title: Demographic Characteristics, Health Behaviors Before and During Pregnancy, and Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Mothers with Different Pregnancy Planning Status.
abstract: Studies on pregnancy intentions and their consequences have yielded mixed results. Here, we comprehensively analyzed the maternal characteristics, health behaviors before and during pregnancy, as well as pregnancy and birth outcomes, across three different pregnancy planning status in 861 women participating in an ongoing Asian mother-offspring cohort study. At 26-28 weeks' gestation, the women's intention and enthusiasm toward their pregnancy were used to classify their pregnancy into planned or unplanned, and unplanned pregnancy was further subdivided into mistimed or unintended. Data on maternal characteristics, health behaviors, and pregnancy outcomes up to that stage were recorded. After delivery, birth outcomes of the offspring were recorded. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Overall, 56 % had a planned pregnancy, 39 % mistimed, and 5 % unintended. Compared to women who planned their pregnancy, women with mistimed pregnancy had higher body mass index and were more likely to have cigarette smoke exposure and less likely to have folic acid supplementation. At 26-28 weeks' gestation, unintended pregnancy was associated with increased anxiety. Neonates of mistimed pregnancy had shorter birth length compared to those of planned pregnancy, even after adjustment for maternal baseline demographics. These findings suggest that mothers who did not plan their pregnancy had less desirable characteristics or health behaviors before and during pregnancy and poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes. Shorter birth length in mistimed pregnancy may be attributed to maternal behaviors before or in the early stages of pregnancy, therefore highlighting the importance of preconception health promotion and screening for women of child-bearing age.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Tuck Seng
authors: TS
authors: Cheng
authors: KK Research Centre, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
authors: See Ling
authors: SL
authors: Loy
authors: Center for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.|Tampere Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Finland.
authors: Yin Bun
authors: YB
authors: Cheung
authors: MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.|NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors: Keith M
authors: KM
authors: Godfrey
authors: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.|Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Peter D
authors: PD
authors: Gluckman
authors: Department of Maternal Foetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Kwek
authors: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Seang Mei
authors: SM
authors: Saw
authors: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Yap-Seng
authors: YS
authors: Chong
authors: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.|Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Yung Seng
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Yap
authors: KK Research Centre, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.|Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Jerry Kok
authors: JK
authors: Yen Chan
authors: Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
authors: Ngee
authors: N
authors: Lek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012846:Singapore
keywords: Family planning· maternal health behavior; Neonatal outcome; Pregnancy