Long-Term Effects of Antepartum Bed Rest on Offspring

Abstract

We studied the children of mothers who were confined to bed during pregnancy for more than 15 consecutive days (mean 3.69 months) in the years 1986–1990 (bed rest offspring; BRO). We studied 86 children: 43 BRO and 43 control children. Data were obtained by means of a 20-item questionnaire filled in by the mothers. The BRO group differed from the control group in incidence of allergies (p = 0.005), motion sickness (p = 0.03), and need to be rocked to fall asleep (p = 0.01). More BRO born at term than controls played musical instruments later in life. Two possible explanations for more allergies among the BRO group are the use of beta-stimulating drugs against premature delivery and the effects of prolonged stress on the developing immune system. Understimulation of the developing vestibular system during gestation may affect some aspects of its development and may explain the higher incidence of motion sickness and need for vigorous rocking in BRO.

Assessment of quality of life in pregnant Japanese women: Comparison of hospitalized, outpatient, and non‐pregnant women

“…Many studies have investigated the side‐effects of bed rest or activity restriction of pregnant women in hospital. There were physiological alterations, such as reduced gastrocnemius muscle function (Maloni & Schneider, 2002), low maternal weight gain (Maloni et al ., 1993), and behavioral alterations, such as more depressive symptoms and difficult infant behavior (Bellieni et al ., 2003). The experience of antepartum hospital bed rest was characterized by maternal anxiety and fear (Thornburg, 2002; Natori & Shimada, 2007).…”

Bed Rest in Pregnancy

“…The first is a question of fetal benefit from bed rest—the notion that the fetus will not be harmed during bed rest may lead to continued prescription of antepartum activity restriction, regardless of effects on maternal well‐being. Yet, some studies have shown definitive adverse neonatal effects, including low birth weight,10,17,29 and long‐term side effects in children whose mothers were on antepartum bed rest 69. Second, Schroeder suggests a fear of malpractice may lead to increased prescription of bed rest in an attempt to “do everything possible” for a high‐risk pregnancy, when, in fact, the literature does not support this intervention.…”

“…studied long‐term effects on children born to mothers who had been placed on antepartum activity restriction. In their analysis, they found that offspring of mothers who had been on bed rest were significantly more likely to develop allergies, suffer from motion sickness, and require vigorous rocking to fall asleep 69. The authors hypothesize that perhaps bed rest leads to inadequate stimulation of the vestibular system during development while the mother decreases activity and ambulation.…”

11- to 15-Year-Old Children of Women Who Danced during Their Pregnancy

“…We investigated 11-to 15-year-old children whose mothers had spent more than 15 consecutive days in bed during pregnancy [8]. Motion sickness was found to be more frequent in these children than in a control group (p !…”