Night Work Risks Premature Birth

Miscarriage and premature birth are serious problems faced by many women. A recent study from the University of North Carolina found that working at night can increase the risk of preterm birth by one and a half times. Moreover, the greatest danger to the normal course of pregnancy is associated with night work in the first 3 months of pregnancy, scientists believe.

During the study, more than 1,900 pregnant women were interviewed about their working conditions. The researchers asked whether there was prolonged standing work, night work, or heavy physical labor. The results showed that standing work and work associated with heavy lifting do not interfere with the normal course of pregnancy, while the need to work at night leads to a 50% increase in the risk of premature birth.

Researchers believe that the cause of premature birth is a disruption in the normal functioning of the biological clock, which in turn disrupts the normal activity of the uterus. Lisa Pompelii, the head of the study, believes that it is too early to give recommendations to pregnant women to give up night work. Further larger studies are needed to help decipher the mechanisms of the influence of night work on the activity of the pregnant uterus.

However, existing evidence suggests that night work may have a negative impact on the health of pregnant women and their unborn children. Therefore, if a woman works night shifts, especially in the early months of pregnancy, she needs to discuss this issue with her doctor and take all precautions to protect her health and the health of the baby.