Reproduction Abstracts

Up to 80% of all pregnancies are complicated by nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP)(1). Previous studies have proposed a connection between NVP and pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia(2). Hyperemesis gravidarum, which is more severe and fortunately rarer form of NVP, has been associated with gestational diabetes(3), anemia(4,5), lower birthweight and increased likelihood for caesarean section and preterm delivery(5). The focus of this study is on the association between NVP and pregnancy and delivery complications.Pregnant women (n = 2411) were recruited from maternity health care clinics in Turku area in Finland. The severity of NVP was evaluated with Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) questionnaire and the women were categorized into two groups accordingly: non-NVP (no/mild NVP) and NVP (moderate/severe NVP) groups. The data of pregnancy omplications were drawn from Finnish Medical Birth Register. There were no statistically significant differences in age, smoking and body mass index, but more women in the NVP group were multigravidas (P < 0.001). Both anemia (aOR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.86, P = 0.015) and fear of childbirth (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.11-2.63, P = 0.014) were more common in the NVP group. Neither preterm delivery nor caesarean section rates differed between the groups. In conclusions, we verified previously published connection with anemia. However, the finding of the association between NVP and the fear of childbirth was novel. Due to the association between NVP and other pregnancy complications maternal care for women with NVP is necessary.

Keywords: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, pregnancy, anemia, fear of childbirth

References

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