Was the Military Operation “Protective Edge” a Risk Factor for Pregnancy Complications?

OBJECTIVE: During July–August 2014, the military operation “Protective Edge” presented Israel with a threat of missile attacks. We aimed to investigate the influence of the “Protective Edge” operation on the rate of pregnancy complications among the population exposed to missile attacks, compared to the population not exposed. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between women who during pregnancy were exposed to the stress of the military operation (exposed group, n=4,673) and gave birth at the Wolfson Medical Center, and women who gave birth in the previous year (unexposed group, n=4,735). RESULTS: Rates of pregnancy complications did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Exposure to environmental stress during pregnancy, for a period of almost two months, was not found to be associated with increased risk for pregnancy complications.