During First Pregnancy Predicts Infant Health Outcomes in the First Postnatal Year

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the impact of psychosocial stress during pregnancy on infant health outcomes in the first postnatal year.

METHODS

A sample of 3000 women completed a stress inventory (the Psychosocial Hassles Scale) during their third trimester before first childbirth. Infant health outcomes were measured via maternal report at 1, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Poisson regression was used to model the effect of maternal stress during pregnancy on infant health outcomes in the first year, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education, insurance coverage, marital status, and cigarette smoking during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Women who were younger, minority, unmarried, publicly insured and without a college degree were more likely to report high levels of prenatal stress. High prenatal stress was a significant predictor of maternal reporting of gastrointestinal illness (p < 0.0001), respiratory illness (p = 0.025), and total illness in the first year (p < 0.0001). High prenatal stress was also a significant predictor of urgent care visits (p < 0.0001) and emergency department visits (p = 0.001). It was not a significant predictor of hospitalizations (p = 0.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal prenatal stress is associated with increased maternal reporting of infant illness, as well as increased frequency of both urgent care visits and emergency department visits.

Reduced Breastfeeding Rates in Firstborn Late Preterm and Early Term Infants

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to determine the rate of breastfeeding by gestational age reported by new mothers 1 month postpartum, with particular focus on early term newborns (37-38(6)/7 weeks).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three thousand six primiparous women aged 18-36 years were interviewed during their third trimester and again 1 month postpartum. Logistic regression analysis was used to model the association between gestational age and breastfeeding 1 month postpartum among those who reported that they planned to breastfeed, controlling for potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS

Two thousand seven hundred seventy-two women planned to breastfeed (92.2%), among whom 116 (4.2%) delivered late preterm (34-36(6)/7 weeks), 519 (18.7%) early term (37-38(6)/7 weeks), and 2,137 (77.1%) term or postterm (39+ weeks). Among those who delivered late preterm, 63.8% were breastfeeding 1 month postpartum, early term 72.6%, and term or postterm 76.5%. This relationship was verified by a multivariate logistic regression analysis; late preterm newborns were significantly less likely to be breastfeeding 1 month postpartum than the term or postterm newborns (odds ratio [OR] 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-0.69; p ≤ 0.0001), as were early term newborns (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.60-0.99; p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large prospective study of first-time mothers and newborns, gestational age was significantly associated with breastfeeding 1 month postpartum; highlighting late preterm and early term infants as populations at risk for shortened breastfeeding duration and the need to create specific breastfeeding support and education.

Effect of previous miscarriage on depressive symptoms during subsequent pregnancy and postpartum in the first baby study

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that nulliparous women with a history of miscarriage have an increased risk of depression during late pregnancy, and at 1, 6, and 12 months postpartum compared to women without a history of miscarriage. We conducted secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study, the First Baby Study, and compared 448 pregnant women with a history of miscarriage to 2,343 pregnant women without a history of miscarriage on risk of probable depression (score >12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios at each time point and generalized estimating equations were used to obtain estimates in longitudinal analysis. Women with a history of miscarriage were not more likely than woman without a history of miscarriage to score in the probable depression range during the third trimester or at 6 or 12 months postpartum but were more likely at 1 month postpartum, after adjustment for sociodemographic factors (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.03-2.69). Women with a history of miscarriage may be more vulnerable to depression during the first month postpartum than women without prior miscarriage, but this effect does not appear to persist beyond this time period. We support the promotion of awareness surrounding this issue and recommend that research is planned to identify risk factors that may position a woman with a history of miscarriage to be at higher risk for depression.

Breastfeeding outcome comparison by parity

OBJECTIVE

Anecdotally, breastfeeding experiences differ between those who have previously nursed an infant and those who are primiparous. This analysis contrasted breastfeeding outcomes between primiparous women and those with previous experience spanning from maternity stay through 6 months postpartum.

STUDY DESIGN

A secondary analysis was conducted of data collected in a randomized, controlled trial with mothers and "well" newborns ≥34 weeks of gestation comparing two post-hospital discharge care models. Mothers completed an in-person interview during the postpartum stay and phone surveys at 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months where questionnaires related to breastfeeding were completed. All participants intended to breastfeed. Chi-squared and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to test for differences between parity groups. Breastfeeding duration by parity group was compared using a Kaplan-Meier plot and a logrank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding duration and parity after adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS

Among 1,099 mothers available for analysis, 542 (49%) were primiparous. Multiparous mothers had a longer intended breastfeeding duration (median, 9 vs. 6 months; p<0.001). Following delivery, primiparous mothers had a longer median time to first breastfeeding attempt (119 vs. 96 minutes; p<0.001) and were more likely to have eight or fewer feeding attempts in the first 24 hours (33% vs. 44%; p<0.001)). More primiparous women reported early breastfeeding problems (35% vs. 20%; p<0.001) and mixed feeding at hospital discharge (39% vs. 23%; p<0.001) despite reporting less breastfeeding-associated pain during the first week (p=0.04). Multiparous women were more likely to breastfeed through 6 months (p<0.001). In a multivariable Cox model for breastfeeding duration, an interaction existed between intended breastfeeding duration and parity (p=0.006); among those intending to breastfeed for 12 months, multiparous mothers had a significantly lower hazard of stopping breastfeeding (hazard ratio=0.66; p=0.03) than primiparous mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who have breastfed previously have significantly different breastfeeding experiences than primiparous women. Pre- and postdelivery breastfeeding support should differentially target primiparous women to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

Time to subsequent live birth according to mode of delivery in the first birth

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the rate and time to next live birth by mode of delivery.

DESIGN

Hospital-based cohort.

SETTING

Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Denmark.

POPULATION

All pregnant women attending AUH were invited to enroll in the Aarhus Birth Cohort (ABC) study between 1989 and 2010 (n = 91,625).

METHODS

Women were followed from their first live birth until the subsequent live birth or until censoring due to study end using Cox regression models.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Rate and time to subsequent live birth according to mode of delivery.

RESULTS

46,162 index live births were identified, of which 22,462 (49%) had a subsequent live birth. Women with any type of caesarean had a 6% reduction in the rate of subsequent live birth (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89, 0.98), which remained unchanged in the analysis by type (emergency, HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.89, 1.02; elective, HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85, 0.98) compared with women who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD). Operative vaginal delivery was associated with an 8% reduction in subsequent live birth rates (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86, 0.98) and vaginal delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia with a 19% reduction compared with SVD. Median time to next birth in days was shortest in women with a first caesarean (994 days, 95% CI 973, 1026) and longest in women with a vaginal delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia (1065 days, 95% CI 994, 1191). In women with planned pregnancies, the shortest median time to second birth was in women with breech vaginal deliveries (859 days, 95% CI 737, 1089) and the longest in women with vaginal deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia (1193 days, 95% CI 1028, 1430).

CONCLUSION

The impact of mode of delivery on subsequent rate and time to next birth was minimal in this study. The greatest reduction was among women with assisted vaginal delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia. This study is strengthened by data on pregnancy planning as well as information on complications of pregnancy, delivery and neonatal morbidities, all of which may influence a woman's decision on subsequent birth.

Behaviours of overweight and obese women during pregnancy who achieve and exceed recommended gestational weight gain

BACKGROUND

Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with increased risk of pregnancy-related complications, postpartum weight retention, and long-term obesity. Little is known about the behavioural habits of pregnant women who achieve and exceed recommended GWG.

METHOD

In 2011, qualitative interviews were conducted in Pennsylvania with postpartum women who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy to ascertain their behaviours and attitudes regarding dietary habits, physical activity, and self-monitoring during pregnancy. Thematic analysis identified the habits of women who achieved and exceeded recommended GWG guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the 29 women interviewed, 11 had appropriate GWG and 18 had excessive GWG. Women achieving appropriate GWG reported modest increases in caloric intake if at all, with deliberate meal and snack planning, while women with excessive GWG described "eating-for-two." Nearly all women with excessive GWG reported exercising less during pregnancy (or remaining sedentary), while women with appropriate GWG largely increased or maintained pre-pregnancy physical activity levels. About half of the sample reported self-monitoring weight gain during pregnancy, but women achieving recommended GWG tied their weight monitoring with GWG goals consistent with recommended guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who achieved appropriate GWG reported deliberate dietary habits and physical activity planning, with appropriate GWG goals during pregnancy. Women exceeding recommended GWG described "eating-for-two," were sedentary, and either had no goals for GWG or intended to gain more weight than recommended.

Does a Caesarean section increase the time to a second live birth? A register-based cohort study

STUDY QUESTION

Does a primary Caesarean section influence the rate of, and time to, subsequent live birth compared with vaginal delivery?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Caesarean section was associated with a reduction in the rate of subsequent live birth, particularly among elective and maternal-requested Caesareans indicating maternal choice plays a role.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Several studies have examined the relationship between Caesarean section and subsequent birth rate with conflicting results primarily due to poor epidemiological methods.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This Danish population register-based cohort study covered the period from 1982 to 2010 (N = 832 996).

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

All women with index live births were followed until their subsequent live birth or censored (maternal death, emigration or study end) using Cox regression models.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

In all 577 830 (69%) women had a subsequent live birth. Women with any type of Caesarean had a reduced rate of subsequent live birth (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.85, 0.87) compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery. This effect was consistent when analyses were stratified by type of Caesarean: emergency (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.86, 0.88), elective (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.82, 0.84) and maternal-requested (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.57, 0.66) and in the extensive sub-analyses performed.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Lack of biological data to measure a woman's fertility is a major limitation of the current study. Unmeasured confounding and limited availability of data (maternal BMI, smoking, access to fertility services and maternal-requested Caesarean section) as well as changes in maternity care over time may also influence the findings.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This is the largest study to date and shows that Caesarean section is most likely not causally related to a reduction in fertility. Maternal choice to delay or avoid childbirth is the most plausible explanation. Our findings are generalizable to other middle- to high-income countries; however, cross country variations in Caesarean section rates and social or cultural differences are acknowledged.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

Funding was provided by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Cork, Ireland and conducted as part of the Health Research Board PhD Scholars programme in Health Services Research (Grant No. PHD/2007/16). L.C.K. is a Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator (08/IN.1/B2083) and the Director of the SFI funded Centre, INFANT (12/RC/2272). The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Mode of delivery and subsequent fertility

STUDY QUESTION

When compared with vaginal delivery, is Cesarean delivery associated with reduced childbearing, a prolonged inter-birth interval or infertility?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Women whose first delivery was by Cesarean section were not significantly different from those who delivered vaginally with respect to subsequent deliveries, inter-birth interval or infertility after delivery.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN

Some studies have suggested that delivery by Cesarean section reduces subsequent fertility, while others have reported no association.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This was a planned secondary analysis of the Mothers' Outcomes After Delivery study, a longitudinal cohort study. This analysis included 956 women with 1835 deliveries, who completed a study questionnaire at 6-11 years (median [interquartile range]: 8.1 [7.1, 9.8]) after their first delivery.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Exclusion criteria regarding the first birth were: maternal age <15 or >50 years, delivery at <37 weeks gestation, placenta previa, multiple gestation, known fetal congenital abnormality, stillbirth, prior myomectomy and abruption. Of the 956 women included, the first delivery was by Cesarean section for 534 women and by vaginal birth for 422 women. Infertility was self-reported. To compare maternal characteristics by mode of first delivery, P-values were calculated using Fisher's exact test or Pearson's χ(2) test for categorical variables and a Kruskall-Wallis test for continuous variables. We also considered whether, across all deliveries to date, a prior Cesarean is associated with decreased fertility. In this analysis, self-reported infertility after each delivery (across all participants) was considered as a function of one or more prior Cesarean births, using generalized estimating equations to control for within-woman correlation.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

No differences were observed between the Cesarean and vaginal groups (for first delivery) with respect to infertility after their most recent delivery (7 versus 6%, P = 0.597), the interval between their first and second births (30.8 versus 30.6 months, P = 0.872), or multiparity (75 versus 76%, P = 0.650). Across all births, a history of Cesarean delivery was not significantly associated with infertility (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-1.26). Women who reported infertility prior to their first delivery were significantly more likely to report infertility after each subsequent delivery (OR, 5.16; 95% CI, 3.60-7.39).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Due to the use of self-reported infertility, the fertility status of some participants may be misclassified. Also, the small sample size may result in insufficient power to detect small differences between groups. Finally, a relatively high proportion of our participants were over age 35 at the time of first delivery (26%) and highly educated (37% with graduate degrees), which may indicate that our population may not be generalizable.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

While some prior studies have shown decreased family size among women who deliver by Cesarean, our results suggest that the rate of infertility is not different after Cesarean compared with vaginal birth. Our findings should be reassuring to women who deliver by Cesarean section.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

This study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH, R01-HD056275). No competing interests are declared.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.