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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2715-4524
Original Article

Maternal Exit from Employment after Premature Birth

Authors

  • Katherine D. Taylor 

    1   Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States

  • Olivia Nieto Rickenbach

    2   Department of Otolaryngology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States

  • Aliba Syed

    3   Department of Academic Affairs, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States

  • Dmitry Tumin

    1   Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
    3   Department of Academic Affairs, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
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Abstract

Objective

We sought to evaluate whether infants' preterm birth (PTB) or low birth weight (LBW) were associated with maternal exit from employment after birth.

Study Design

We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort, tracking maternal employment after each birth. Births were included if the mother was working at the beginning of the birth month. Time to exit from paid employment (becoming unemployed or leaving the labor force) was tracked up to 2 years after birth.

Results

Of 2,647 births to cohort members, 243 infants were born preterm (13%) and 192 were LBW (7%). On multivariable Cox regression, LBW was independently associated with 34% greater hazard of maternal exit from employment (hazard ratio: 1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.66; p = 0.007).

Conclusion

LBW, but not PTB, was independently associated with increased risk of maternal exit from employment.

Key Points

  • Maternal labor force exit can exacerbate financial concerns associated with preterm birth.

  • Low birth weight was independently associated with maternal exit from labor force.

  • Controlling for birth weight, preterm birth was not associated with labor force exit.

Keywords

preterm birth - maternal employment - birth weight - premature infants

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 28 March 2025

Accepted: 01 October 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
03 October 2025

Article published online:
13 October 2025

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