A recent study revealed that the use of sedative drugs during pregnancy does not seem to negatively affect birth or pregnancy results.
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The research involved 6,231 women with an average age
of 28 years old, who had given singleton births between 2009 and 2015. Most
women (6,029) did not use sedatives while pregnant, while the remaining 202
(3.2 %) did use sedatives. Users tend to be older and smoked during their
pregnancy. Sedative use qualification as buying sedative drugs at least once in
the period spanning from 90 days before to and after pregnancy.
Using sedative medications did not significantly affect
pregnancy outcomes. The average duration of pregnancy among women with no sedative
usage was 39.4 weeks, only slightly longer than in the cohort that did use sedative
medications 39.2 weeks. Preterm births (<37 gestational weeks) also happened
at comparable frequencies between cohorts.
Comparatively, caesarean deliveries were significantly
more prevalent among sedative users, particularly urgent and elective
procedures.
Sedative use has no significant impact on birth outcomes.
Child birth weight, head circumference, Apgar scores in 1 minute, as well as
the need for neonatal intensive care admission, respirator use, resuscitation
with intubation, and antibiotic medication, were all statistically analogous
between cohorts.
The ponderal index was the only exception since it was
significantly elevated in sedative users. Head circumference in girl infants
also tended to be smaller among mothers who used sedatives during pregnancy.
For further details of this study, click here…
Source: Sci Rep 2021;11:4467