Health Behaviors among Pregnant Women with Prior Pregnancy Loss

Jessica L. Garay (NSD) PI
2019-2020 Falk Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Seed Grant Award

During pregnancy, the presence of maternal stress significantly increases the risk for adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction, both of which can result in low birth weight. Exposure to stress during pregnancy may affect food choices, exercise habits, use of tobacco or other drugs, and sleep patterns. Levels of psychosocial stress specifically may be particularly elevated for pregnant women who have previously experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, which occurs in 1 in 4 pregnancies.

Our study will focus on pregnant women who have previously experienced a pregnancy loss. We plan to investigate the relationship between psychosocial stress, dietary intake, and physical activity level during each trimester of pregnancy, and determine how each of these factors potentially contribute to the risk of adverse birth outcomes. Participants in the study will report their dietary intake, have their physical activity monitored, and complete several questionnaires once during each trimester of pregnancy.

The results of this project will better inform nutrition and medical professionals about the impact of stress and health behaviors on pregnancy-related outcomes, allowing them to better support pregnant women who have previously experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth. Our research team also plans to use the data from this study to justify the creation of an intervention aimed at reducing maternal stress and improving both maternal and fetal health outcomes.