Influence of rotating shift work on pregnancy stability and fetal well being among medical field pregnant workers

Inherent in all rotating shift schedules are the requirements that the worker regularly changes sleep, meal and work times. This conflicts with the dictates of the internal biological clock system, which in humans has evolved to a very unique diurnal orientation. This study aimed to evaluate stability of pregnancy course in rotating shift pregnant workers in hospitals and to investigate the fetal well being. A clinical prospective study was done in The Special Care unit for Fetus, Ain Shams Maternity Hospital. The study group included 60 pregnant workers in hospital environment and we also examined 20 pregnant housewives as a control group. The study group was subdivided into two subgroups: 1st subgroup comprised those who had fixed day work [regular schedule], while the 2nd subgroup comprised those with rotating shift work [irregular schedule]. The study population was subjected to functional evaluation of uterine contractility by external [abdominal] tocography using a cardiotocography machine which evaluates also external fetal heart rate. Abdominal ultrasonography was done with real time ultrasound probe 3.5 MHz using full bladder technique. The study revealed that there was a highly significant difference [P<0.001] between pregnant workers and housewives as regards the complications during pregnancy, with a higher incidence of complications among doctors, and nurses and technicians compared to employees; also there was a significantly higher incidence of congenital fetal malformation among doctors and technicians. Therefore, the study recommended that working women should be warned that if any complications arise they should be able to leave work so as to lessen foetal jeopardy and have a good