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Objective: To assess whether labour variables (i.e. individuals characteristics, labour characteristics and medical interventions) impact maternal and newborn microbiomes. Design: Prospective monocentric study. Setting: Saint‐Joseph Hospital tertiary maternity unit, in Paris, France. Population: All consecutive primiparous women with a physiological pregnancy and term labour from 15 April to 1 June 2017. Methods: 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of the maternal vaginal, newborn skin and newborn oral microbiomes from 58 mother–baby dyads. Main outcome measures: Analysis of the effects of 19 labour variables on the composition and diversity of these microbiomes. Results: The 19 labour variables explained a significant part of the variability in the vaginal, newborn oral and skin microbiomes (44%–67%). Strikingly, duration of rupture of membranes was the single factor that explained the greatest variability (adjusted R2: 7.7%–8.4%, p ≤ 0.002) and conditioned, by itself, the compositions of the three microbiomes under study. Long duration of rupture of membranes was specifically associated with a lower relative abundance of the Lactobacillus genus (1.7‐fold to 68‐fold reduction, p < 0.0001) as well as an increase in microbiome diversity, including genera implicated in nosocomial infections. The effects of duration of rupture of membranes were also present in newborns delivered by non‐elective caesarean section. Conclusions: Maternal and newborn microbiomes were greatly affected by labour variables. Duration of rupture of membranes, even in non‐elective caesarean sections, should be considered in epidemiological and microbiological studies, as well as in vaginal seeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, both for incidence and mortality. Prevention relies on screening with a Pap test to detect precancerous lesions, which can then be treated. Access to this screening is currently both improvable and inequitable. Pregnancy may be an ideal moment for women to catch up on their overdue cervical cancer screening. In the general population, women's risk of not being screened is associated with their place of birth and other social factors; this may be true as well among pregnant women. Our objective was to study the association between women's place of birth and their failure to catch up with this screening during pregnancy. Methods: The 2016 French National Perinatal Survey included 13,147 women who gave birth after 21 weeks of gestation. The association between their place of birth and failure to catch up on this screening (defined by the absence of a Pap test during pregnancy for women overdue for it) was adjusted for age, parity, education level, health insurance, and when they began prenatal care with logistic regression models. Results: Among the women for whom screening was then recommended, 49% were not up to date at the start of pregnancy, and of these, 53% were not caught up before delivery. After adjustment for other risk factors, maternal place of birth was not associated with a higher risk of failure to catch up with this screening during pregnancy. However, factors identified as associated with this risk included a low education level and late start of prenatal care. Conclusion: About half of women overdue for cervical cancer screening did not catch up with it during their pregnancy. Professionals should pay special attention to women with lower education levels and late initiation of prenatal care, who constitute a group at high risk of not catching up on this screening during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), eclampsia is a rare but serious event, often considered avoidable. Detailed assessment of the adequacy of care for the women who have eclampsia can help identify opportunities for improvement and for prevention of the associated adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Objective: 1/ To estimate the incidence and describe the characteristics of women with eclampsia and to compare them with those of women with non-eclamptic hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)-related severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and of control women without SMM 2/ To analyse the quality of management in women who had eclampsia, at various stages of their care pathway. Methods: It was a planned ancillary analysis of the EPIMOMS population-based study, conducted in six French regions in 2012–2013. Among the 182,309 maternities of the source population, all women with eclampsia (n = 51), with non-eclamptic HDP-related SMM (n = 351) and a 2% representative sample of women without SMM (n = 3,651) were included. Main outcome was the quality of care for eclampsia assessed by an independent expert panel at three different stages of management: antenatal care, care for pre-eclampsia and care for eclampsia. Results: The eclampsia incidence was 2.8 per 10,000 (95%CI 2.0–4.0). Antenatal care was considered completely inadequate or substandard in 39% of women, as was pre-eclampsia care in 76%. Care for eclampsia was judged completely inadequate or substandard in 50% (21/42), mainly due to inadequate use of magnesium sulphate. Conclusion: The high proportion of inadequate quality of care underlines the need for an evidence-based standardisation of care for HDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic disparities in stillbirth exist in Europe and suboptimal care due to miscommunication is one contributing cause. The MAMAACT intervention aimed to reduce ethnic disparity in stillbirth and newborns' health through improved management of pregnancy complications. The intervention encompassed training of antenatal care midwives in cultural competencies and intercultural communication combined with health education materials for the expecting parents about symptoms of pregnancy complications. The evaluation consisted of a qualitative in-depth implementation analysis and a process evaluation embedded in a cluster randomized trial including 19 of 20 maternity wards in Denmark. In this article, the findings from the different evaluation perspectives are integrated. The integration follows the principles of realist evaluation by analyzing to what extent the MAMAACT activities were generating mechanisms of change in interaction with the context. The integration analysis shows that the health education materials in the MAMAACT intervention contributed to heightened health literacy concerning pregnancy complications among pregnant women. Additionally, the training of midwives in cultural competency and intercultural communication raised awareness among midwives. Nonetheless, the exclusive emphasis on midwives and the inflexibility in care provision hindered them from changing their communication practices. To enhance the cultural competence in maternity care, it is essential to implement more comprehensive initiatives involving healthcare professionals in maternity care at all levels, from pregraduate to postgraduate. Adequate interpreter services and management support should also be ensured. Currently, the Danish antenatal care system faces challenges including inadequate information transfer between healthcare sectors, insufficient differentiation of care, and inflexibility in midwife scheduling. This results in a lack of responsiveness to the individual needs of women with immigrant backgrounds, potentially reproducing health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the circumstances, causes and timing of death in extremely preterm infants. Methods: We included from the EPIPAGE‐2 study infants born at 24–26 weeks in 2011 admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Vital status and circumstances of death were used to define three groups of infants: alive at discharge, death with or without withholding or withdrawing life‐sustaining treatment (WWLST). The main cause of death was classified as respiratory disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, infection, central nervous system (CNS) injury, other or unknown. Results: Among 768 infants admitted to NICU, 224 died among which 89 died without WWLST and 135 with WWLST. The main causes of death were respiratory disease (38%), CNS injury (30%) and infection (12%). Among the infants who died with WWLST, CNS injury was the main cause of death (47%), whereas respiratory disease (56%) and infection (20%) were the main causes in case of death without WWLST. Half (51%) of all deaths occurred within the first 7 days of life, and 35% occurred within 8 and 28 days. Conclusion: The death of extremely preterm infants in NICU is a complex phenomenon in which the circumstances and causes of death are intertwined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our objective was to study the strength of the association between meconium‐stained amniotic fluid and severe morbidity among neonates of nulliparas with prolonged pregnancies. Material and methods: This was a secondary analysis of the NOCETER randomized trial that took place between 2009 and 2012 in which 11 French maternity units included 1373 nulliparas at 41+0 weeks of gestation onwards with a single live fetus in cephalic presentation. This analysis excluded patients with a cesarean delivery before labor and those with bloody amniotic fluid or of unreported consistency. The principal end point was a composite criterion of severe neonatal morbidity (neonatal death, 5‐minute Apgar <7, convulsions in the first 24 h, meconium aspiration syndrome, mechanical ventilation ≥24 h, or neonatal intensive care unit admission for 5 days or more). The neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with thin or thick meconium‐stained amniotic fluid were compared with those with normal amniotic fluid. The association between the consistency of the amniotic fluid and neonatal morbidity was tested by univariate and then multivariate analysis adjusted for gestational age at birth, duration of labor, and country of birth. Results: This study included 1274 patients: 803 (63%) in the group with normal amniotic fluid, 196 (15.4%) in the thin amniotic fluid group, and 275 (21.6%) in the thick amniotic fluid group. The neonates of patients with thick amniotic fluid had higher rates of neonatal morbidity than those of patients with normal amniotic fluid (7.3% vs. 2.2%; p < 0.001; adjusted relative risk [aRR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–6.3), but those of patients with thin amniotic fluid did not (3.1% vs. 2.2%; p = 0.50; aRR 1.0, 95% CI, 0.4–2.7). Conclusions: Among nulliparas at 41+0 weeks onwards, only thick meconium‐stained amniotic fluid is associated with a higher rate of severe neonatal morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Literature focusing on migration and maternal health inequalities is inconclusive, possibly because of the heterogeneous definitions and settings studied. We aimed to synthesize the literature comparing the risks of severe maternal outcomes in high-income countries between migrant and native-born women, overall and by host country and region of birth. Methods and findings: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis using the Medline/PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for the period from January 1, 1990 to April 18, 2023. We included observational studies comparing the risk of maternal mortality or all-cause or cause-specific severe maternal morbidity in high-income countries between migrant women, defined by birth outside the host country, and native-born women; used the Newcastle–Ottawa scale tool to assess risk of bias; and performed random-effects meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses were planned by host country and region of birth. The initial 2,290 unique references produced 35 studies published as 39 reports covering Europe, Australia, the United States of America, and Canada. In Europe, migrant women had a higher risk of maternal mortality than native-born women (pooled risk ratio [RR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14, 1.58; p < 0.001), but not in the USA or Australia. Some subgroups of migrant women, including those born in sub-Saharan Africa (pooled RR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.03, 4.15; p < 0.001), Latin America and the Caribbean (pooled RR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.43, 5.35; p = 0.002), and Asia (pooled RR, 1.57, 95% CI, 1.09, 2.26; p = 0.01) were at higher risk of maternal mortality than native-born women, but not those born in Europe or in the Middle East and North Africa. Although they were studied less often and with heterogeneous definitions of outcomes, patterns for all-cause severe maternal morbidity and maternal intensive care unit admission were similar. We were unable to take into account other social factors that might interact with migrant status to determine maternal health because many of these data were unavailable. Conclusions: In this systematic review of the existing literature applying a single definition of "migrant" women, we found that the differential risk of severe maternal outcomes in migrant versus native-born women in high-income countries varied by host country and region of origin. These data highlight the need to further explore the mechanisms underlying these inequities. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021224193. In a systematic review and meta analysis of data obtained from 35 studies, Maxime Eslier and colleagues synthesize and compare the risk of severe maternal outcomes in high income countries between migrant and native-born women, overall and by host country and region of birth. Why was this study done?: Some studies conducted in high-income countries report that the risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity is higher for migrant than native-born women, while other studies do not. Whether this heterogeneity is related to differences in the definition and measurement of migration and of maternal outcomes or to real differences between settings remains unclear. What did the researchers do and find?: In this literature review including 35 studies, we found that, in high-income countries, the differential risk of severe maternal outcomes in migrant women, defined as born outside the host country, compared to native-born women, varied by the host country and the migrant women's region of birth. In Europe, migrant women were generally at higher risk of severe maternal outcomes than native-born women, whereas the risks for migrant women did not differ significantly from those for native-born women in United States of America or Australia. Among migrant women, those born in sub-Saharan Africa, in Latin America and the Caribbean, or in Asia were at higher risk of severe maternal outcomes than their native-born counterparts, while those born in Europe or in the Middle East and North Africa were not. What do these findings mean?: When a single definition of "migrant" women was applied, the differential risk of severe maternal outcomes in migrant versus native-born women in high-income countries varied by host country and region of origin. These data highlight the need to further explore the mechanisms underlying these inequities. Future studies should use harmonized definitions for all-cause and cause-specific severe maternal morbidity and take into account other social factors such as race/ethnicity, migrant women's administrative status, and economic factors that may interact with migration to understand the inequalities in maternal health between migrant and native-born women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pre‐viable premature rupture of membranes (pre‐viable PROM) is a rare event occurring in less than 1% of pregnancies. Nevertheless, it can be responsible for severe maternal complications, the risk of which needs to be balanced with the possibility to prolong the pregnancy up to viable gestational age. Maternal sepsis was reported in 1%–5% of women who received conservative management and prophylactic antibiotics, but information on maternal mortality is lacking. Our objective was to identify maternal deaths in women who had pre‐viable PROM, describe the characteristics of the women, explore preventability factors within the care they received, and estimate the lethality of pre‐viable PROM. Material and methods: We identified all maternal deaths associated with pre‐viable PROM from the 2001–2015 French National Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths (NCMM). Data on women's characteristics and the care they received were extracted from the ENCMM database. The lethality was determined after estimating the total number of pregnant women with pre‐viable PROM from the national hospital discharge database. Results: Between 2001 and 2015, we identified seven maternal deaths associated with pre‐viable PROM, representing 0.6% of all maternal deaths over this period (ie, maternal mortality ratio 0.06/100 000 live births). Six maternal deaths were attributed to sepsis after genital infection by Gram‐negative bacilli and one to postpartum hemorrhage due to placenta accreta. Four of these seven cases were considered preventable. The main preventability factors were delayed diagnosis, delayed fetal extraction, and inappropriate antibiotic treatment. The estimated lethality was 4.5/10 000 women with pre‐viable PROM. Conclusions: Maternal death associated with pre‐viable PROM is rare but possible. Most of these deaths seem preventable, with areas for improvement related to earlier diagnosis and better treatment of uterine infections, which can evolve rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the risk of severe maternal outcomes among migrant women, considering both their legal status and birthplace; in Europe, migrant women, especially from sub‐Saharan Africa, have higher risks of adverse maternal outcomes compared with non‐migrants and legal status, a component of migrant condition, may be an important, and potentially actionable, risk factor. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Four maternity units around Paris in 2010–12. Sample: A total of 9599 women with singleton pregnancies. Methods: Legal status was categorised in four groups: reference group of non‐migrant native Frenchwomen, legal migrants with French or European citizenship, other legal migrants with non‐European citizenship, and undocumented migrants. The risk of severe maternal morbidity was assessed with multivariable logistic regression models according to women's legal status and birthplace. Main outcome measure: Binary composite criterion of severe maternal morbidity. Results: Undocumented migrants had resided for less time in France, experienced social isolation, linguistic barriers and poor housing conditions more frequently and had a pre‐pregnancy medical history at lower risk than other migrants. The multivariable analysis showed that they had a higher risk of severe maternal morbidity than non‐migrants (33/715 [4.6%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.68, 95% CI 1.12–2.53). This increased risk was significant for undocumented women from sub‐Saharan Africa (18/308 [5.8%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.30–3.91), and not for those born elsewhere (15/407 [3.7%] versus 129/4523 [2.9%]; aOR 1.44, 95% CI 0.82–2.53). Conclusion: Undocumented migrants are the migrant subgroup at highest risk of severe maternal morbidity, whereas the prevalence of risk factors does not appear to be higher in this subgroup. This finding suggests that their interaction with maternity care services may be sub‐optimal. Undocumented migrants, especially those born in sub‐Saharan Africa, have the highest risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity. Undocumented migrants, especially those born in sub‐Saharan Africa, have the highest risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity. This article includes Author Insights, a video abstract available at: https://vimeo.com/bjog/authorinsights17124 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in various countries. Normal weight before pregnancy is important to protect maternal and newborn health. This study aimed to describe the evolution of body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy in France and explore its association with two measures of socioeconomic status (SES), education and household income. Methods Data were from four national perinatal surveys in France in 1998, 2003, 2010 and 2016 to describe the time evolution of maternal BMI. We explored the links between BMI and women's characteristics in the most recent period (2010–2016 surveys) since income information was not available before. Risk ratios (RRs) of underweight, overweight and obesity for each measure of SES were computed by using multivariable Poisson regression models. Results Overweight and obesity prevalence increased between 1998 and 2016, from 6% to 12% for obesity. Both were inversely associated with SES (higher prevalence among least educated and poorest women), with strong variations for each social indicator, even in multivariable analyses including both. Combining education and income revealed a wide gradient; RR for obesity was 6.01 (95% confidence interval 4.89–7.38) with low education and income <2000 euros/month vs. high education and income ≥4000 euros/month. Conclusions Public policies must implement programs to limit the increase in overweight and its unequal distribution in the population, alongside other policies to address the societal determinants of the obesogenic environment. Health professionals need to advise women to improve their eating and physical activity to limit weight gain from childhood to early adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based policy-making to reduce perinatal health inequalities requires an accurate measure of social disparities. We aimed to evaluate the relevance of two municipality-level deprivation indices (DIs), the French-Deprivation-Index (FDep) and the French-European-Deprivation-Index (FEDI) in perinatal health through two key perinatal outcomes: preterm birth (PTB) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA).Methods: We used two data sources: The French National Perinatal Surveys (NPS) and the French national health data system (SNDS). Using the former, we compared the gradients of the associations between individual socioeconomic characteristics (educational level and income) and "PTB and SGA" and associations between municipality-level DIs (Q1:least deprived; Q5:most deprived) and "PTB and SGA". Using the SNDS, we then studied the association between each component of the two DIs (census data, 2015) and "PTB and SGA". Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were estimated using multilevel logistic regression with random intercept at the municipality level.Results: In the NPS (N = 26,238), PTB and SGA were associated with two individual socioeconomic characteristics: maternal educational level (≤ lower secondary school vs. ≥ Bachelor's degree or equivalent, PTB: aOR = 1.43 [1.22-1.68], SGA: (1.31 [1.61-1.49]) and household income (< 1000 € vs. ≥ 3000 €, PTB: 1.55 [1.25-1.92], SGA: 1.69 [1.45-1.98]). For both FDep and FEDI, PTB and SGA were more frequent in deprived municipalities (Q5: 7.8% vs. Q1: 6.3% and 9.0% vs. 5.9% for PTB, respectively, and 12.0% vs. 10.3% and 11.9% vs. 10.2% for SGA, respectively). However, after adjustment, neither FDep nor FEDI showed a significant gradient with PTB or SGA. In the SNDS (N = 726,497), no FDep component, and only three FEDI components were significantly associated (specifically, the % of the population with ≤ lower secondary level of education with both outcomes (PTB: 1.5 [1.15-1.96]); SGA: 1.25 [1.03-1.51]), the % of overcrowded (i.e., > 1 person per room) houses (1.63 [1.15-2.32]) with PTB only, and unskilled farm workers with SGA only (1.52 [1.29-1.79]).Conclusion: Some components of FDep and FEDI were less relevant than others for capturing ecological inequalities in PTB and SGA. Results varied for each DI and perinatal outcome studied. These findings highlight the importance of testing DI relevance prior to examining perinatal health inequalities, and suggest the need to develop DIs that are suitable for pregnant women. . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although nontyphoidal Salmonella infections have a prevalence of 0.2-1.8%. It is mostly described in veterinary medicine; it could be responsible for severe intra-amniotic infections in humans. The objective of this review is to describe the clinical and microbiological aspects of intrauterine infection (IUI) caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella.Methods: We reported a case analysis and subsequently conducted a systematic literature review of IUI caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella between 1966 and 2018.Results: In literature nine cases have been reported, and were confirmed by the identification of a nontyphoidal Salmonella in the biological samples. Our review reveals severe clinical presentations in pregnant women. Indeed, sepsis, spontaneous abortions, and fatal outcomes for fetuses were described in 90, 60, and 80% of the cases, respectively. The major clinical symptoms were in majority acute, with high fever, abdominal pain, metrorrhagia, and premature membranes ruptures. Nulliparity is a risk factor and the prognosis depends on the pregnancy stage. All mothers received antibiotics and their outcomes were favorable.Conclusions: Nontyphoidal Salmonella infections can be responsible for severe pregnancy complications. Considering the severe neonatal prognosis, in case of a history of diarrhea and/or sepsis, a search for this pathogen should be considered, and a preventive strategy could be discussed during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 34 weeks of gestation complicates 1% of pregnancies and accounts for one-third of preterm births. International guidelines recommend expectant management, along with antenatal steroids before 34 weeks and antibiotics. Up-to-date evidence about the risks and benefits of administering tocolysis after PPROM, however, is lacking. In theory, reducing uterine contractility could delay delivery and reduce the risks of prematurity and its adverse short- and long-term consequences, but it might also prolong fetal exposure to inflammation, infection, and acute obstetric complications, potentially associated with neonatal death or long-term sequelae. The primary objective of this study is to assess whether short-term (48 h) tocolysis reduces perinatal mortality/morbidity in PPROM at 22 to 33 completed weeks of gestation.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial will be performed in 29 French maternity units. Women with PPROM between 220/7 and 336/7 weeks of gestation, a singleton pregnancy, and no condition contraindicating expectant management will be randomized to receive a 48-hour oral treatment by either nifedipine or placebo (1:1 ratio). The primary outcome will be the occurrence of perinatal mortality/morbidity, a composite outcome including fetal death, neonatal death, or severe neonatal morbidity before discharge. If we assume an alpha-risk of 0.05 and beta-risk of 0.20 (i.e., a statistical power of 80%), 702 women (351 per arm) are required to show a reduction of the primary endpoint from 35% (placebo group) to 25% (nifedipine group). We plan to increase the required number of subjects by 20%, to replace any patients who leave the study early. The total number of subjects required is thus 850. Data will be analyzed by the intention-to-treat principle.Discussion: This trial will inform practices and policies worldwide. Optimized prenatal management to improve the prognosis of infants born preterm could benefit about 50,000 women in the European Union and 40,000 in the United States each year.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03976063 (registration date June 5, 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine disparities by maternal place of birth in the opportunity to make an informed choice about Down syndrome screening, in France, where the national guidelines recommend that physicians offer it to all pregnant women.Methods: We used population-based data from the nationally representative French Perinatal Surveys in 2010 and 2016 (N=24,644 women) to analyze the opportunity for an informed choice for prenatal screening, measured by a composite indicator.Results: Among the 24 644 women in the study, 20 612 (83.6%) were born in France, 861 (3.5%) elsewhere in Europe, 1550 (6.3%) in North Africa, and 960 (3.9%) in sub-Saharan Africa. The probability of screening was lower for women born outside France. After adjustment for survey year, maternal age, parity, education level, and the maternity unit's level of perinatal care, women born outside France had the opportunity to make an informed choice less often than women born in France. This association remained essentially the same even after excluding women without adequate prenatal care.Conclusions: Women born outside France, including those with adequate prenatal care, had less opportunity than women born in France to make an informed choice about prenatal screening for Down syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high‐income countries, breastfeeding has been shown to be positively associated with socioeconomic position. However, less is known about breastfeeding practices and their associated factors among extremely disadvantaged populations. We aimed to assess the associations of cultural origins and socioeconomic factors with any breastfeeding initiation and duration in homeless families. We analyzed data from 456 children aged 6 months to 5 years from the cross‐sectional ENFAMS survey, conducted in 2013 among a random sample of homeless families in shelters in the Greater Paris area. Data were collected by bilingual interviewers in 17 languages. Four nested multivariable robust Poisson regression models were run in a hierarchical framework to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding initiation and with any breastfeeding for 6 months or more. Most of the children (86.0%) had previously been or were currently being breastfed at the time of the survey; 58.9% were fed with breast milk ≥6 months. A higher maternal age and African origin were positively associated with breastfeeding ≥6 months, although the relation to the region of origin was moderated by education level. Migration to escape war, unrest or other violence and the child's birth in France were inversely associated with breastfeeding ≥6 months. Any breastfeeding by these homeless mothers seems influenced predominantly by their cultural origin and complicated by a difficult migration trajectory. The possible influence of poor material circumstances and cumulative hardship should encourage interventions targeted at homeless mothers that emphasize social/family support with a commitment to improving the family's living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxytocin is effective in reducing labor duration, but can be associated with fetal and maternal complications such as neonatal acidosis and post-partum hemorrhage. When comparing discontinuing oxytocin in the active phase with continuing oxytocin infusion, previous studies were underpowered to show a reduction in neonatal morbidity. Thus, we aim at evaluating the impact of discontinuing oxytocin during the active phase of the first stage of labor on the neonatal morbidity rate.Methods: STOPOXY is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled trial conducted in 20 maternity units in France. The first participant was recruited January 17th 2020. The trial includes women with a live term (≥37 weeks) singleton, in cephalic presentation, receiving oxytocin before 4 cm, after an induced or spontaneous labor. Women aged < 18 years, with a lack of social security coverage, a scarred uterus, a multiple pregnancy, a fetal congenital malformation, a growth retardation <3rd percentile or an abnormal fetal heart rate at randomization are excluded. Women are randomized before 6 cm when oxytocin is either continued or discontinued. Randomization is stratified by center and parity. The primary outcome, neonatal morbidity is assessed using a composite variable defined by an umbilical arterial pH at birth < 7.10 and/or a base excess > 10 mmol/L and/or umbilical arterial lactates> 7 mmol/L and/or a 5 min Apgar score < 7 and/or admission in neonatal intensive care unit. The primary outcome will be compared between the two groups using a chi-square test with a p-value of 0.05. Secondary outcomes include neonatal complications, duration of active phase, mode of delivery, fetal and maternal complications during labor and delivery, including cesarean delivery rate and postpartum hemorrhage, and birth experience. We aim at including 2475 women based on a reduction in neonatal morbidity from 8% in the control group to 5% in the experimental group, with a power of 80% and an alpha risk of 5%.Discussion: Discontinuing oxytocin during the active phase of labor could improve both child health, by reducing moderate to severe neonatal morbidity, and maternal health by reducing cesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage rates.Trial Registration: Clinical trials NCT03991091 , registered June 19th, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiologies of undifferentiated fever in pregnant women have not been studied thoroughly. Because of its non-specific presentation but severe prognosis, listeriosis is often suspected in this setting, but in most cases not confirmed. We studied the causes of undifferentiated fever in pregnant women who received preemptive listeriosis treatment. We conducted from November 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013, a prospective multicentric observational cohort study of pregnant women referred to obstetrical wards with undifferentiated fever and who received listeriosis preemptive treatment. Clinical and biological features, treatment, outcome, and final diagnosis were collected. We enrolled 103 febrile pregnant women. A cause was identified in 77/103 (75%): viral infection in 52/103 (50%, influenza in 21 (20%)), bacterial infection in 22 (21%, including 16 pyelonephritis (16%) and 3 pneumonias (3%)), and TORCH infection in 3 (3%, varicella, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus primo-infections, n=1, each). Viral infections collected during influenza outbreaks (December–March) accounted for 43/57 (75%) cases. Two fetal losses were reported in the context of febrile pneumonia. Final diagnoses required adapting medical care in 46/77 (60%) of cases, for bacterial, influenza, or TORCH infections. A large array of benign to potentially severe infections manifests as acute undifferentiated fever in pregnant women, requiring careful repeated evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the extent to which pre-pregnancy obesity mediates the association between maternal place of birth and severe pre-eclampsia in the PreCARE cohort of pregnant women in Paris (n = 9,579). Adjusted path analysis logistic regression models were used to assess the role of pre-pregnancy obesity as a mediator in the association between maternal place of birth and the development of severe pre-eclampsia. We calculated 1. adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the total exposure-outcome association and for the direct and indirect/obesity-mediated components 2. the indirect/obesity-mediated effect. Ninety-five (0.99%) women developed severe pre-eclampsia, 47.6% were non-European immigrants, 16.3% were born in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 12.6% were obese (BMI > = 30 kg/m2). Women experiencing severe pre-eclampsia were more likely to be from Sub-Saharan Africa (p = 0.023) and be obese (p = 0.048). Mothers from Sub-Saharan Africa had an increased risk of severe pre-eclampsia compared to European-born mothers (aOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.39–4.58) and the obesity-mediated indirect effect was 18% of the total risk (aOR 1.18, 95%CI 1.03–1.35). In conclusion, Sub-Saharan African immigrant women have a two-fold higher risk of developing severe pre-eclampsia as compared to European-born women, one-fifth of which is mediated by pre-pregnancy obesity. Our results quantify the potential benefit of decreasing obesity among at-risk women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During pregnancy, mothers-to-be should adapt their diet to meet increases in nutrient requirements. Pregnant women appear to be keener to adopt healthier diets, but are not always successful. The objective of the present study was to determine whether a guided, stepwise and tailored dietary counselling programme, designed using an optimisation algorithm, could improve the nutrient adequacy of the diet of pregnant women, beyond generic guidelines. Pregnant women (n 80) who attended Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Maternity Clinic were randomly allocated to the control or intervention arm. Dietary data were obtained twice from an online 3-d dietary record. The nutrient adequacy of the diet was calculated using the PANDiet score, a 100-point diet quality index adapted to the specific nutrient requirements for pregnancy. Women were supplied with generic dietary guidelines in a reference booklet. In the intervention arm, they also received nine sets of tailored dietary advice identified by an optimisation algorithm as best improving their PANDiet score. Pregnant women (n 78) completed the 12-week dietary follow-up. Initial PANDiet scores were similar in the control and intervention arms (60·4 (sd 7·3) v. 60·3 (sd 7·3), P = 0·92). The PANDiet score increased in the intervention arm (+3·6 (sd 9·3), P = 0·02) but not in the control arm (−0·3 (sd 7·3), P = 0·77), and these changes differed between arms (P = 0·04). In the intervention arm, there were improvements in the probabilities of adequacy for α -linolenic acid, thiamin, folate and cholesterol intakes (P < 0·05). Tailored dietary counselling using a computer-based algorithm is more effective than generic dietary counselling alone in improving the nutrient adequacy of the diet of French women in mid-pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In infants, the mode of acquisition of CC17 group B Streptococcus (GBS), the hypervirulent clone responsible for late-onset disease (LOD), remains elusive Methods In a prospective multicenter study in France, we evaluated GBS colonization in mother–baby pairs with 2 months of follow-up between 2012 and 2015. Criteria included positivity for GBS colonization at antenatal screening or at delivery. Maternal vaginal samples and infant oral cavity and stool samples were analyzed at delivery, 21 ± 7 days (D21), and 60 ± 7 days (D60) post-delivery Results A total of 890 mother–baby pairs were analyzed. GBS colonized 7%, 21%, and 23% of the infants at birth, D21, and D60, respectively, of which 10%, 11%, and 13% were identified as CC17 GBS. Concordance between maternal and infant GBS type was 96%. At D21, the main risk factors for infant colonization by GBS were simultaneous maternal colonization of the vagina (odds ratio [OR], 4.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69–15.61) and breast milk (OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 3.81–17.14). Importantly, 38% (95% CI, 23%–56%) of infants colonized by CC17 GBS appeared colonized for the first time at D60 vs 18% (95% CI, 14%–24%; P <.049) of infants colonized by non-CC17 GBS. Multivariate analysis showed a higher risk for de novo infant colonization by CC17 at D60 than by other GBS (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.02–5.88). Conclusions The high incidence of CC17 GBS in LOD is likely due to an enhanced post-delivery mother-to-infant transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: L'incontinence anale (IA) du post-partum est un sujet d'actualité en raison de sa fréquence et de son impact significatif sur la qualité et les projets de vie de la femme. L'accouchement par voie basse semble être un facteur de risque d'IA du post-partum par un mécanisme le plus souvent multifactoriel (neuropathie pudendale, modifications tissulaires et déchirures sphinctériennes). Le dépistage concerne les patientes ayant des facteurs de risque obstéricaux propres à la mère et au bébé (âge avancé et surpoids maternel, multiparité, macrosomie, présentations dystociques du bébé, etc.) mais également vise à identifier les lésions sphinctériennes anales préexistantes chez la mère même si elle est asympatomatique. La césarienne programmée semble prévenir le risque d'IA chez ces patientes à risque, mais quelques études récentes poussent à la réflexion en raison de leurs résultats négatifs. La grande majorité des patientes souffrant d'IA du post-partum s'améliore voire devient asymptomatique spontanément dans les six mois après l'accouchement en raison de la régression des lésions nerveuses et tissulaires. Cependant, en cas de déchirure sphinctérienne, une réparation doit s'envisager par une personne expérimentée, même si ses résultats à long terme semblent se dégrader. La prise en charge de l'IA du post-partum n'a rien de spécifique et repose en première intention sur la régularisation du transit ± la rééducation anale. La neuromodulation sacrée est réservée aux échecs du traitement médical et parfois même avant la réparation sphinctérienne. Elle donne des résultats intéressants à court et à long terme aussi bien sur l'IA mais également sur une incontinence urinaire associée (situation fréquente). Anal incontinence (AI) after childbirth is a topical issue that significantly impacts the women's quality and life plans. Vaginal deliveries appear to be a risk factor for AI by a mechanism that is most often multifactorial (pudendal neuropathy, tissue modifications, anal sphincter injuries). Screening concerns patients with obstetric risk factors specific to the mother and baby (advanced age and maternal overweight, multiparity, macrosomia, abnormal presentation of the baby, etc.) but also aims to identify pre-existing anal sphincter tears in the mother even without any signs of AI. Scheduled caesarean section seems to prevent the risk of AI in these at-risk patients, but some recent studies are thought provoking because of their negative results. The vast majority of patients with post-partum AI improve or even become asymptomatic spontaneously within 6 months after delivery because of the regression of nerve and tissue lesions. However, in case of obstetric anal sphincter injury, repair should be performed by an experienced person, even if its long-term results seem to be degrading. The management of post-partum AI is not specific and is based primarily on the transit regulation +/- anal rehabilitation. Sacral neurodulation is reserved for failures of medical treatment and sometimes even before sphincter repair. It gives interesting results in the short and long term as well on the AI but also on an associated urinary incontinence (frequent situation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our main objective was to examine if parental prenatal preferences predict delivery-room management of extremely preterm periviable infants. The secondary objectives were to describe parental involvement and the content of prenatal counseling given to parents for this prenatal decision. Design: Prospective study of neonates liveborn between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation in France in 2011 among the neonates included in the EPIPAGE-2 study Setting: 18 centers participating in the “Extreme Prematurity Group” substudy of the EPIPAGE-2 study. Patients: 302 neonates liveborn between 22–26 weeks among which 113 with known parental preferences while parental preferences were unknown or unavailable for 186 and delivery room management was missing for 3. Results: Data on prenatal counseling and parental preferences were collected by a questionnaire completed by professionals who cared for the baby at birth; delivery room (DR) management, classified as stabilization or initiation of resuscitation (SIR) vs comfort care (CC). The 113 neonates studied had a mean (SD) gestational age of 24 (0.1) weeks. Parents of neonates in the CC group preferred SIR less frequently than those with neonates in the SIR group (16% vs 88%, p < .001). After multivariate analysis, preference for SIR was an independent factor associated with this management. Professionals qualified decisions as shared (81%), exclusively medical (16%) or parental (3%). Information was described as medical with no personal opinion (71%), complete (75%) and generally pessimistic (54%). Conclusion: Parental involvement in prenatal decision-making did not reach satisfying rates in the studied setting. When available, prenatal parental preference was a determining factor for DR management of extremely preterm neonates. Potential biases in the content of prenatal counselling given to parents need to be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between in vitro fertilisation IVF and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and to explore the role of multiple pregnancy as an intermediate factor.Design: Population-based cohort-nested case-control study.Setting: Six French regions in 2012/13.Population: Cases were 2540 women with SMM according to the EPIMOMS definition; controls were 3651 randomly selected women who gave birth without SMM.Methods: Analysis of the associations between IVF and SMM with multivariable logistic regression models, differentiating IVF with autologous oocytes (IVF-AO) from IVF with oocyte donation (IVF-OD). The contribution of multiple pregnancy as an intermediate factor was assessed by path analysis.Main Outcome Measures: Severe maternal morbidity overall and SMM according to its main underlying causal condition and by severity (near misses).Results: The risk of SMM was significantly higher in women with IVF (adjusted OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.3). The risk of SMM was significantly higher with IVF-AO, for all-cause SMM (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7), for near misses (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8), and for intra/postpartum haemorrhages (aOR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.2). The risk of SMM was significantly higher with IVF-OD, for all-cause SMM (aOR = 18.6, 95% CI 4.4-78.5), for near misses (aOR = 18.1, 95% CI 4.0-82.3), for SMM due to hypertensive disorders (aOR = 16.7, 95% CI 3.3-85.4) and due to intra/postpartum haemorrhages (aOR = 18.0, 95% CI 4.2-77.8). Path-analysis estimated that 21.6% (95% CI 10.1-33.0) of the risk associated with IVF-OD was mediated by multiple pregnancy, and 49.6% (95% CI 24.0-75.1) of the SMM risk associated with IVF-AO.Conclusion: The risk of SMM is higher in IVF pregnancies after adjustment for confounders. Exploratory results suggest higher risks among women with IVF-OD; however, confidence intervals were wide, so this finding needs to be confirmed. A large part of the association between IVF-AO and SMM appears to be mediated by multiple pregnancy.Tweetable Abstract: The risk of severe maternal morbidity is higher in IVF-conceived pregnancies than in pregnancies conceived by other means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether antibiotics used for treatment in asymptomatic second-trimester women positive for Mycoplasma or Ureaplasma spp. detected by amniotic-fluid PCR prevents preterm delivery. Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: 10 maternal fetal medicine centers in France. Population: Women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent amniocentesis between 16 and 20 weeks’ gestation (weeks) for Down syndrome screening. A sample of 238 women with PCR-positive findings per treatment group was needed to show a 50% reduction in the preterm delivery rate. Methods: Amniotic fluid was tested. Women with positive findings on real-time PCR of amniotic fluid for Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum were randomized to receive josamycin or placebo. Amniotic fluid was also tested for 16S PCR. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was delivery before 37 weeks. Results: In total, 1043 women underwent amniotic-fluid screening with specific PCR detection between July 2008 and July 2011: PCR detection failed in 27 (2.6%), and 20 (1.9%) underwent termination of pregnancy. Among the 1016 women with PCR results, 980 had available data for the primary outcome (delivery before 37 weeks) and 29 (3.0%) were positive for Ureaplasma and/or Mycoplasma spp. Because of the low rate of women with PCR-positive findings, the trial was stopped prematurely. In total, 19 women were randomized to receive placebo (n = 8) or josamycin (n = 11) and their characteristics were comparable, as was the rate of preterm delivery and secondary outcomes. In comparing all PCR-positive and -negative women regardless of treatment, PCR positivity for Ureaplasma and/or Mycoplasma spp. was not associated with any adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcome. Amniotic-fluid screening by 16S PCR showed no other bacterial colonization associated with preterm birth. Conclusions: Because of a low amniotic fluid colonization rate, the trial was interrupted. Maternal amniotic-fluid colonization by Mycoplasma and/or Ureaplasma spp. at 16–20 weeks in asymptomatic women is rare and not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health problems in the perinatal period are common. We examined associations between different categories of migrant status and region of origin in relation to mental health during pregnancy and at 2 months post-partum. Methods: We analyzed data from the French nationally representative Etude Longitudinale Francaise depuis l'Enfance birth cohort (n = 17 988). Migrant status was divided into five categories: 'majority population', 'descendants with one migrant parent', 'descendants with two migrant parents', 'naturalized migrant' and 'non-naturalized migrant women'. Multivariate logistic regression models were implemented to examine associations between migrant status and mental health outcomes: persistent psychological difficulties during pregnancy as well as mother's depression and poor self-reported health at 2 months post-partum. Results: After adjusting for covariates, migrant status was not associated with psychological difficulties during pregnancy. Descendants of migrants had comparable mental health to the majority population. Non-naturalized migrant women were more likely to experience depression (odd's ratio (OR)= 1.66, 95%confidence interval (CI): 1.27, 2.20) and poor self-reported health (OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.98) during the post-partum period. The region of origin was associated with post-partum health independently of migrant status, such that women from Africa and Turkey were most likely to have depression or poor self-rated health. Conclusion: First, but not second, generation migrant women appear to have high levels of mental health difficulties during the post-partum period. Women from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Turkey have higher levels of distress than those from other regions. In particular, non-naturalized migrant appear to be a vulnerable group; they may disproportionately face stressors that increase their risk for post-partum depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survival rates of infants born before 25 weeks of gestation are low in France and have not improved over the past decade. Active perinatal care increases these infants' likelihood of survival.Objective: Our aim was to identify factors associated with active antenatal care, which is the first step of proactive perinatal care in extremely preterm births.Methods: The population included 1020 singleton births between 220/6 and 260/6 weeks of gestation enrolled in the Etude Epidémiologique sur les Petits Ages Gestationnels 2 study, a French national population-based cohort of very preterm infants born in 2011. The main outcome was 'active antenatal care' defined as the administration of either corticosteroids or magnesium sulfate or delivery by caesarean section for fetal rescue. A multivariable analysis was performed using a two-level multilevel model taking into account the maternity unit of delivery to estimate the adjusted ORs (aORs) of receiving active antenatal care associated with maternal, obstetric and place of birth characteristics.Results: Among the population of extremely preterm births, 42% received active antenatal care. After standardisation for gestational age, regional rates of active antenatal care varied between 22% (95% CI 5% to 38%) and 61% (95% CI 44% to 78%). Despite adjustment for individual and organisational characteristics, active antenatal care varied significantly between maternity units (p=0.03). Rates of active antenatal care increased with gestational age with an aOR of 6.46 (95% CI 3.40 to 12.27) and 10.09 (95% CI 5.26 to 19.36) for infants born at 25 and 26 weeks' gestation compared with those born at 24 weeks. No other individual characteristic was associated with active antenatal care.Conclusion: Even after standardisation for gestational age, active antenatal care in France for extremely preterm births varies widely with place of birth. The dependence of life and death decisions on place of birth raises serious ethical questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal social deprivation is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Inadequate prenatal care utilization (PCU) is likely to be an important intermediate factor. The health care system in France provides essential health services to all pregnant women irrespective of their socioeconomic status. Our aim was to assess the association between maternal social deprivation and PCU.Methods: The analysis was performed in the database of the multicenter prospective PreCARE cohort study. The population source consisted in all parturient women registered for delivery in 4 university hospital maternity units, Paris, France, from October 2010 to November 2011 (N = 10,419). This analysis selected women with singleton pregnancies that ended after 22 weeks of gestation (N = 9770). The associations between maternal deprivation (four variables first considered separately and then combined as a social deprivation index: social isolation, poor or insecure housing conditions, no work-related household income, and absence of standard health insurance) and inadequate PCU were tested through multivariate logistic regressions also adjusted for immigration characteristics and education level.Results: Attendance at prenatal care was poor for 23.3% of the study population. Crude relative risks and confidence intervals for inadequate PCU were 1.6 [1.5-1.8], 2.3 [2.1-2.6], and 3.1 [2.8-3.4], for women with a deprivation index of 1, 2, and 3, respectively, compared to women with deprivation index of 0. Each of the four deprivation variables was significantly associated with an increased risk of inadequate PCU. Because of the interaction observed between inadequate PCU and mother's country of birth, we stratified for the latter before the multivariate analysis. After adjustment for the potential confounders, this social gradient remained for women born in France and North Africa. The prevalence of inadequate PCU among women born in sub-Saharan Africa was 34.7%; the social gradient in this group was attenuated and no longer significant. Other factors independently associated with inadequate PCU were maternal age, recent immigration, and unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.Conclusion: Social deprivation is independently associated with an increased risk of inadequate PCU. Recognition of risk factors is an important step in identifying barriers to PCU and developing measures to overcome them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the major complications related to delivery is labor dystocia, or an arrested labor progress. Many dystocic deliveries end vaginally after administration of oxytocin, but a large numbers of women with labor dystocia will undergo a long and unsafe parturition. As a result of the exertion required in labor, the uterus produces lactate. The uterine production of lactate is mirrored by the level of lactate in amniotic fluid (AFL). Objectives: To evaluate whether the level of AFL, analysed in a sample of amniotic fluid collected vaginally at arrested labor when oxytocin was needed, could predict labor outcome in nulliparous deliveries. Methods: A prospective multicentre study including 3000 healthy primiparous women all with a singleton pregnancy, gestational age 37 to 42 weeks and no maternal /fetal chronic and/or pregnancy-related conditions. A spontaneous onset of labor, regular contractions and cervical dilation ≥ 3 cm were required before the women were invited to take part in the study. Results: AFL, analysed within 30 minutes before augmentation, provides information about delivery outcome. Sensitivity for an acute cesarean section according to high (≥10.1mmol/l) or low (< 10.1mmol/l) AFL values was 39.0% (95% CI; 27–50), specificity 90.3% (95% CI; 87–93) PPV 37.3% (95% CI; 27–48) and NPV was 91.0% (95% CI; 88–93). The overall percentage of correct predictions of delivery outcome when the AFL level was used was 83.7%. Deliveries with a high AFL-level correlated with delivery time >12h (p = 0.04), post-partum fever (>38°C, p = 0.01) and post-partum haemorrhage >1.5L (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The AFL is a good predictor of delivery outcome in arrested nulliparous deliveries. Low levels of AFL may support the decision to continue a prolonged vaginal labor by augmentation with oxytocin. A high level of AFL correlates with operative interventions and post-partum complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether breech presentation is an independent risk factor for neonatal morbidity, mortality, or long-term neurologic morbidity in very preterm infants. Design: Prospective population-based cohort. Population: Singletons infants without congenital malformations born from 27 to 32 completed weeks of gestation enrolled in France in 1997 in the EPIPAGE cohort. Methods: The neonatal and long-term follow-up outcomes of preterm infants were compared between those in breech presentation and those in vertex presentation. The relation of fetal presentation with neonatal mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes was assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Among the 1518 infants alive at onset of labor included in this analysis (351 in breech presentation), 1392 were alive at discharge. Among those eligible to follow up and alive at 8 years, follow-up data were available for 1188 children. Neonatal mortality was significantly higher among breech than vertex infants (10.8% vs. 7.5%, P = 0.05). However the differences were not significant after controlling for potential confounders. Neonatal morbidity did not differ significantly according to fetal presentation. Severe cerebral palsy was less frequent in the group born in breech compared to vertex presentation but there was no difference after adjustment. There was no difference according to fetal presentation in cognitive deficiencies/learning disabilities or overall deficiencies. Conclusion: Our data suggest that breech presentation is not an independent risk factor for neonatal mortality or long-term neurologic deficiencies among very preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Guidelines for the management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the fetus are rare. Our main objective was to evaluate how health care practitioners in France manage cases of CMV seroconversion during pregnancy.Material and Methods: A questionnaire was e-mailed to health care practitioners potentially concerned by CMV seroconversion during pregnancy. They were asked if they would recommend amniocentesis, fetal cerebral MRI examination and fetal blood analysis (FBA), depending on the ultrasound results. They then had to indicate whether they would accept termination of pregnancy (TOP), depending on the results of these examinations.Results: A total of 380 health care practitioners responded, mainly obstetricians (73.9%) and midwives (20.2%). Overall, 57% of respondents recommended amniocentesis in the case of CMV seroconversion during the first trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound findings being normal. In cases of positive amniocentesis and a major ultrasound abnormality, 84.5% of respondents would perform cerebral MRI, and 44.4% would perform FBA. In this case, the rate of acceptance of TOP was not significantly different whether the examinations were normal (337/372, 90.6%) or not performed (339/374, 93.3%; p = 0.17).Discussion: Amniocentesis is too infrequently used and should be encouraged. The results of MRI and FBA are often not taken into account in the final decision concerning TOP. Guidelines are needed to clarify the management of CMV seroconversion during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a new tool to assess the global quality of care for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH)—the leading preventable cause of maternal mortality worldwide—and to identify characteristics of maternity units associated with inadequate PPH management. This is a secondary analysis of the EPIMOMS population-based study conducted in 2012–2013 in 119 french maternity units (182,309 women who gave birth). We included women with severe PPH. We first developed a score to quantify the quality of care for PPH. Then, we identified characteristics of the maternity units associated with "inadequate care" defined by a score below the 25th percentile, with multi-level logistic regression adjusted for individual characteristics. The score combined 8 key components of care and took into account delivery mode and PPH cause. For PPH after vaginal delivery, the risk of inadequate care was increased in low versus high-volume maternity units (< 1000 deliveries/year: aOR-2.20 [1.12–4.32], [1000–2000 [deliveries/year: aOR-1.90 [1.02–3.56] compared to ≥ 3500 deliveries/year), in private versus public units (aOR-1.72 [1.00–2.97]), and in low versus high-level of care units (aOR-2.04 [1.24–3.35]). For PPH after cesarean, the only characteristic associated with an increased risk of inadequate care was the absence of 24/24-onsite anesthesiologist (aOR-4.34 [1.41–13.31]). These results indicate where opportunities for improvement are the greatest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The elicitation of T-helper type 1 (Th1) cellular immunity to eradicate intracellular pathogens is a challenging task because of the interleukin 12 (IL-12) deficit observed in early infancy.Methods. Screening cord blood responses to various pediatric vaccines and Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists for innate responses and CD4+ T-cell differentiation.Results. We identified that nonadjuvanted inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) was able to cosignal T cells for the production of interferon γ (IFN-γ) in a neonatal setting. This process includes the mobilization of neonatal plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that efficiently engage Th1 cells in an IL-12–independent but type I IFN–dependent manner. In addition, cord blood pDCs efficiently cross-presented antigen to CD8+ T cells. Importantly, activation by TIV mainly requires TLR7; however, R848/TLR7- and CpGB/TLR9-activated pDCs, which poorly produced IFN-α, induce neonatal Th2 responses.Conclusions. TLR pathway engagement in pDCs is necessary but not sufficient for a successful neonatal Th1 outcome. We provide evidence of a mature and functional neonatal immune system at the level of APCs and T cells and propose to implement the IFN-α/IFN-γ axis in pediatric vaccination as a surrogate for the defective IL-12/IFN-γ axis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The dire conditions of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic and the immense benefits of antiretroviral prophylaxis in prevention of mother-to-child transmission far outweigh the potential for adverse effects and undeniably justify the rapid and widespread use of this therapy,despite incomplete safety data. Highly active antiretroviral therapy has now become standard care,and more than half the validated regimens include protease inhibitors. This paper reviews current knowledge of the safety of these drugs during pregnancy,in terms of maternal and fetal outcomes. Transfer of protease inhibitors across the placenta is known to be minimal,and current data about birth defects and fetal malignancies are reassuring. Maternal liver function and glucose metabolism should be monitored in women treated with protease inhibitor-based regimens,but concerns about the development of maternal resistance,should treatment be discontinued,have been shown to be groundless. Neonates should be screened for hematologic abnormalities,although these are rarely severe or permanent and are not usually related to the protease inhibitor component of the antiretroviral combination. Current findings concerning pre-eclampsia and growth restriction are discordant,and further research is needed to address the question of placental vascular complications. The increased risk of preterm birth attributed to protease inhibitors should be interpreted with caution considering the discrepant results and the multitude of confounding factors often overlooked. Although data are thus far reassuring,further research is needed to shed light on unresolved controversies about the safety of protease inhibitors during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]