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Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Offspring
Author(s) -
Parker Samantha E.,
Starr Jacqueline R.,
Collett Brent R.,
Speltz Matthew L.,
Werler Martha M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/ppe.12151
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , nausea , vomiting , confidence interval , obstetrics , pediatrics , offspring , genetics , biology
Background Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy ( NVP ) is the most common complication of pregnancy. NVP has been associated with improved fetal outcomes, but its association with childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes has rarely been studied. Methods Subjects were children aged 5–12 years ( n = 560) who were controls in a previously conducted case–control study of prenatal risk factors for craniofacial malformations. Information on NVP , including trimester, duration, and treatment, was collected through a maternal interview conducted within 3 years of delivery. Neurocognition was assessed using the P eabody P icture V ocabulary T est ( PPVT‐III ) and the B eery‐ B uktenica T est of V isual M otor I ntegration‐Fifth Edition ( VMI ‐5). Psychosocial outcomes, including internalising and externalising behaviour problems, were measured by maternal report, using the C hild B ehavior C hecklist ( CBCL ), and teacher report, using the T eacher R eport F orm. Linear regression models were used to calculate adjusted mean (adjMD −3.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) −5.02, −1.06) differences ( adjMD ) and 95% confidence intervals [ CI ] on test scores for children exposed and unexposed to NVP in utero . Differences based on trimester, duration, and treatment were assessed. Results NVP was reported among 63% of women and was most common in early pregnancy. Children exposed to NVP performed worse on the VMI ‐5 [−3.04, 95% CI: −5.02, −1.06] but exhibited few other differences from unexposed children. Durations of NVP ≥4 months were associated with poorer scores on PPVT‐III ( adjMD −2.52), VMI ‐5 ( adjMD −5.41), and CBCL [ adjMD 3.38 (internalising) and adjMD 4.19 (externalising)]. Conclusions Overall, there were few differences between children exposed and unexposed to NVP . NVP was associated with slightly worse visual motor performance, and prolonged NVP and NVP extending late into pregnancy were associated with poorer scores on several neurodevelopmental measures.