Table 1.
Characteristics of the study sample (n=125)
| Mean (SD)/range or number (%) | |
|---|---|
| Maternal age (years) | 36.62 (4.12)/25-45 |
| Gestational age at amniocentesis (weeks) | 17.30 (3.24)/15 – 37 |
| Time of amniotic fluid collection (hours) | 10.56 (1.09)/9.05 – 16.10 |
| Maternal education | |
| No qualifications | 4 (3.2%) |
| GCSE or equivalent | 14 (11.2%) |
| A levels or equivalent | 19 (15.2%) |
| Diploma or equivalent | 24 (19.2%) |
| University degree | 41 (32.8%) |
| Postgraduate degree | 23 (18.4%) |
| Parity | |
| Nulliparous | 51 (40.8%) |
| 1 previous child | 45 (36%) |
| 2 or more previous children | 29 (23.2%) |
| Racial background | |
| White/Caucasian | 103 (82.4%) |
| Asian-Indian subcontinent | 7 (5.6%) |
| Afro-Caribbean | 10 (8.0%) |
| Middle-eastern | 3 (2.4%) |
| Far-eastern | 2 (1.6%) |
| Smoking during pregnancy | .32 (1.86) |
| 0 cigarettes/day | 111 (88.8%) |
| 1-2 cigarettes/day | 12 (9.6%) |
| >2 cigarettes/day | 2 (1.6%) |
| Alcohol during pregnancy | .53 (1.53) |
| 0 units/week | 87 (69.6%) |
| 1-2 units/week | 33 (26.4%) |
| >2 units/week | 5 (4.0%) |
| State anxiety: prenatal | 49.58 (13.47)/21 - 77 |
| Gestational age at birth (weeks) | 39.48 (1.17)/37-42 |
| Birth weight (g) | 3489 (475)/2338-6000 |
| Female sex | 65 (52%) |
| Child age at postnatal visit (months) | 16.73 (1.41)/14.4-20.0) |
| BSID Mental Development Index | 97.33 (10.20)/70-122 |
| BSID Physical developmental index | 97.23 (10.24)/70 - 121 |
| Amniotic fluid cortisol (nmol/l) | 18.12 (8.98)/.66 – 50.25 |
| Secure attachment classification | 70 (57%) |
Note: GCSE is the approximate equivalent to high school diploma; A level indicates that the individual passed college entrance exams; diploma indicates a degree less than a university degree.