FRIDAY, July 21, 2023 (HealthDay News) — It’s not only a mother’s mental health that’s tied to the danger for preterm birth — the daddy’s matters, too.

Recent research found that the danger of premature birth was higher for infants whose moms or fathers had a psychiatric diagnosis than for those whose parents didn’t.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden analyzed data on all live births to Nordic parents in Sweden between 1997 and 2016.

The study findings were published July 20 in PLOS Medicine.

Of 1.5 million babies, 15% were born to oldsters with a mental health diagnosis. For fogeys and not using a diagnosis, 5.8% of babies were born preterm.

Paternal diagnosis increased the danger to six.3% of births, and maternal diagnosis increased the danger to 7.3%. If each parents had a mental health diagnosis, the danger of preterm birth was biggest — affecting 8.3% of births.

The researchers also found that the danger grew much more for fogeys with several co-existing psychiatric disorders.

“Children of oldsters with mental illness are at increased risk of being born too early — each the moms’ and fathers’ are necessary,” study creator Weiyao Yin, a postdoctoral researcher, said in a journal news release.

Preterm birth is related to negative health consequences for babies, including anemia, jaundice, immune system problems and cerebral palsy, in addition to the next risk for sudden infant death syndrome.

The study authors suggested that future studies investigate whether additional social support and prenatal look after families with a psychiatric history could affect gestational age — how long the pregnancy lasts.

More information

The World Health Organization has more on preterm birth.

SOURCE: PLOS, news release, July 20, 2023