Associations between monthly cortisol levels during pregnancy
A multivariate linear analysis performed separately in the total (see Table S1), primiparae (see Table 2a), and multiparae (see Table 2b), groups revealed significant associations between HCC at gestational weeks (GW) 14-17 with HCC at GW 18-21 (all groups: p<0.001) and GW 22-25 (total: p<0.001, primiparae: p=<0.001) and a tendency of association with the HCC at two months postpartum in the primiparae group (p=0.049). HCC at GW 18-21 was significantly associated also with HCC at GW 22- 25 (all groups; p<0.001). HCC at three months prior to childbirth was associated with the HCC two months prior to childbirth - (all groups: p<0.001). HCC at two months prior to childbirth was associated with HCC at one month prior to childbirth (all groups: p<0.001). HCC at one month prior to childbirth was associated with HCC at one (multiparae: p=0.003) and two months postpartum (multiparae: p=0.043). HCC at one month postpartum also including childbirth was associated with HCC at two and three months postpartum (p<0.001 in all groups). Spearman’s correlation revealed no associations between HCC levels with the use of steroids and analgesics nor any other medications, while the use of psychotropic medication correlated to HCC levels in all postpartum measurements (r=0.28, p=0.008), (r=0.23, p=0.003) and (r=0.30, p=0.004).