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Severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and early childhood neurobehavioural outcomes: The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes study
Author(s) -
Syn Nicholas L.,
Chan ShiaoYng,
Chia Elisha Wan Ying,
Ong Wei Xin,
Phua Desiree,
Cai Shirong,
Shek Lynette P. C.,
Chong YapSeng,
Daniel Lourdes Mary,
Broekman Birit F. P.,
Godfrey Keith M.,
Meaney Michael J.,
Law Evelyn C.
Publication year - 2021
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.12703
Subject(s) - medicine , bayley scales of infant development , toddler , offspring , pregnancy , pediatrics , cohort , vomiting , child behavior checklist , cohort study , nausea , checklist , psychiatry , cognition , developmental psychology , psychomotor learning , psychology , genetics , biology , cognitive psychology
Background Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) affects 50 to 80 per cent of women. The existing literature has examined NVP from the perspective of the mother, and relatively less is known about offspring outcomes. Objectives To study the relationships of NVP with social‐emotional, behavioural, and cognitive outcomes of the offspring in a multi‐ethnic Asian cohort. Methods In the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes prospective mother‐offspring cohort study, mothers responded to a structured NVP questionnaire at 26‐28 weeks’ gestation (n = 1172) and participants with severe NVP were confirmed using medical records. Children underwent multiple neurodevelopmental assessments throughout childhood. We conducted multivariable regressions with post‐estimation predictive margins to understand the associations of NVP with offspring neurobehavioural outcomes, which included 1‐year Infant‐Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment, 1.5‐year Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, 2‐year Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 2‐ and 4‐year Child Behavior Checklist, and 4.5‐year Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test. Analyses were adjusted for household income, birth variables, maternal mental health, and other relevant medical variables. Cohen's d effect sizes were calculated using standardised mean differences (μ d ). Results Mothers were categorised into no (n = 296, 25.3%), mild‐moderate (n = 686, 58.5%), and severe NVP (n = 190, 16.2%), of whom 67 (5.7%) required admission. Compared to children of mothers who had no or mild‐moderate NVP, children with exposure to severe NVP exhibited more externalising behaviours (μ d 2.0, 95% CI 0.3, 3.6; Cohen's d = 0.33) and social communication difficulties before 2 years (μ d 4.1, 95% Cl 0.1, 8.0; Cohen's d = 0.38), both externalising (μ d 1.5, 95% CI 0.4, 2.6; Cohen's d = 0.43) and internalising behaviours at 2 years (μ d 1.2, 95% CI 0.1, 2.2; Cohen's d = 0.35), and only internalising behaviours after 2 years (μ d 1.1, 95% CI 0.4, 2.0; Cohen's d = 0.37). Conclusions Severe NVP is highly prevalent in this Asian cohort and may be adversely associated with multiple offspring neurobehavioural outcomes.