Research: cyclones affecting pregnancy

A HIGHER number of babies born to mums who were impacted by Cyclone Yasi were found to be premature or have lower birth weights, according to research.

The effects of natural disasters on pregnant women are under the microscope as part of a university study, with the researchers now looking to track down women who carried their baby through any cyclone to impact Queensland in the past 10 years.

The Australian National University study is being conducted by PhD scholar Cynthia Parayiwa and Associate Professor Alison Behie, who have previously looked at the effects of Yasi.

They said the premature births and low birth weights were particularly found in women who were in their first trimester when Yasi hit.

Dr Behie said the importance of stressors during the first trimester was not yet understood and she hoped the research may shed new light on this critical period of pregnancy.

“Pregnant women are much more susceptible to any stress because their bodies are already under extra stress from carrying a baby. Experiences during disasters can trigger the endocrine system and release stress hormones, or cortisol,” she said. “During the first trimester, the baby is getting established, so if there are high levels of cortisol in the system, it may signal to the foetus there’s a sub-optimal environment out there and maybe it speeds things up, causing a premature birth.”

The pair are also looking at the impact of fire and flood on pregnancies.

“With the data and personal experiences of vulnerable groups we’ll be better able to say this is how we can best protect them,” Dr Behie said. Pregnant women who experienced a Queensland cyclone in the last 10 years are invited to take a survey at: https://anu.au1.qualtrics.com/ jfe/form/SV_etvHIbuhv23LLSZ.