Working long hours a pregnancy ‘hazard’

WORKING long hours is an occupational hazard when it comes to pregnancy, according to a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).

Shift work, physically demanding work and being on temporary contracts were also found to have “strong and significant associations” with low birthweight and pre-term births.

Researchers suggested that women on temporary work contracts may have poorer working conditions, including job insecurity, leading to stress and anxiety and possibly causing pre-term birth.