Certain occupations were associated with increased risks of stillbirth and miscarriage in an analysis of data covering over 1.8 million pregnant women in South Korea who were either employed or unemployed from 2010 to 2019.
The researchers calculated the risks for three negative outcomes for the study, published in the Journal of Occupational Health. Stillbirth, early abortive outcomes (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and molar pregnancy), and no live birth (pregnancy without a record of a live birth afterward, which includes early abortive outcomes and stillbirth) are all examples of early abortive outcomes.
Overall, early abortive outcomes, stillbirths, and no live births accounted for 18.0 percent, 0.7 percent, and 39.8 percent of pregnancies, respectively. While employed women were more likely to have no live births, non-employed women had a higher risk of early abortive outcomes and stillbirths.
Added Risk of Stillbirth
The risk of having no live births was highest among women in health and social work. The professions of education, public/social/personal service, manufacturing, and wholesale/retail trade also had higher rates of no-live births. Compared to jobs in insurance and financial services, those in manufacturing and health/social work were found to have a higher risk of early abortion outcomes.
The good news is that the Ministry of Employment and Labor is revising the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act in South Korea to include coverage for all miscarriages among pregnant workers. According to corresponding author Jung-won Yoon, MD, of the National Medical Center in Seoul, the study presented the contribution of the occupational surroundings on adverse pregnancy outcomes, which contributed to the amendment of the said Act.
SciTech Daily reported that workplace physical demands could make you more likely to have a miscarriage, have a baby before the due date, or get hurt while pregnant. There is no need to be concerned about regular physical activity. In fact, with your doctor's approval, moderate exercise during pregnancy can help ensure a healthy pregnancy. However, some workers may be put at risk by physical demands.
A new study published in the Journal of Occupational Health found that certain occupations in South Korea were linked with higher risks of miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant women.
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Physical Attributes Affecting Pregnancy Loss
Balance can be affected by changes in size and weight in late pregnancy. Workplace postures that are used to meet physical demands are also affected by these changes. Alterations in posture and balance may raise the likelihood of musculoskeletal injuries and falls. Menstrual disorders may be linked to workplace physical demands, which may reduce fertility.
In general, working does not raise the likelihood of complications during pregnancy. Pregnancy is negatively impacted by physical, psychological, or stressful work. Preeclampsia, low birth weight, miscarriage, and preterm labor are all increased by stressful work. The likelihood of having complications during pregnancy increases with stress. Before becoming pregnant, women with a history of pregnancy complications should receive advice on reducing stressful work, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
During pregnancy, pregnant women who have stressful jobs should be closely monitored, and if signs of preterm labor or delayed fetal growth appear, occupational stress should be reduced or eliminated. Teratogens like pesticides, organic solvents, and heavy metals can be exposed to pregnant women in certain occupations. Every preconception and early pregnancy visit should include a thorough work history review.
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