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Background: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) occurs in 1–2% of pregnancies. Despite the knowledge that a SMM event can contribute to poor fetal/neonatal outcomes, little is known about the preventability of these adverse outcomes. Aims: To examine adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes associated with SMM to determine if these outcomes were potentially preventable. Materials and Methods: A New Zealand national retrospective cohort study examining cases of SMM with an adverse fetal/neonatal outcome. Maternity and initial neonatal care were explored by multidisciplinary panels utilising a preventability tool to assess whether the fetal/neonatal harm was potentially preventable. Adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes were defined as fetal or early neonatal death, Apgar score <7 at five minutes, admission to neonatal intensive care unit or special care baby unit and neonatal encephalopathy. Results: Of 85 cases reviewed, adverse fetal/neonatal outcome was deemed potentially preventable in 55.3% of cases (n = 47/85). Preventability was related to maternal antenatal/peripartum care (in utero) in 39% (n = 33/85), to initial neonatal care (ex utero) in 36% (n = 29/80), and to both maternal and neonatal care in 20% (16/80) of cases. Main contributors to potential preventability were factors related to healthcare providers, particularly lack of recognition of high risk, delayed or failure to diagnose, and delayed or inappropriate treatment. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary panels found that over half of adverse fetal/neonatal harm associated with SMM was potentially preventable. The novel approach of examining both maternal and neonatal care identifies opportunities to improve fetal/neonatal outcomes associated with SMM at multiple points on the perinatal continuum of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to summarize cases of successful pregnancy and delivery in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after atrial switch operation (ASO), to provide management, clinical experience, and maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: During a 16‐year period (2004–2019), we experienced 30 pregnancies in 15 patients after ASO at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. Results: In 30 pregnancies, there were 21 (70%) live births, five (17%) miscarriages, and four (13%) artificial abortions. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths. Cardiac complications occurred in nine (43%) patients: deterioration of right ventricular (RV) function in one, symptomatic heart failure (HF) in three, supraventricular tachyarrhythmia requiring electrical cardioversion in two, sick sinus syndrome that required pacemaker implantation in two, and hemoptysis in one. Obstetric complications occurred in five (24%). Neonatal complications were premature births (delivery at <37 weeks of gestation) in 15 (71%), and birthweight <2500 g in 18 (86%). The mode of delivery consisted of vaginal delivery (VD) in five (24%), and cesarean section (CS) in 16 (76%). Conclusion: A high incidence of preterm CS and cardiac complications including deterioration of RV function was observed in patients who had undergone ASO for TGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obese women in the antenatal and perinatal periods, in rural hospitals; and to evaluate neonatal and maternal outcomes, including transfer to larger birthing centres. Design: A retrospective clinical chart audit. Setting: Rural maternity services in five Queensland rural hospitals. Participants: Data were collected from 250 women presenting to participating rural hospitals, with an estimated due date in 2016. Main outcome measures: Obstetric and neonatal data, whether transfer occurred, mode of delivery and any complications, and neonatal outcomes including birth weight and complications were collected. Demographic information collected included maternal age, gravidity and parity, race, smoking status and pre‐pregnancy body mass index. The main outcome measures of interest were birth weight, Caesarean rate, transfer rate and diagnosis of gestational diabetes in relation to the body mass index. Results: Over 50% of women were overweight or obese while entering pregnancy, with 5.2% of mothers in the morbidly obese category. There was an increase in the birth weight of mothers with a body mass index of more than 25. The increasing body mass index was associated with an increased likelihood of transfer, diagnosis of gestational diabetes, elective and, especially, emergency Caesareans performed at the hospital. Twenty‐four percent of women continued to smoke throughout pregnancy. Conclusion: A high prevalence of obesity was found in the rural obstetric population. As the body mass index increases, so too does birth weight, gestational diabetes, transfer rate and Caesarean section rate. The rates of smoking throughout pregnancy were higher than the average metropolitan rates. These findings have implications not just for rural hospital operation and resources, but also for preventive health activities in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine the risk factors associated with having a very low birth weight ( VLBW) infant as a follow-up to the first phase of a Perinatal Periods of Risk approach. Design and Sample Retrospective cohort analysis of birth certificates. Population-based sample of 53,427 birth certificates for the city under study during the years 1999-2006. Measures The relationship of selected maternal characteristics as predictors of VLBW using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results The maternal characteristics associated with VLBW were as follows: no prenatal care (OR = 4.04), inadequate weight gain (OR = 3.97), Black, non-Hispanic race (OR = 1.50), less than 20 years old (OR = 1.42) and more than 35 years old (OR = 1.43). After analyzing age and race/ethnicity together, Black non-Hispanic women less than 20 years of age (OR = 2.70) or over 35 years of age (OR = 2.45) still had an increased odds for having a VLBW infant whereas Black non-Hispanic women between the ages of 20 and 35 did not. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest educating women on the importance of preconception care, prenatal care, and adequate pregnancy weight gain to reduce the odds of having a VLBW infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program (AMAP) was established in 2001 to provide antenatal care, birth support and postnatal care to clients in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Aim: To describe the uptake and impact of AMAP services on access to antenatal care, behavioural risk factors and pregnancy outcomes and to compare the characteristics of AMAP clients with other women giving birth in the ACT. Methods: A descriptive study of medical records for AMAP clients who gave birth in 2004-2008. Outcome measures: maternal and baby characteristics, antenatal visits, behavioural risk factors and complications. Characteristics of AMAP clients were compared with the ACT Maternal and Perinatal Collection. Results: Of 187 women, 11.2% were aged <20 years, 50.3% presented in the first trimester and 94.7% attended five or more antenatal visits. Of 193 babies, 17.1% were born preterm and 18.1% had low birthweight. Compared with the ACT Maternal and Perinatal Collection, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AMAP clients had a higher smoking rate (63.8 vs 49.0%), a lower caesarean delivery rate (20.0 vs 27.6%), a slightly lower proportion of preterm babies (18.8 vs 21.6%) and a slightly lower proportion of low-birthweight babies (18.8 vs 21.0%). Conclusions: Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program provides high-quality antenatal care in a trusted environment. The high rate of smoking in pregnancy needs to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]