Pregnancy risks in Asian-White couples

Posted by Ria, 03 Nov

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The risk of having pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, low birth weight or Cesarean delivery, differs among various ethnic groups, studies have shown. Researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine, looking at interracial couples, Asian-White couples in particular, say that this interracial combo may face a higher risk of gestational diabetes and that of Cesarean delivery as compared to couples in which both partners are White.

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According to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers studied data from 5,575 White, 3,226 Asian, and 868Asian-White couples who gave birth at the Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services at Packard Children's from 2000 to 2005.

Co-author of the study, Yasser El-Sayed, an obstetrician at Packard Children's and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the medical school, said the study was done because America has got a great racial heterogeneity. "Gaining better insight into the risks facing specific populations provides for better counseling and better prenatal care."

The results of the study showed that white mothers whose partners were Asian fathers had the lowest rate of Caesarean delivery which is 23%. On the other hand, Couples comprised of Asian mother and White father couples, had the highest rate of Caesarean deliveries, 33%.

So why the discrepancy? Given that the birth weights between the two sets of couples were similar, researchers attributed the increased rate of Cesarean deliveries among Asian mother/White father couples to the pelvis size of the average Asian woman which is smaller that that of a White woman hence, less likely to be able to accommodate babies of a certain size.

Another finding was that the rate of gestational diabetes was lowest among White couples (1.6 percent) and highest among Asian couples (5.7 percent). As for Asian-white couples, the rate was a little under 4 percent.

Previous studies also found an increased risk of diabetes among Asian couples, which has been linked to genetics. The study also showed that the risk of gestational diabetes was about the same regardless of which spouse was Asian.

The above findings are deemed important for doctors who are counseling women about their pregnancy risks, the researchers said. The study points to the need for more evaluation of health risks unique to interracial couples or people of mixed race.

Do you think more studies like these should be carried out due to the increase in interracial relationships? If yes, do you think such research might affect the composition and number of interracial couples and mixed race children?

11 responses to "Pregnancy risks in Asian-White couples"

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  1.   Member says:
    Posted: 30 Apr 10

    nice to be here.... thanks for share

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  2. Posted: 15 Apr 10

    wow,,,ive had 2 pregnancies(both me and hubby were white) with large babies,,,tested for gestational diabetes and both times result was negative,,,now remarried to an asian guy,,,on 3rd pregnancy just found out i have gestational diabetes,,,is this coincidence or maybe some truth in mixed race couples and GD afterall!!!

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  3.   asdf says:
    Posted: 05 Jul 09

    Tall men + short women = more likely to have C-section. People should pay attention to why they only show asian-white and not asian-black couples, which have it just as bad. The whole point is to stop racial mixing because someone is insecure.

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  4.   homesteader says:
    Posted: 03 Mar 09

    100 % of my babies were born naked , And I am only the Father

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  5.   VA_SongBird says:
    Posted: 03 Mar 09

    I think there is an inherent risk in child birth regardless of the mixing of the race. Here's a perfect example, the British couple whom gave birth to two sets of bi-racial twins. Of course, I do not consider this a problem. But, to state my point you never know how nature and genetics impact on a child. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2082429.ece

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  6. Posted: 29 Jan 09

    Because the rate of gestational diabetes is higher among Asian couples, and lower with White couples, of course The Asian-White mixed rate is going to be somewhere in the middle, and quite obviously regardless of which parent is Asian. And it may have to do with whose genes are stronger (the Asians), so the rate (just under 4%) is just a little more than the direct median(3.65%). With the C-section deliveries, it all comes down to the woman's frame, and since Asian women generally have smaller frames than White women, it's quite obvious that they are going to have the higher C-section delivery rate. This is, of course, REGARDLESS of the race of the father. Notice the study said "given that the birth weights between the two sets of couples were similar..." They didn't mention the non-interracial couples. This is because it doesn't matter what race the father is, the same stands (as their are still big Asian babies). IMO, there should not be more studies like this, as they are really just common sense. Waste of money.

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  7.   Member says:
    Posted: 19 Dec 08

    This is an interesting Statement in this article: "Previous studies also found an increased risk of diabetes among Asian couples, which has been linked to genetics. The study also showed that the risk of gestational diabetes was about the same regardless of which spouse was Asian." ?? Does this mean that a Caucasian mother with an Asian husband is more likely to develop gestational diabetes than a Caucasian mother with a Caucasian husband, as per the statistics mentioned before this paragraph(<4% versus 1.7%..), and just as likely as an Asian mother with a Caucasian husband? Why is that?!?

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  8.   al says:
    Posted: 19 Dec 08

    Everything should be studied. It increases our fund of knowledge and helps us make better informed decisions. I suppose some might say that this should not be studied because of possibly offending someone. I am not ashamed of who I am or who I date or marry.

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  9.   Member says:
    Posted: 24 Nov 08

    Yes, I would agree to pursue those studies, as well as of the supposed 20% risk of heart attacks of white men in asian-white couples I saw on another post on this site. Interesting for improving the interest of interracial breeding.

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  10.   ivoryknight says:
    Posted: 09 Nov 08

    as far as the studies YES! ignorance is not bliss. being a romantic man who feels it's such a treasure to find that special one, i would hope they can use the knowledge to make the decisions that are of most importance to them.

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  11.   kenyanito says:
    Posted: 04 Nov 08

    Yes, more studies and research should be carried out coz its only through such that more can be known.

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