Pregnant women and their families might think about moving to a new home in order for the family to have a bigger space since there will be a newcomer in the family in a few months. Aside from bigger space, the family might also be thinking about a more convenient location.
A new study published on July 30, however, suggested that moving during pregnancy could increase the risk of preterm birth.
The study researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 pregnant women in Washington state. The investigators found that women who moved during the first trimester of their pregnancy were 42% more likely to give birth prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and 37% more likely to have a baby with a lower-than-average birth weight, compared with pregnant women who didn't move during the first trimester.
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Still, the study found only an association and doesn't prove that moving causes preterm birth or other harmful birth outcomes. There may be other factors that the study researchers weren't able to take into account, such as the reason for the move, that may affect the risk.
Based on just this one study, it's too soon to make recommendations for women to avoid moving during pregnancy, the authors said.
Previous studies have found that pregnant women who experience stressful events in the first trimester — such as natural disasters, economic crises or job loss — are at increased risk for pregnancy problems such as preterm birth.
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