"These occupational exposures may affect placental perfusion or hormonal regulation in ways that could increase the risk of miscarriage," the study claims
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NEED TO KNOW
- The study analyzed over 800,000 pregnancies in Denmark to assess workplace physical activity and miscarriage risk
- Forward bending at a 30-degree angle was linked to a 36% higher miscarriage risk per additional hour of exposure
- Experts caution the findings apply to occupational patterns, not everyday movement, and need further confirmation
A new study suggests that bending forward at work during early pregnancy, as well as extensive walking and standing, can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage.
Published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, the observational study examined 803,829 pregnancies among 475,312 women in Denmark between 2004 and 2018.
Researchers used a "quantitative, pregnancy-specific job exposure matrix" to assess the effects of standing, walking, and bending forward at a 30-degree angle at work during early pregnancy.
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The results showed that "all three exposures were associated with increased hazards for miscarriage," resulting in about one in 10 (81,307) of the pregnancies ending in miscarriage.
The study suggests that each additional hour outside a normal workday of "forward bending" at a 30-degree angle was associated with a 36% higher risk.
Each additional hour spent walking was associated with an 18% higher risk, while each additional hour spent standing was associated with a 3% higher risk.
The study notes that other factors could have affected the findings, including the amount of time the women were absent from work and smoking.
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"Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, these occupational exposures may affect placental perfusion or hormonal regulation in ways that could increase the risk of miscarriage," the study suggests.
Asma Khalil, professor of obstetrics and maternal medicine and consultant obstetrician, City St George's, University of London, who was not involved in the study, said in a press statement that "the findings should not be interpreted as meaning that ordinary movement in early pregnancy is unsafe."
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"The study relates to occupational patterns of exposure, particularly prolonged or repeated forward bending, rather than everyday activity," Khalil said.
“While the study raises an interesting hypothesis regarding occupational postures and miscarriage risk, the findings need replication and confirmation in other populations before they can be translated into precise workplace guidance," he continued.
Read the full article here