Night‑Shift Status During Pregnancy and Small‑for‑Gestational‑Age Risk
Summary
This South Korean birth-cohort study followed nearly 5,000 pregnant women and compared birth outcomes based on work schedules: not working, daytime jobs, shift work without nights, and night work. Overall, working during pregnancy did not raise the risk of preterm birth or babies being small for their gestational age (SGA). However, among the small group of women who worked night shifts during pregnancy (just 34 women in total), the risk of having an SGA baby was higher compared with women who were not working. Night work was not linked to preterm birth. Because so few women in the study worked nights, the results should be read as a warning sign rather than a definite conclusion.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
"If you are pregnant and working nights, this study suggests there may be a higher chance of having a baby who is smaller than expected for their stage of pregnancy. The study did not find a link between night work and preterm birth. Because only a small number of women in the study worked nights, the results are not final proof—but they are important enough to take seriously.
For night-shift workers who are pregnant, the takeaway is:
- Talk with your doctor about your work schedule and ask if extra monitoring is needed.
- Keep up with prenatal checkups so your baby’s growth can be tracked closely.
- If possible, ask your employer about adjusting your shifts during pregnancy."
Notes
Complementary PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38193332/