Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Risk of Placental Abruption and Placenta Previa

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between prenatal alcohol consumption and the occurrence of placental abruption and placenta previa in a population-based sample. We used linked birth data files to conduct a retrospective cohort study of singleton deliveries in the state of Missouri during the period 1989 through 2005 (n = 1,221,310). The main outcomes of interest were placenta previa, placental abruption and a composite outcome defined as the occurrence of either or both lesions. Multivariate logistic regression was used to generate adjusted odd ratios, with non-drinking mothers as the referent category. Women who consumed alcohol during pregnancy had a 33% greater likelihood for placental abruption during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.33 [1.16–1.54]). No association was observed between prenatal alcohol use and the risk of placenta previa. Alcohol consumption in pregnancy was positively related to the occurrence of either or both placental conditions (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 1.29 [1.14–1.45]). Mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy were at elevated risk of experiencing placental abruption, but not placenta previa. Our findings underscore the need for screening and behavioral counseling interventions to combat alcohol use by pregnant women and women of childbearing age.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sokol, R. J., Delaney-Black, V., & Nordstrom, B. (2003). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The journal of the American Medical Association, 290, 2996–2999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. O’Leary, C. M., Nassar, N., Kurinczuk, J. J., & Bower, C. (2009). The effect of maternal alcohol consumption on fetal growth and preterm birth. An international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 116, 390–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Aliyu, M. H., Wilson, R. E., Zoorob, R., Chakrabarty, S., Alio, A. P., Kirby, R. S., et al. (2008). Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the risk of early stillbirth among singletons. Alcohol, 42, 369–374.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gundogan, F., Elwood, G., Longato, L., Tong, M., Feijoo, A., Carlson, R. I., et al. (2008). Impaired placentation in fetal alcohol syndrome. Placenta, 29, 148–157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ananth, C. V., & Wilcox, A. J. (2001). Placental abruption and perinatal mortality in the United States. American Journal of Epidemiology, 153, 332–337.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rasmussen, S., Irgens, L. M., & Dalaker, K. (2000). Outcome of pregnancies subsequent to placental abruption: a risk assessment. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 79, 496–501.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Salihu, H. M., Bekan, B., Aliyu, M. H., Rouse, D. J., Kirby, R. S., & Alexander, G. R. (2005). Perinatal mortality associated with abruptio placenta in singletons and multiples. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 193, 198–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ananth, C. V., Smulian, J. C., Demissie, K., Vintzileos, A. M., & Knuppel, R. A. (2001). Placental abruption among singleton and twin births in the United States: Risk factor profiles. American Journal of Epidemiology, 153, 771–778.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ananth, C. V., Demissie, K., Smulian, J. C., & Vintzileos, A. M. (2001). Relationship among placenta previa, fetal growth restriction, and preterm delivery: A population-based study. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 98, 299–306.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Salihu, H. M., Li, Q., Rouse, D. J., & Alexander, G. R. (2003). Placenta previa: neonatal death after live births in the United States. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 188, 1305–1309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tikkanen, M., Nuutila, M., Hiilesmaa, V., Paavonen, J., & Ylikorkala, O. (2006). Clinical presentation and risk factors of placental abruption. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 85, 700–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Marbury, M. C., Linn, S., Monson, R., Schoenbaum, S., Stubblefield, P. G., & Ryan, K. J. (1983). The association of alcohol consumption with outcome of pregnancy. American Journal of Public Health, 73, 1165–1168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Halmesmäki, E. (1988). Alcohol counselling of 85 pregnant problem drinkers: Effect on drinking and fetal outcome. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 95, 243–247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yang, Q., Wen, S. W., Phillips, K., Oppenheimer, L., Black, D., & Walker, M. C. (2009). Comparison of maternal risk factors between placental abruption and placenta previa. American Journal of Perinatology, 26, 279–286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kramer, M. S., Usher, R. H., Pollack, R., Boyd, M., & Usher, S. (1997). Etiologic determinants of abruptio placentae. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 89, 221–226.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ananth, C. V., Demissie, K., Smulian, J. C., & Vintzileos, A. M. (2003). Placenta previa in singleton and twin births in the United States, 1989 through 1998: A comparison of risk factor profiles and associated conditions. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 188, 275–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rasmussen, S., Albrechtsen, S., & Dalaker, K. (2000). Obstetric history and the risk of placenta previa. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 79, 502–507.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Iyasu, S., Saftlas, A. K., Rowley, D. L., Koonin, L. M., Lawson, H. W., & Atrash, H. K. (1993). The epidemiology of placenta previa in the United States, 1979 through 1987. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 168, 1424–1429.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sheiner, E., Shoham-Vardi, I., Hallak, M., Hershkowitz, R., Katz, M., & Mazor, M. (2001). Placenta previa: Obstetric risk factors and pregnancy outcome. The Journal of maternal-fetal medicine, 10, 414–419.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Martin, J., Curtin, S., Saulnier, M., & Mousavi, J. (2003). Development of the matched multiple birth file. 1995–1998 matched multiple birth dataset. NCHS CD-ROM series 21, no. 13a. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kensmodel, U., Wisborg, K., Olsen, S. F., Henriksen, T. B., & Secher, N. J. (2002). Moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy and risk of stillbirth and death in the first year of life. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155, 305–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Herman, A. A., McCarthy, B. J., Bakewell, J. M., et al. (1997). Data linkage methods used in maternally-linked birth and infant death surveillance data sets from the United States (Georgia, Missouri, Utah and Washington State), Israel, Norway, Scotland and Western Australia. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 11, 5–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Aliyu, M. H., Wilson, R. E., Zoorob, R., et al. (2009). Prenatal alcohol consumption and fetal growth restriction: potentiation effect by concomitant smoking. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 11, 36–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Alexander, G. R., Himes, J. H., Kaufman, R. B., Mor, J., & Kogan, M. (1996). A United States national reference for fetal growth. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 87, 163–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Taffel, S., Johnson, D., & Heuser, R. (1982). A method of imputing length of gestation on birth certificates. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 2, Data Evaluation and Methods Research, 93, 1–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Alexander, G. R., & Cornely, D. A. (1987). Prenatal care utilization: Its measurement and relationship to pregnancy outcome. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3, 243–253.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Alexander, G. R., & Kotelchuck, M. (1996). Quantifying the adequacy of prenatal care: A comparison of indices. Public Health Reports, 111(5), 408–418.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Clayton, D., & Hills, M. (1993). Statistical models in epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ananth, C. V., Smulian, J. C., & Vintzileos, A. M. (2003). The effect of placenta previa on neonatal mortality: A population-based study in the United States, 1989 through 1997. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 188, 1299–1304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Naeye, R. L. (1989). Pregnancy hypertension, placental evidences of low uteroplacental blood flow, and spontaneous premature delivery. Human Pathology, 20, 441–444.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ylikorkala, O., Halmesmäki, E., & Viinikka, L. (1988). Urinary prostacyclin and thromboxane metabolites in drinking pregnant women and in their infants: Relations to the fetal alcohol effects. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 71, 61–66.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Jones, P. J., Leichter, J., & Lee, M. (1981). Placental blood flow in rats fed alcohol before and during gestation. Life Sciences, 29, 1153–1159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Little, R. E., Mandell, W., & Schultz, F. A. (1977). Consequences of retrospective measurement of alcohol consumption. Journal of studies on alcohol, 38, 1777–1780.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Jacobson, S. W., Chiodo, L. M., Sokol, R. J., & Jacobson, J. L. (2002). Validity of maternal report of prenatal alcohol, cocaine, and smoking in relation to neurobehavioral outcome. Pediatrics, 109, 815–825.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Greene, T., Ernhart, C. B., Martier, S., Sokol, R., & Ager, J. (1990). Prenatal alcohol exposure and language development. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 14, 937–945.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. da Costa Pereira, A., Olsen, J., & Ogston, S. (1993). Variability of self reported measures of alcohol consumption: implications for the association between drinking in pregnancy and birth weight. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 47, 326–330.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Verkerk, P. H., Buitendijk, S. E., & Verloove-Vanhorick, S. P. (1994). Differential misclassification of alcohol and cigarette consumption by pregnancy outcome. International Journal of Epidemiology, 23, 1218–1225.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Morgenstern, H., & Thomas, D. (1993). Principles of study design in environmental epidemiology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 101, 23–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Muktar H. Aliyu

  2. Department of Mathematics, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN, USA

    O’Neil Lynch

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon

    Philip N. Nana

  4. Department of Family and Community Health, Center for Research and Evaluation, Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center, For Healthy Mothers and Babies, University of South Florida, 3111 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA

    Amina P. Alio & Hamisu M. Salihu

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Roneé E. Wilson

  6. The Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Phillip J. Marty

  7. Southeast Fetal Alcohol Research and Training Center, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA

    Roger Zoorob

Authors
  1. Muktar H. Aliyu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O’Neil Lynch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Philip N. Nana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Amina P. Alio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roneé E. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Phillip J. Marty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Roger Zoorob
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hamisu M. Salihu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamisu M. Salihu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aliyu, M.H., Lynch, O., Nana, P.N. et al. Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy and Risk of Placental Abruption and Placenta Previa. Matern Child Health J 15, 670–676 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0615-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0615-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation