Infants born to mothers in Washington state who moved during the first trimester were more likely to be born preterm and have low birth weight, according to findings published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Researchers suggested that providers consider screening patients for plans to move.

According to Julia C. Bond, MPH, from the department of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health, and colleagues, moving during childhood has been shown to have adverse effects on kids, leading to drug abuse, lower educational achievement, suicidality and poor mental health during adolescence and adulthood. However, the link between moving during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes is less clear, they said.