November 2003
From BMJ-British Medical Journal
Changing partner increases risk of preterm birth Effects on pregnancy outcome of changing partner between first two births: prospective population study BMJ Volume 327, pp 1138-41 Women who change partner between their first two births are at an increased risk of having a preterm, low birthweight baby compared with women who have the same partner for both births, finds a study in this week's BMJ.Researchers from Norway compared pregnancy outcomes in 31,683 women who changed partner between their first two births and 456,458 women with the same partner for both births. After taking into account the mother's age and education, interval between births, and decade of birth, the risk of having a preterm, low birthweight baby with an increased risk of infant death was higher for women who changed partner between their first two births compared with those who had the same partner for both births. One theory implies that women who change partner have a higher prevalence of risk taking behaviour, such as heavier smoking and alcohol consumption and poorer nutrition, which may affect pregnancy outcomes, suggest the authors. | |