Work and pregnancy. Review of the literature and policy discussion.
An increasing proportion of obstetric patients are working women. This widens the world of concern for the obstetrician, who must now become familiar with the consequences of workplace exposures and conditions for both maternal and fetal health. This review briefly explores interactions between chemical and physical hazards on the job and the physiologic changes of pregnancy in order to propose ways in which the obstetrician can intervene on behalf of the individual patient, as well as on the public level. Through discussion of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, job transfer and modification, disability, breastfeeding, etc., emphasis is placed on the social and policy factors that affect reproductive outcome for the working pregnant woman.
D001942:Breast Feeding; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D009035:Mothers; D009774:Obstetrics; D010819:Physician's Role; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011640:Public Policy; D014937:Work; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance