When pink clouds are absent: long-term maternal psychosocial stress after carrying an unintended pregnancy to term. findings from the dutch prospective abcd study

Abstract Objectives Research into associations between unintended pregnancies carried to term and psychosocial stress (PS) postpartum is mixed, and especially evidence on long-term associations is scarce. In the current study, it is investigated whether carrying a unintended pregnancy to term is associated with maternal PS later in life, up to 12 years postpartum. Methods This study is based on the ongoing population-based birth cohort study ‘Amsterdam Born Children and their Development’ (ABCD-study) (n = 4,962). Unintended pregnancy was measured as a multidimensional construct, based on self-reported data on pregnancy mistiming, unwantedness, and unhappiness. Maternal PS was assessed using the STAI, CES-D and the DASS-21 around three months, five years and 11 years postpartum. Multiple SEM models were performed, examining the associations between dimensions of unintended pregnancy and maternal PS per time-point, while controlling for background variables and antepartum PS. Results Pregnancy mistiming and happiness were significant predictors of more maternal PS 3 months postpartum. Around 5 years postpartum, only pregnancy mistiming was positively associated to maternal PS. Dimensions of unintended pregnancy were no longer associated to maternal PS around 12 years postpartum. Conclusions Results reflect the multidimensionality of unintended pregnancy, suggesting long-term effects of dimensions of unintended pregnancy on maternal psychosocial stress, up to 5 years postpartum. People carrying a less intended pregnancy to term may benefit from extra support in the period after birth. Conflicts of Interest None.