We want to raise awareness of the issues says professor Covid stress could lead to reduction in birth weights
ONE consequence of Covid-19 could be lower birth weights, scientists predict.
Loughborough University emeritus professor Barry Bogin, working with Dr Carlos Varea, of Madrid Autonomous University, said the pandemic could lead to maternal emotional stress, which has been linked to smaller babies.
This could have long-term consequences for the health of the children.
The consequences of low birth weight – defined as a weight of less than 2,500 grams (5lb 8oz) for a pregnancy duration of 37 to 42 weeks – include an increased risk of: infection; poor learning and school performance; psychological problems; reduced adult earnings; adult overweight, diabetes, and heart disease; and, on average, an earlier age at death, say researchers.
Professor Bogin and Dr Varea said: “One may hypothesise that for the immediate future there will be a global rise in maternal emotional stress and a decline in birth weight.”
They said chronic stress can lead to a variety of biological changes in the body, ranging from cellular-level tweaks to altering hormone levels.
Chronic stress is defined as insecurity related to money, housing, social support – and potentially Covid-19.
“We reported a decline in birth weight across virtually all maternal social-economic groups in Spain in the years leading up to and especially during the financial crisis of 2008”, Professor Bogin said.
“Our findings are supported by studies reporting reduced birth weight in Portugal, Iceland, Japan, and Greece during the 2008 banking system crisis, which was a global financial pandemic.
“Fear of pandemic disease spreads as fast and as deep as the disease itself.
“The fear plays out in many ways, from extremes of paranoia and violence to xenophobia, closed borders, economic lockdowns and social distancing.
“The fear pervades every level of society. The fear causes emotional stress. Chronic emotional stress, from insecurity that lasts for months or years, has biological impacts.
“Pregnant women, their foetuses, and young people of all ages will suffer if exposed to chronic, toxic emotional stress.
“Chronic toxic stress takes a toll on human health, including the physical growth of people, as much as do food shortages and infection.
“We hope to raise awareness of the likelihood of lower birth weight infants so governments and public health workers can address the issue at the earliest possible time and with the best available resources.
“Pregnant women should attend scheduled medical exams and speak with their medical doctors about the progress of the pregnancy.”
The commentary was published in the American Journal of Human Biology.