@article{3166513,
    title = "Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of
gestation: combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts",
    author = "Casas, Marbe and Cordier, Sylvaine and Martinez, David and Barros, and Henrique and Bonde, Jens Peter and Burdorf, Alex and Costet, Nathalie and and dos Santos, Ana Cristina and Danileviciute, Asta and Eggesbo, Merete and and Fernandez, Mariana F. and Fevotte, Joelle and Garcia, Ana M. and and Grazuleviciene, Regina and Hallner, Eva and Hanke, Wojciech and and Kogevinas, Manolis and Kull, Inger and Larsen, Pernille Stemann and and Melaki, Vasiliki and Monfort, Christine and Nordby, Karl-Christian and and Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo and Patelarou, Evridiki and Polanska, Kinga and and Richiardi, Lorenzo and Santa Marina, Loreto and Snijder, Claudia and and Tardon, Adonina and van Eijsden, Manon and Vrijkotte, Tanja G. M. and and Zugna, Daniela and Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark and Vrijheid, Martine",
    journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health",
    year = "2015",
    volume = "41",
    number = "4",
    pages = "384-396",
    publisher = "SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL WORK ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH",
    issn = "0355-3140, 1795-990X",
    doi = "10.5271/sjweh.3500",
    keywords = "cohort study; Europe; low birth weight; meta-analysis; preterm delivery;
small for gestational age",
    abstract = "Objectives We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy
overall and in selected occupational sectors - is associated with birth
weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW),
length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth
cohort design.
Methods We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13
European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women.
Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main
sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are
considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other
employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed.
We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored
heterogeneity.
Results Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than
non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 0.86, 95% confidence
interval (95% CI) 0.81-0.91]. Working in most of the occupational
sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being
employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (ORadj,
0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased
risk of preterm delivery (ORadj 1.50, 95% CI 1.12-2.02). There was
little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts.
Conclusions This study suggests that, overall, employment during
pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth
and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This
exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base
further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of
maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child development."
}