Pregnant Women Who Are Bipolar More Likely To Have Premature Babies

Women who deal with bipolar disorder may be more likely to give birth prematurely.

The reviewed records of women who gave birth to a single child between 2003 and 2011 showed that women who had been hospitalized for bipolar disorder were two times more likely than women without a history of mental health illness to give birth to premature infants, according to a recent study. 

"Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability among women of reproductive age and yet research tells us very little about how to ensure the best possible outcomes for mothers and babies," said Dr. Simone Vigod, lead author of the study, psychiatrist at Women's College Hospital and scientist at ICES, reported by Medical Xpress. "Knowing the potential impact it may have, as well as any modifiable risk factors, will help us as doctors provide the best treatment possible for our patients."

Furthermore, infants with bipolar mothers were also at a higher risk of congenital malformation, requiring hospital readmission within about 28 days of discharge for many.

Lastly, researchers discovered that many women with bipolar disorder gave birth to larger than average babies. On the other hand, women suffering from depression were more likely to give birth to smaller than average babies.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the American Journal of Obstetrics.