Impact of a prenatal episode and diagnosis in women with serious mental illnesses on neonatal complications (prematurity, low birth weight, and hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units)

Pregnancy in women with mental disorders is increasingly common. The aim of this study was to determine, in women with severe mental illnesses, whether a prenatal episode was related to neonatal complications and if a specific disorder was associated with a higher risk. A population of infants and their mothers ( n = 1439) jointly admitted to psychiatric Mother-Baby Units in France and Belgium (2001–2010) was assessed respectively for prematurity, low birth weight (LBW), hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and maternal mental health during pregnancy. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between neonatal complications and a prenatal episode of mental illness and if the presence of a specific disorder was related to a higher risk, taking into account maternal socio-demographic characteristics, pregnancy data, and antenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs. Among the children, 145 (10.2%) were premature, 226 (15.8%) had a LBW, and 348 (24.3%) have been hospitalized in neonatology. The presence of an episode of mental illness during pregnancy was linked to LBW (OR = 2.21 [1.44–3.38]; p = 0.003) and NICU hospitalizations (OR = 1.53 [1.06–2.19], p = 0.002). Among diagnoses, the presence of a severe substance use disorder in these women was related to LBW (OR = 2.96 [1.49–5.85]; p = 0.002) and NICU (OR = 2.88 [1.56–5.29]; p = 0.04). Our results underline the importance of systematic and early detection of psychiatric symptoms and substance use disorders during pregnancy in preventing neonatal complications in women with serious mental illness.