As pregnant flee Ukraine, war imposes long-term health effects: Experts
ABC News
More than 4 million refugees, some pregnant, have fled Ukraine amid the invasion by Russia.
As the war in Ukraine rolls into its second month, pregnant women fleeing the violence face innumerable challenges given their unique health status.
Pregnant refugees and their unborn children are uniquely vulnerable to higher rates of death, disease and mental health challenges that can persist after birth.
"There's obviously the risk of physical harm. ... [The] placenta can separate causing something called placental abruption that can lead to hemorrhage and death for both mom and baby," said Dr. Elizabeth Langen, associate clinical professor of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Michigan.
Prenatal stress is also associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia -- dangerous elevations in blood pressure during the second half of pregnancy -- as well as gestational diabetes, according to a peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Caring Sciences. Both of these conditions confer risk to both the mother and fetus.
