Effect of Excessive Body Weight and Emotional Disorders on the Course of Pregnancy and Well-Being of a Newborn before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate whether excessive body weight and the COVID-19 pandemic affect depression, and subsequently whether depression, excessive body weight, and the COVID-19 pandemic affect the course of pregnancy, as well as the well-being of a newborn. The research material included data retrieved from the medical records of 280 pregnant women who were provided with care by medical facilities in Lublin (100 women with normal weight, 100 overweight women, 50 with Class I and 30 with Class II obesity). They completed a Beck depression inventory (BDI) in pregnancy twice, in order to assess the risk of occurrence of postpartum depression. Pre-pregnancy BMI positively correlated with the severity of depression, both at 10–13 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001), and at 32 weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.001). The higher the pre-pregnancy BMI, on average the higher the severity of depression. The severity of depression was significantly higher during the pandemic than before it in women with normal body weight before pregnancy (p < 0.001), as well as in those overweight (p < 0.001) and with Class II obesity (p = 0.015). Excessive body weight before pregnancy leads to depressive disorders during pregnancy, increases the risk of preterm delivery, and exerts a negative effect on the state of a newborn. Depressive symptoms among pregnant, overweight and obese women intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impacts of Prenatal Mental Health Issues on Birth Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

“…They focused on pregnant women across the USA aged 18 years and above. Wdowiak et al conducted a study in Poland in 2020, where longitudinal data was used, with the target population being pregnant women who received care from medical facilities in the city of Lublin [16]. Both articles found that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an association between prenatal mental health disorders and adverse birth outcomes, but they approached the research from different perspectives.…”

“…The study showed that the severity of depression during weeks 10-13 (i.e., first trimester) and week 32 (i.e., third trimester) were significantly different from the depression severity in the second trimester, which also correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic [16]. Additionally, the severity of depression was also dependent on the interaction between the pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and the COVID-19 pandemic [16]. Moreover, the depression severity was negatively associated with gestational age and birth weight [16].…”

“…Wdowiak et al focused on evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression and whether the course of pregnancy and infant well-being would be affected by depression and the COVID-19 pandemic (see Table 1) [16]. The study used the Beck Depression Inventory (the second edition) twice during the pregnancy (first between weeks 11 and 14, and then on week 32) among the same population to assess the depressive symptoms [16].…”

“…Wdowiak et al focused on evaluating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression and whether the course of pregnancy and infant well-being would be affected by depression and the COVID-19 pandemic (see Table 1) [16]. The study used the Beck Depression Inventory (the second edition) twice during the pregnancy (first between weeks 11 and 14, and then on week 32) among the same population to assess the depressive symptoms [16]. The study showed that the severity of depression during weeks 10-13 (i.e., first trimester) and week 32 (i.e., third trimester) were significantly different from the depression severity in the second trimester, which also correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic [16].…”

“…The study used the Beck Depression Inventory (the second edition) twice during the pregnancy (first between weeks 11 and 14, and then on week 32) among the same population to assess the depressive symptoms [16]. The study showed that the severity of depression during weeks 10-13 (i.e., first trimester) and week 32 (i.e., third trimester) were significantly different from the depression severity in the second trimester, which also correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic [16]. Additionally, the severity of depression was also dependent on the interaction between the pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and the COVID-19 pandemic [16].…”