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Preterm birth (PTB) increases the risk of various acute and chronic morbidities and premature mortality in children under 5 years of age. The present study examines the association between different maternal obstetric factors and PTB. In addition, this study estimates the risk of neonatal mortality among children born preterm.Retrospective two-stage stratified sample design.The weighted prevalence of PTB was estimated using data on 148,746 most recent institutional births from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4, 2015-16. The Poisson regression model was used to investigate the association between maternal obstetric factors and PTB. Using Cox's proportional hazard model, the risk of neonatal mortality among PTBs was estimated.Maternal obstetric factors, such as minimal antenatal care, delivery complications, history of previous caesarean delivery and delivery at private health facilities, were significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB. The survival probability of preterm babies sharply declined in the first week of life and thereafter was found to stabilise. The risk of mortality in the first 28 days of life increased 2.5-fold if the baby was born preterm. Optimising antenatal care was found to lower the likelihood of PTB and improve their chances of survival.Antenatal care services and delivery care practices in private facilities were strongly associated with the incidence and survival of PTB. Evaluating associations of history of caesarean births on future pregnancies can help understand their deleterious effects on PTB. Affordable, accessible and available antenatal care services, in both public and private facilities, can increase the survival rates of PTBs.

Infants born extremely premature (EP) (28 weeks gestational age) are at high risk of complications, particularly bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which can develop into chronic lung disease (CLD).The burden of respiratory complications in EP infants up to 2 years corrected age (CA) was evaluated using real-world data from the US Medicaid program. Data recorded between 1997 and 2018 on EP infants without major congenital malformations were collected from Medicaid records of six states. EP infants were divided into three cohorts: BPD, CLD, and without BPD or CLD. The incidence of respiratory conditions, respiratory medication use, and healthcare resource utilization were compared between the BPD cohort and CLD cohort versus the cohort without BPD or CLD, using unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear models.A total of 4462 EP infants were identified (17.4% of all premature infants in the database). Of these, BPD and CLD were diagnosed in 61.9% and 72.1%, respectively, and 14.5% were diagnosed with neither BPD nor CLD. Compared with infants without BPD or CLD, infants with BPD or CLD had more complications and a longer length of birth hospitalization stay. Respiratory distress syndrome was the most frequently reported complication (94.6%, 92.5%, and 82.3% of EP infants in the BPD, CLD, and without BPD or CLD cohorts, respectively). After the birth hospitalization, respiratory conditions, respiratory medication use, and incidence rates of rehospitalizations, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits were higher for infants with BPD or CLD. Rehospitalization occurred in 50.5%, 51.6%, and 27.3% of EP infants with BPD, CLD, or without BPD or CLD, respectively; most hospitalizations occurred for respiratory-related reasons.In this analysis of a large population of EP infants up to 2 years CA, respiratory conditions were prevalent after the birth hospitalization and were associated with high rates of medication and healthcare resource utilization.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 million babies are born preterm each year. Preterm infants are those born at less than 37 weeks, while extremely and very preterm neonates include those born at 22 to less than 32 weeks gestational age. Infants that fail to make it to term are missing a key part in neurodevelopment, as weeks 24 to 40 are a critical period of brain development. Neonatal brain injury is a crucial predictor for mortality and morbidity in premature and low birth weight (1500 g) infants. Although the complications associated with preterm birth continue to be the number one cause of death in children under 5, the survival rates are increasing (Volpe, 2019). Despite this, the incidence of comorbidities, such as learning disabilities and visual and hearing problems, is still high. The functional deficits seen in these infants can be contributed to the white matter abnormalities (WMA) that have been found in 50% to 80% of extremely and very preterm neonates. While numerous, the etiology of the neonatal brain injury is essential for determining the mortality and morbidities of the infant, as there is an increased risk for both intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which can be attributed to their lack of cerebrovascular autoregulation and hypoxic events. Neuroimaging plays a key role in detecting and assessing these neurologic injuries that preterm infants are at risk for. It is essential to diagnose these events early on to assess neurologic damage, minimize disease progression, and provide supportive care. Brain MRI and cranial ultrasound (CUS) are both extensively used neuroimaging techniques to assess WMA, and it has become ever more important to determine the best imaging techniques and modalities with the increasing survival rates and high incidence of comorbidities among these infants.

Premature infants commonly receive adult packed red blood cells (pRBCs) during their hospital stay. As adult erythrocytes differ substantially from those of preterm infants, transfusion of adult pRBCs into preterm infants can be considered inappropriate for the physiology of a preterm infant. An absence of standardisation of transfusion protocols makes it difficult to compare and interpret pertinent clinical data, as reflected by unclear associations between pRBC transfusion and complications related to prematurity, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neurodevelopmental impairment, retinopathy of prematurity, or necrotising enterocolitis. The difficulty in interpreting clinical data is further increased by differences in study designs that either overestimate pRBC-associated complications of prematurity or have not yet been designed to directly link pRBC transfusions to their respective complications. Thus, neonatal transfusion practice has become an ongoing difficulty, in which differences in transfusion guidelines hinder the ability to generate comparable clinical data, and heterogeneity in clinical data prevents the implementation of standardised transfusion protocols. To overcome these issues, novel approaches with biochemical-clinical translational designs could enable clinicians to gather causal evidence instead of circumstantial correlation.

This study examined the risk factors that moderate the relationship between hypertension and infant outcomes or were independent risk factors in a large and diverse sample of pregnant women with and without hypertension before conception. The sample included 2,996 women, where 197 had hypertension. Black women comprised 35.5% of the hypertension group relative to 19.7% of non-hypertension. Women with hypertension were more likely to have more preterm births (17.7% vs. 7.4%; ARR = 1.91, p .001) and have infants with low birth weights (16.8% vs. 6.7%; ARR = 2.26, p .001), independent of other maternal risk factors in logistic modeling. Maternal Black race versus White also was independently associated with preterm birth (ARR = 1.42, p =.045) and low birth weight (ARR = 1.72, p .001). Maternal age and race did not significantly moderate the effects of hypertension on infant outcomes, but both Black race and hypertension status were independently associated with adverse birth outcomes.

Objective: To describe the type of milk used to feed infants seen in private pediatric practices in Brazil. To evaluate the relationship between breastfeeding, type of delivery, and history of prematurity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and observational study that included 4929 infants in the first year of life seen in private pediatric practices in the five geographic regions of Brazil. Mothers provided information about the type of milk used by their infant, the type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean), and whether the birth was premature. Results: Breastfeeding was the only source of milk for 56.1% (1546/2755) of infants in the first six months of life and 32.9% (716/2174) in the second. Of the infants who received other types of milk besides breastfeeding, there was a predominance of infant formula in 98.6% and 93.8% of the infants, respectively, in the first and in the second six months of life. Whole cow's milk was used by 0.7% (20/2755) of infants in the first six months and by 4.1% (90/2174) of infants in the second (p < 0.001). In the first six months of life, breastfeeding as the only type of milk was associated with vaginal delivery (OR = 1.79; p < 0.001) and not having a history of prematurity (OR = 2.48; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Breastfeeding was the only milk source for more than half of infants before 180 days of life. Birth by cesarean section and history of prematurity were negatively associated with breastfeeding as the only source of milk used in infant feeding.

Gaining insight into the complex cycle of renal programming and its early-life clinical associations is essential to understand the origins of kidney disease. Prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction are associated with low nephron endowment. This increases the risk of developing hypertension and chronic kidney disease later in life. There is appreciable evidence to support mechanistic links between low nephron endowment secondary to intrauterine events and kidney size, kidney function, and blood pressure in postnatal life. A clear understanding of the cycle of developmental programming and consequences of fetal insults on the kidney is critical. In addition, the impact of events in the early postnatal period (accelerated postnatal growth, development of obesity, exposure to nephrotoxins) on the cardiovascular system and blood pressure of individuals born prematurely or with low birth weight is discussed. In summary, this review draws attention to the concepts of renal programming and nephron endowment and underscores the associations between intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity, and its clinical consequences in adult life.

Objective In this brief review, the authors focus on the effects of gestational exposures to urban air pollution on fetal development and neonatal outcomes. Source of data In this review the authors used PubMed, Web of Science and SciELO research platforms, analyzing papers from the last 30 years. Summary of the findings Epidemiological and experimental evidence agree that gestational exposure to air pollution in urban increases the risks for low birth weight, preterm birth, congenital malformation, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal mortality. Furthermore, exposures are associated with increased risks for preeclampsia, hypertension, gestational diabetes. Conclusions Therefore, it is time for greater involvement and engagement of the health sector in the discussion of public policies that may affect the quality of the environment, and that directly or indirectly impact the health of those who were not yet born.

Background Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Recently, there has been an increased recognition of the importance of intestinal immunity and the associations with antibiotics and enteral feeds in the pathophysiology of NEC. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the association of enteral feeds on the survival of premature neonates with NEC. Material and methods A retrospective review using the Vermont Oxford Network for a Level IV NICU from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2019 was performed. All neonates had a gestational age between 22 to 29 weeks, weighed at least 300 grams (n = 653), had a reported enteral feed status and were treated for NEC (n = 43). Data analysis utilized two-tailed t-tests for NEC and infection rates then Fisher's exact tests for survival status. Results The incidence of NEC in the population was 6.6% (43/653). Of the 43 neonates treated for NEC, 27 were enterally fed, while the other 16 were not. All 27 neonates with NEC that were able to achieve enteral feeds survived and had an infection rate of 22.2%. Meanwhile, all 16 neonates with NEC that were unable to achieve enteral feeds died and had an infection rate of 62.5%. Conclusions There is a significant association between enteral feeds and NEC, survival, and infection rates in premature neonates. These findings support the importance of intestinal immunity and the microbiota in NEC. Given the limitations of the retrospective review, the profound survival advantage with enteral feeds reinforces the need for further study.

To focus on the longitudinal evaluation of high-risk infants for the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at a single tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and to evaluate evolving demographics of ROP and the transition of treatment-warranted disease.Retrospective cohort study.A consecutive retrospective review was performed of all infants screened for ROP between 1990 and 2019 at the Jackson Memorial Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. All inborn infants meeting a birth criteria of32 weeks' gestational age (GA) or a birthweight (BW) of 1500 g were included. Longitudinal demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data were reported.Between January 1, 1990, and June 20, 2019, a total of 25,567 examinations were performed and 7436 patients were included. Longitudinal trends over 3 decades demonstrated a decreasing incidence of ROP (P.05). Although the mean BW and GA increased over 3 decades, patients with ROP demonstrated lower BW and GA over time (P.05). The prevalence of micro-premature infants (as defined by BW750 g) continues to rise over time. Micro-preemies demonstrated increasing severity of zone and stage grading, plus disease, and propensity to require treatment (P.05). The rate of progression of ROP to stage 4 and 5 disease has decreased over time, and there has been an associated increased adoption of intravitreal bevacizumab as primary and salvage therapy.Understanding the evolution of ROP infants and treatment over time is critical in identifying high-risk infants and in reducing the incidence of severe-stage ROP. Micro-prematurity is one of the significant risk factors for treatment-warranted ROP that continues to increase as neonatal care improves. NOTE: Publication of this article is sponsored by the American Ophthalmological Society.

Background This study examined the effect of corticosteroids on the thymic index (TI) and the thymus/weight index (TWI) in infants exposed to antenatal corticosteroids (ACS). Methods This prospective study was conducted between August 2014 and October 2018. A thymus ultrasound was performed to assess thymus size on the second day of life. Thymus size was assessed as TI and TWI. Results In total, 167 neonates (≤34 weeks gestation) constituted the study population, including 94 ACS-exposed infants and 73 untreated infants. The treatment group exhibited significantly lower birth weight and significantly shorter birth length than the ACS (−) group. Therefore, TI was smaller in the treatment group than in the untreated group (6.96 ± 4.05 cm3 vs. 5.64 ± 3.39 cm3). The TWI was 3.69 ± 1.8 cm3/kg in the ACS (−) group versus 3.32 ± 1.56 cm3/kg in the ACS (+) group. The median anteroposterior diameter of the right lobe was 1.33 cm (range, 0.45–2.40) in the ACS (−) group compared to 1.15 cm (range, 0.47–2.40) in the ACS (+) group. The median anteroposterior diameter of the left lobe was 1.40 cm (range, 0.43–2.20) in the ACS (−) group and 1.19 cm (range, 0.32–2.36) in the ACS (+) group. The median largest sagittal area was 2.64 cm2 (range, 0.5–5.46) in the ACS (−) group versus 2.20 cm2 (range, 0.55–5.90) in the ACS (+) group. Conclusion We found that TWI was not significantly changed by ACS exposure in premature infants.

Although most studies show that adolescent pregnant women are at a higher risk for adverse birth outcomes, there has been limited research examining this relationship in Canada. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence of low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and stillbirth in Canadian adolescent women compared to adult women. Studies were included if they were primary research and included a sample of adolescent mothers (≤19 years) and adult mothers (≥20 years) who gave birth to singleton infants in Canada. Birth outcomes must have been measured consistently in at least 3 studies for inclusion. Comprehensive electronic literature searches were conducted from database inception until August 2020 in 5 databases. Random effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate pooled odds ratios (pOR) for LBW, PTB, and stillbirth between adolescent and adult pregnant women. Outcomes reported included PTB (8 studies), LBW (6 studies), and stillbirth (3 studies). Compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers had a 56% increase in the prevalence of LBW (pOR 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24, 1.97), a 23% increase in PTB (pOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.06, 1.42), a 20% increase in stillbirth (pOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05, 1.37). Heterogeneity, as assessed by I2, was high for LBW and PTB and was low for stillbirth. A subgroup analysis did not remove the high heterogeneity, and some studies did not adjust for confounding variables and were missing information on sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Future research is needed to investigate the mechanisms surrounding these differences by maternal age.

Objective To evaluate whether change in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management strategies over time had an impact on respiratory outcomes in premature infants. Study design Prospectively collected data were included from all preterm infants born at 23-30 weeks gestational age with PDA admitted to the Children's Hospital of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2007 (epoch 1) and January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 (epoch 2). The 2 epochs were compared for approach with PDA diagnosis and subsequent management strategies and respiratory outcomes. Results Significantly fewer infants were treated for PDA in epoch 2 (54%) compared with epoch 1 (90%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that infants in epoch 2, with later PDA diagnosis and less frequent PDA treatment, had greater odds of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), composite of BPD or death, and more treatment with postnatal steroids than in epoch 1. Conclusions The change in approach to diagnosis and management of PDA, from a more proactive and aggressive approach during the earlier epoch 1 to a more expectant approach during the subsequent epoch 2, was associated with worse respiratory outcomes, including increase in BPD and in BPD or death.

The aim was to systematically review and meta-analyze prospective cohort studies investigating the relation between maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy with pregnancy and birth outcomes. PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science were searched from inception until October 2019 for eligible studies. Studies reporting relative risk, ORs, or incidences (for binary data) or means ± SDs or B-coefficients (for continuous outcomes) comparing the highest and lowest adherence with maternal dietary patterns were included. Dietary patterns were categorized as “healthy,” “unhealthy,” or “mixed.” No language restrictions were applied. Study-specific effect sizes with SEs for outcomes of interest were pooled using a random-effects model. Quality of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Sixty-six relevant publications were included. A higher maternal adherence to a healthy diet was associated with a reduced risk of gestational hypertension (14%, P

Antenatal depression has been associated with poor perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Universal screening of perinatal depression has been recommended to improve maternal and pregnancy outcomes.We hypothesise that screening for antenatal depressive symptoms may reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. To assess the hypothesis, we explore the association between antenatal depression screening using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and neonatal outcomes.A retrospective analysis of state-wide population-based health administrative data. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women who gave birth to a singleton in Queensland in the second half of 2015 (29,543 women). Logistic regression analyses were run in 27,817 women with information in all variables. Main outcomes were preterm birth (37 weeks of gestation) and low birth weight (2500 grs).Women who did not complete the screening had increased odds of preterm birth (AOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.39-1.74; p 0.001) and low birth weight (AOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.30-1.68; p 0.001) before and after adjustments for relevant confounders when compared to women who completed the screening. Sensitivity analyses performed in women with spontaneous labour and in women without a diagnosis of depression showed similar results.We found an association between screening for depressive symptoms during pregnancy and better neonatal outcomes. However, this result does not necessarily infer causality. Any association may represent a previously unknown benefit to screening, which could support the case for universal antenatal depression screening.

BACKGROUND In piglets, low birth weight (LBW) is associated with intestinal dysfunction, which affects their growth performance and causes economic losses. OBJECTIVES This study was designed to test whether microbial quorum sensing (QS) affects LBW-induced intestinal developmental defects in piglets. METHODS Seven normal-birth-weight (NBW; 1.36 ± 0.01 kg) and 7 LBW (0.89 ± 0.01 kg) piglets were selected. Feces were collected from piglets on 2, 21, and 50 days of age for detection of the QS signaling molecules, N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), and microbiota analysis. The associations between 2 long-chain AHLs [N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL) and N-3-oxo-tetradecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3OC14-HSL)] and the microbes were tested using Spearman correlation coefficients. The effect of 3OC12-HSL and 3OC14-HSL on intestinal porcine epithelial cell-jejunum 2 (IPEC-J2) cell viability was investigated by cholecystokinin octapeptide assay. Transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA sequencing on cells treated with 3OC12-HSL. RESULTS The concentrations of 3OC12-HSL and 3OC14-HSL in the feces of LBW piglets were higher than those in NBW piglets at age 50 d by 2.5- and 2.24-fold, respectively (P

Objective To compare gestational age, birth weight (BW), and live birth rates in gestational carriers (GC) after the transfer of 1 or 2 frozen embryo(s) with or without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), with the understanding that several social and economic factors may motivate intended parents to request the transfer of 2 embryos and/or PGT-A when using a GC. Design Retrospective cohort study Setting An assisted reproductive technology practice. Patient(s) All frozen blastocyst transfers with GCs from 2009–2018. Intervention(s) One or 2 embryo frozen embryo transfers with and without PGT-A. Main Outcome Measure(s) Live birth, preterm birth, and low BW. Results A total of 583 frozen embryo transfer cycles with vitrified high-grade blastocysts (grade BB or higher) to GCs were analyzed. Although the live birth rate was significantly greater in frozen embryo transfers with 2 embryos, after single embryo transfer (SET), the mean gestational age and BW of live births were statistically significantly greater than those of double embryo transfer (DET). The rate of multiple births was 1.9% for SET compared to 20.0% for DET per transfer. Only 3.8% of live births from SET experienced low BW and 0.6% had very low or extremely low BW. By comparison, 12.5% of DET live births were low BW and 5% were very low BW. After SET, 13.4% of live births were preterm, compared with 40% in DET. The analysis also included a total of 194 transfers with PGT-A compared to 389 cycles without. Overall, live births per transfer were not significantly different between these latter 2 subgroups. Conclusion Frozen embryo transfer cycles in GCs with DET were associated with more preterm births and lower birth weights compared with those of SET. Intended parents and GCs should be counseled that DET is associated with greater risks of adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes, which mitigates higher live birth rates. The use of PGT-A did not appear to improve the live birth rate.

Background Stressful life events as important stressors have gradually been recognized as the potential etiology that may lead to adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA). However, researches on this topic have shown relatively inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to synthesize available data on the association between prenatal stressful life events and increased risks of PTB, LBW, and SGA. Methods Electronic databases were searched from their inception until September 2020. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the association between prenatal stressful life events and PTB, LBW, and SGA using random effects models. In addition, subgroup analyses, cumulative meta-analyses, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias diagnosis were conducted. STATA 14.0 was applied for statistical analyses. Results Totally 31 cohort studies involving 5,665,998 pregnant women were included. Prenatal stressful life events were associated with a 20% higher risk of PTB (RR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.10-1.32), a 23% increased risk for LBW (RR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.10-1.39), and a 14% higher risk of SGA (RR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.08-1.20). Sensitivity analysis indicated the results were stable. Conclusions Findings indicated that pregnant women experiencing prenatal stressful life events were at increased risk of PTB, LBW, and SGA. This information provided additional supports that pregnant women experiencing prenatal stressful life events would benefit from receiving assessment and management in prenatal care services.

Background Progress in neonatal medicine has dramatically improved the survival rate of preterm births, but the evidence suggests that these low-birth weight infants (LBWIs) go on to develop pervasive development disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at greater rates than the general population. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are known to suffer from deficits in visual cognition, such as in face perception and attentional functions, the characteristics of which already manifest in early infancy. Purpose This study aimed to investigate visual cognition in LBWIs during infancy. Subjects 20 LBWIs and 20 normal-birth-weight infants (NBWIs: control) of age 9–10 months (corrected age was used for LBWIs). Method Children were held seated in front of an eye tracking system by a parent, and presented with facial photos as visual stimuli. During the familiarization phase, the child was presented with two images of the same human face (familiarization stimulus) on the left and right side of a display screen (5 × 10 s trials). Next, during the test phase, the child was presented with the same image on one side of the screen, and a photo of a different person’s face (novel stimulus) on the other (2 × 5 s trials). Gaze behavior was assessed in terms of the total time spent looking at either facial stimulus, and specifically at the eyes of the stimuli, as well as the number of attentional shifts between stimuli, and novelty preference. Results/Discussion LBWIs spent significant less time looking at facial stimuli overall, and less time at the eye region, than NBWIs. These findings seem to evidence developmental differences in functions related to visual cognition.

Purpose Low birth weight (BW) individuals have an increased risk for myopic refractive error. However, it is unclear which ocular geometric alterations lead to an increase in myopic refractive error. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ocular biometry in interaction with BW on refractive error. Methods Participants of the prospective, observational, population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) with self-reported BW aged 40–80 years and objective refraction and optical biometry were included. Linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between spherical equivalent with corneal power, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and axial length and its interaction with BW adjusted for age and sex. Low BW was defined as BW

Background Advanced maternal age (AMA) has been linked to both higher risk of adverse birth outcomes and higher levels of comorbidities. It is unclear if adverse outcomes are higher for older healthy women. This study examined the association between AMA and adverse birth outcomes among women with and without preexisting and pregnancy-related health conditions. Methods Analysis of data for 14,933 singleton births between 2004 and 2015 from the population-based Maryland Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System was conducted, comparing women aged 20–34 years and 35 years and older. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the difference in odds of preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW) by age group among women with and without health conditions. The analysis of women without health conditions was stratified by parity. Results Among women without health conditions, AMA was associated with higher odds of PTB regardless of birthweight, LBW regardless of term, LBW term births, and LBW PTBs; stratified analysis showed higher risk of these outcomes among both older primiparas and multiparas. Compared with younger women with hypertensive disorders, older women with similar health conditions had higher odds of PTB regardless of birthweight. Older women with asthma had higher odds of LBW term births. Conclusions AMA is associated with adverse birth outcomes among women with and without health conditions compared with younger women with similar health status. Improved screening and management of health conditions during pregnancy is needed for older women, regardless of parity.

A literature review was conducted to determine norms for practice in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) around the world, given the harmful risks associated with radiation exposure at a very young age; risk of radiation-induced harm later in life increases with every X-ray image taken, more so for younger premature babies. Empirical studies including a measurement of radiation dose in a NICU, published after the year 2000 in a peer-reviewed journal, were collected. Measured doses to patients or X-ray phantoms, number of X-rays per stay and conclusions with recommendations made in response to these values were compared for 25 studies from around the world. The number of X-rays a patient underwent during a NICU stay ranged from 0 to 159. Younger, lower birth weight patients consistently had the greatest number of X-rays per stay. Recommended action based on measured dose ranged from extensive (to minimize risk to neonates) to minimal (to reduce risk) to none (because imaging benefits outweigh patient risk), with no consistent pattern linking recommended action with dose quantity. This demonstrates a broad range of interpretations of the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) concept. These findings indicate a disparity in the response to neonatal X-ray dose concerns on a global scale, posing a public health risk to this particular neonatal population. More up-to-date imaging protocols and dose limits specifically for the NICU environment with standardized dose monitoring would help minimize this risk to achieve the public health goals of prevention and harm reduction.

Are obstetric and perinatal complications associated with morphokinetic parameters of embryo development?This proof-of-concept pilot study included a retrospective analysis of embryo morphokinetic parameters of 85 live births following day 5 single blastocyst transfer. Kinetic variables included time interval (hours) from time of pronuclei fading (tPNf) to: time of 2 cells (tPNf-t2), 9 cells (tPNf-t9), morula (tPNf-tM), start of blastulation (tPNf-tSB), full blastocyst (tPNf-tB) and expanded blastocyst (tPNf-tEB). Multivariable logistic models were used to calculate the risk of perinatal complications after adjustment for confounders.The mean interval of tPNf-tSB was significantly longer for newborns with congenital anomalies compared with healthy newborns (79.49 ± 5.78 versus 71.7 ± 6.3, respectively, P = 0.01) and for embryos of women who had gestational diabetes mellitus compared with normoglycemic women (76.56 ± 7.55 versus 71.5 ± 6.13, respectively, P = 0.015). The mean interval of tPNf-t9 was significantly longer for low-birthweight newborns compared with normal weight (49.25 ± 5.54 versus 45.47 ± 4.77, respectively, P = 0.01). Preterm delivery was associated with several longer intervals of cell divisions compared with delivery at term (tPNf-t5: 28.76 ± 3.13 versus 26.64 ± 2.40, respectively, P = 0.01; tPNf-t6: 30.10 ± 3.05 versus 27.68 ± 2.30, respectively, P 0.001; tPNf-t7: 32.08 ± 4.11 versus 28.70 ± 2.67, respectively, P 0.001; tPNf-t8: 34.75 ± 4.95 versus 30.70 ± 4.10, respectively, P 0.001; tPNf-t9: 50.23 ± 5.87 versus 45.44 ± 4.67, respectively, P 0.001). For each of the outcomes, the association remained significant after adjusting for confounders.This study indicates that there may be a possible association between adverse perinatal outcomes and morphokinetic parameters. Larger studies are needed to establish this association.

IGF-1 deficiency in prenatal period is known to be a definite pathophysiology of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP), which is more frequent in infants with fetal growth restriction(FGR). Of note, recent reports demonstrated intra-amniotic inflammation(IAI) closely linked to acute histologic chorioamnionitis(acute-HCA) is associated with a decrease in intact-form of IGFBP-1, ultimately rising the probability of an increase in IGF-1. Therefore, we hypothesized ROP in preterm-infants without FGR would be decreased with the progression of acute-HCA.The frequency of ROP was examined in 85 singleton preterm-infants(24.5weeks ≤ gestational-age[GA] at delivery30weeks) due to either preterm-labor and intact-membranes(PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes(preterm-PROM) without FGR(birth-weight5th percentile for GA). Patients were divided according to the progression of inflammation in extra-placental membranes(EPM) and the progression of inflammation in chorionic-vessel(CV) and umbilical-cord(UC).1) ROP was present in 40%(34/85) of study-population; 2) Of note, there was a significant stepwise-decrease in ROP with the progression of inflammation in EPM(inflammation-free EPM vs. inflammation restricted to CD vs. amnionitis; 55.6%[15/27]vs.39.5%[17/43]vs.13.3%[2/15]) and the progression of inflammation in CV and UC(inflammation-free CV and UC vs. inflammation restricted to CV and umbilical vessels vs. inflammation in Wharton's jelly[WJ]; 49.2%[29/59]vs.25.0%[3/12]vs.14.3%[2/14])(each-for P 0.05, Chi-square test and each-for P 0.01, linear-by-linear association); 3) Multiple logistic-regression analysis demonstrated amnionitis(Odds-Ratio 0.120, 95%Confidence-Interval 0.022-0.654, P = 0.014) and inflammation in WJ(Odds-Ratio 0.124, 95%Confidence-Interval 0.022-0.694, P = 0.018) were independent protective-factors against ROP.ROP in preterm-infants due to PTL or preterm-PROM without FGR is decreased with the progression of acute-HCA. This finding may be an evidence to suggest the progression of acute-HCA is closely associated with reducing the pathophysiology of ROP.

Background: Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a common condition, affecting nearly half of infants born before 28 weeks' of gestation, and it has been associated with poor growth. It is not known if different treatment modalities are associated with more profound growth impairment. Our aim was to compare differences in weight gain at 36 weeks' corrected gestational age (CGA) in premature infants that received medical, surgical or conservative management for PDA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed notes of 208 infants born under 30 weeks' gestation with a diagnosis of PDA. Gestational age (GA) at birth, birth weight z-score, CGA and weight z-score at 36 weeks' CGA were collected. In our cohort, surgical closure was performed in infants who remained symptomatic after medical or conservative management. Results: Ninety-four infants had medical, 56 surgical and 58 conservative management. Surgically managed infants had a lower median (IQR) GA [24.4 (24.0–26.1) weeks'] than medically [25.4 (24.6–26.5) weeks'] or conservatively managed [26.4 (25.4–28.1) weeks', p

Monochorionic twin gestations possess disproportionately higher risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality when compared with dichorionic twin pregnancies due to their potential to develop specific complications attributable to a shared placenta and intertwin placental circulation. Since the advent of fetoscopic laser surgery, outcomes of pregnancies affected by twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) have improved, with reduced rates of mortality and morbidity when compared with amnioreduction or expectant management. The focus of this article is to review the literature regarding neurologic outcomes among pediatric survivors of fetal intervention for TTTS.

Background Previous studies conducted in high altitude regions showed that maternal altitude was associated with low birth weight. The effect size of birth weight reduction is inclusive with unknown effects due to preterm birth. We systematically reviewed the literature and synthesize evidence on associations between altitude elevation from sea level and birth weight. Method We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane database, from inception to May 5, 2020 for studies that reported maternal altitude and birth weight. Bayesian multilevel effect models were employed to estimate the effect size on birth weight (and gestational age) associated with altitude. Bayesian multilevel effect models were employed to estimate the effect size on birth weight (and gestational age) associated with altitude. Results The systematic search identified 1020 articles, with 52 articles meeting the inclusion criteria providing 207 estimates for the association of altitude and birth weight (n = 4,428,563), and with 22 articles providing 71 estimates for gestational age (n = 2,149,627). A reduction in mean birth weight of 96.98 g was associated with every 1000 m increase in altitude across 52 studies. A statistically significant but numerically minimal effect of maternal altitude elevation was observed on the gestational age (0.3 days), corresponding to a negligible estimation of 5 g lower birth weight. A relatively high heterogeneity of between-study association (I2>84.1%) and small study effect was found. Conclusion A clinically meaningful birth weight reduction was associated with maternal altitude elevation beginning from sea level. Future longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the causal association and to understand the late effect of maternal altitude.

Purpose Parental readiness is a requirement for discharge of the high-risk infant from the hospital. Currently, in Indonesia, there are no standard tools to measure parental readiness according to parents' perceptions. This study aimed to undertake cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the original version (English) of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS)-Parent into Bahasa Indonesia. Design and methods The cross-cultural adaptation was comprised of seven steps: forward translation, forward translation review, blind-back translation, back translation review, pilot testing of the pre-final version with mothers of low birth weight (LBW) infants, expert panel for conceptual and content equivalence, and initial psychometric testing. In the fifth and sixth steps, content validity index was estimated. In the seventh step, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and internal consistency reliability were conducted. In total, 146 mothers of LBW infants were included in the psychometric testing using convenience sampling. Results The 22 item Bahasa-RHDS-Parent emerged in a four-factor structure evident from EFA. This version has good reliability with Cronbach alpha values for knowledge and coping ability (0.92), physical-emotional readiness (0.89), pain and power (0.83), expected support (0.80) and 0.90 across the total Bahasa-RHDS-Parent. Conclusion The Bahasa-RHDS-Parent presents good cross-cultural adaptation and initial psychometric properties for assessing parental readiness in parents with LBW infants before hospital discharge. Practice implications This questionnaire can be used by nurses to measure readiness for discharge of parents of low birthweight babies. Further testing is needed with a larger sample and parents of children of other ages and conditions for instrument improvement.

To synthesize and critically review the current evidence available on maternal vitamin D deficiency and its effects on maternal-fetal outcomes, this study reviewed the maternal-fetal outcomes, including prolonged labour or Caesarean section, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, low birth weight and small for gestational age, and preterm birth. An extensive systematic searched was performed in Medline and EMBASE, where a medical subject heading (MeSH) was used with terms “Vitamin D/25(OH)D” and “pregnancy/fetal outcomes”; these terms were combined with “and.” In Web of Science and Google Scholar, a key word search was used. Nineteen articles were included for full review. This review found that the current state of the evidence is equivocal for maternal-fetal outcomes such as the risk of prolonged labour and Caesarean section, gestational diabetes, low birth weight and small for gestational age, and preterm birth. Although some previous studies have found improvement in pregnancy outcomes with sufficient vitamin D levels, others have not shown any association with the aforementioned outcomes. This systematic review also highlights an association between the risk of preeclampsia and maternal vitamin D levels that is found to be consistent among studies.

Context The study aims to quantitatively assess the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants born preterm or with low birth weight. Evidence acquisition In December 2018, a literature search was conducted in 4 databases without date restrictions. The pooled ORs, mean differences, and their corresponding 95% CIs were calculated with random-effects models using the DerSimonian–Laird estimator. The potential risk of bias of each study was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The stability and publication bias of the pooled estimates were also evaluated. Analyses were completed in 2019. Evidence synthesis A total of 27 studies including 22,202 infants were eligible for analysis. The studies found that infants born preterm had significantly poorer immune responses to the hepatitis B vaccine. Preterm infants were 1.36 times more likely to exhibit nonresponse to the hepatitis B vaccine (95% CI=1.12, 1.65, p=0.002) compared with their full-term counterparts. The pooled estimates for preterm birth may be subject to a potential publication bias. However, these results were stable, as suggested by the leave-one-out analysis and fail-safe number. The association between low birth weight and impaired immune response to the hepatitis B vaccine was not statistically significant when birth weight was dichotomized at 2,500 g. Conclusions These findings suggest an association between preterm birth and lowered immune responses to hepatitis B vaccine.

Practice patterns for the management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants are changing with advances in medical management. We sought to determine the increased mortality for premature infants who had a PDA ligation with a co-existing diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH).Premature neonates (1 y old with known gestational week ≤36 wk) with a diagnosis of IVH were identified within the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) for the years 2006, 2009, and 2012. Diagnoses and procedures were analyzed by ICD-9 codes and stratified by a diagnosis of PDA and procedure of ligation. Case weighting was used to make national estimations. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounders.We identified 7567 hospitalizations for premature neonates undergoing PDA ligation. The population was predominately male (51.6%), non-Hispanic white (41.1%), were from the lowest income quartile (33.1%), had a gestational week of 25-26 wk (34.0%), and a birthweight between 500 and 749 g (37.3%). There was an increased mortality (10.7% versus 6.3%, P 0.01) and an increased length of stay (88.2 d versus 74.4 d, P 0.01) in those with any diagnosis of IVH compared with those without. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that high-grade IVH (III or IV) was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality in those undergoing PDA ligation (aOR 2.59, P 0.01). Specifically, grade III and IV were associated with an increased odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 1.99 and 3.16, respectively, P 0.01).Attitudes regarding the need for surgical intervention for PDA have shifted in recent years. This study highlights that premature neonates with grade III or IV IVH are at significantly increased risk of mortality if undergoing PDA ligation during the same hospitalization.III.

Obesity and preeclampsia in pregnant women are each independently associated with poorer neonatal outcomes. We study obesity and preeclampsia alone and also in combination in pregnant women to determine their association with neonatal outcomes.This retrospective study (n = 664) compared four groups: 1) no preeclampsia/no obesity, 2) no preeclampsia/yes obesity, 3) yes preeclampsia/no obesity, and 4) yes preeclampsia/yes obesity. The primary outcome was neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Secondary outcomes were low birth weight, low Apgar 1 score, and low Apgar 5 score.Those with yes preeclampsia/yes obesity (OR:3.06, 95% CI:1.76, 5.32, p 0.001) and those with yes preeclampsia/no obesity (OR:1.98, 95% CI:1.03, 3.80, p 0.05) each had significantly higher odds for NICU admission. Those with no preeclampsia/yes obesity were not associated with NICU admission. Yes preeclampsia/yes obesity did not have any significant association with low birth weight, low Apgar 1 score, and low Apgar 5 score.Patients with preeclampsia alone or preeclampsia/obesity combined are associated with higher odds for NICU admission. However, obesity alone without preeclampsia is not associated with NICU admission. This knowledge can allow the Pediatric service prior to delivery to prepare and mitigate potential poor neonatal complications.

Prematurity is one of the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The association between periodontitis and premature delivery and low weight at birth has been suggested in many literature. Pregnancy totally depends on physiological immune tolerance of a women. During pregnancy shifts in the microbial composition of the subgingival dental plaque biofilm promotes the formation of more hazardous and destructive microbial community. In women suffering with periodontitis, the infected periodontal tissues may act as source of bacteria and their products can reach to the foetus-placenta unit through circulation. This helps the bacterial agents and their products to activate inflammatory signalling pathways locally and in extra-oral sites, including the placenta-foetal unit, which may not only induce preterm labor but also restrict the intrauterine growth. Number of literature has shown about the effectiveness of providing periodontal treatment in preventing gestational complications by controlling the infection and inflammation in periodontitis patients during pregnancy. In this review we aimed to throw the light on the current data of association between pregnancy and periodontitis, pathogenic mechanisms underlying this association, evidence of this association and effect of providing periodontal treatment as a safety precaution to the mothers.

Prenatal exposure to organic pollutants increases the risk of low birth weight (LBW) offspring. Women involved in the plucking of tea leaves can be exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy through inhalation and diet. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the association of maternal socio-demographic features and blood PAH concentration with LBW; also to develop a model for predicting LBW risk. The study was performed by recruiting 55 women who delivered LBW and 120 women with NBW (normal birth weight) babies from Assam Medical College. The placental tissue, maternal and cord blood samples were collected. A total of sixteen PAHs and cotinine were analysed by HPLC and GC-MS. Association of PAH concentration with weight was determined using correlation and multiple logistic regression analyses. Predictive model was developed using SVMlight and Weka software. Maternal features such as age, education, food habits, occupation, etc. were found to be associated with LBW deliveries (p-value

Objective To assess whether paternal health is associated with maternal peripartum and neonatal outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University research departments. Patient(s) Analytic sample of children born to paired fathers and mothers covering live births within the United States between 2009–2016. Intervention(s) Paternal health status (e.g., metabolic syndrome diagnoses, individual chronic disease diagnoses). Main Outcome Measure(s) Primary outcome of preterm birth (i.e., live birth before 37 weeks), and secondary outcomes of low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and length of maternal stay. Result(s) The IBM Marketscan Research database covers reimbursed health care claims data on inpatient and outpatient encounters who are privately insured through employment-sponsored health insurance. We assessed 785,809 singleton live births, with 6.6% born preterm. The presence of paternal comorbidities was associated with higher odds of preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and NICU stay. After adjusting for maternal factors, fathers with most or all components of the metabolic syndrome had 19% higher odds of having a child born preterm (95% CI 1.11–1.28), 23% higher odds of LBW (95% CI 1.01–1.51), and 28% higher odds of NICU stay (95% CI 1.08–1.52). Maternal morbidity (e.g., gestational diabetes or preeclampsia) was also positively associated with preconception paternal health. Conclusion(s) Increased preconception paternal comorbidity may be associated with negative infant and maternal outcomes. Although the paternal effect remains modest, these findings highlight the importance of the health of both parents, particularly the mother, on healthy pregnancy.

Introduction Wharton's jelly (WJ) is the mucoid connective tissue that surrounds the vessels in the human umbilical cord and provides protection from compression and torsion in response to fetal movement. WJ is known to be altered in the presence of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. The present study examined associations between the cross-sectional area of WJ measured by ultrasound and postpartum placental pathology and morphometry. Methods The area of WJ was measured by ultrasound in 156 eligible participants between 23 and 37 weeks’ gestation. Morphometric assessment of fixed cord cross sections was conducted, together with assessment of the cord and placenta for specific pathologies using standard criteria. Results From 156 participants, 123 ultrasound images met the data quality requirements and pathology reporting was completed for 99 placentas. 17 of the participants (14%) delivered a small for gestational age neonate and 32 of the 99 placentas examined (32%) had significant placental pathology findings. Area of WJ was associated with low birth weight (p = 0.002) and was associated with specific placental pathology (p = 0.01). WJ area was positively associated with placental dimensions such as width, length and surface area. Discussion Decreased WJ area is associated with clinically-significant placental pathology and WJ area scales proportionally with placental size. These findings suggest that WJ area correlates with functional capacity of the placenta and thus merits further evaluation alongside currently-available tests of placental function in clinical practice.

To determine the rate of sonographic placental markers and their predictive value for preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD).A retrospective cohort study of women with CKD followed at a tertiary referral center between 2016 and 2019 (n = 86). All women underwent 2nd trimester sonographic placental examinations that included assessment of placental morphology, umbilical cord, and uterine artery Doppler. Continuous placental markers were converted to multiples on medians (MoM).Predictive value of sonographic markers for preeclampsia and birthweight 10th percentile.Women in the cohort had a high rate of preeclampsia (24.4%), birthweight 10th% (26.7%), and preterm birth (30.2%). The most important markers were placental volume and uterine artery Doppler: the risk of preeclampsia was elevated in women with low placental volume (51.7% vs. 10.9%; OR = 8.79 [2.70-28.59] for preeclampsia; and 40.0% vs. 9.1%; OR = 6.67 [1.85-24.04] for preterm preeclampsia), and in women with bilateral uterine artery notching (62.5% vs. 20.8%; OR = 6.35 [1.37-29.45] for preeclampsia; and 62.5% vs. 10.4%; OR = 14.38 [1.29-71.75] for preterm preeclampsia). The combination of both markers had the strongest predictive value for preeclampsia (positive likelihood ratio = 8.25 [6.84-9.95]). Low placental volume and bilateral uterine notching were also associated with birthweight 10th percentile.A 2nd-trimester sonographic placental study can identify a subgroup of women with CKD who are at most risk of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Such data may inform their subsequent perinatal care and assist care providers in the often challenging distinction between preeclampsia flare of underlying CKD.

Background: Pregnant women are in the highest priority group for receiving influenza vaccination. However, they may be reluctant to receive the vaccination due to concerns about the influence of vaccination on the fetuses. Methods: This prospective cohort study of 10 330 pregnant women examined the safety of influenza vaccination in terms of adverse birth outcomes. Influenza vaccination during pregnancy was determined from questionnaires before and after the 2013/2014 influenza season. All subjects were followed until the end of their pregnancy. Adverse birth outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, and malformation, were assessed by obstetrician reports. Results: Adverse birth outcomes were reported for 641 (10%) of the 6387 unvaccinated pregnant women and 356 (9%) of the 3943 vaccinated pregnant women. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, vaccination during pregnancy showed no association with the risk of adverse birth outcomes (odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.76–1.07). Vaccination during the first or second trimester displayed no association with adverse birth outcomes, whereas vaccination during the third trimester was associated with a decreased risk of adverse birth outcomes (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.51–0.98). Conclusions: Influenza vaccination during pregnancy did not increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes, regardless of the trimester in which vaccination was performed, when compared to unvaccinated pregnant women. Keywords: Adverse birth outcomes, Influenza vaccine, Pregnant women, Prospective cohort study, Vaccine safety

To compare characteristics and outcomes of women with chronic hypertension (cHTN) between those with normal and abnormal plasma angiogenic profiles.This secondary analysis explored associations between angiogenic markers soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) drawn prior to delivery among women with history of cHTN who were enrolled between 22 and 41 weeks. Patients were divided into two groups based on sFlt1/PlGF ratio, namely low sFlt1/PlGF (85) and high sFlt1/PlGF (≥85) ratio.Of the 115 patients, 76% were African American. Compared to women with low sFlt1/PlGF (n = 78), patients with high sFlt1/PlGF (n = 37) had higher median antenatal blood pressures (systolic mmHg 179 vs 155; diastolic 106 vs 91), lower gestational age at delivery (34.7 vs 38.2 weeks), lower birthweight (1940 vs 3103 g), and a higher prevalence of preterm delivery 34 (40.5% vs 7.7%) and 37 weeks (64.9% vs 20.5%), all p 0.001. Importantly, more women with high sFlt1/PlGF had a diagnosis of superimposed preeclampsia (62.2% vs 26.9%, p = 0.003), preeclampsia with severe features (59.5% vs 20.5%, p 0.0001), maternal adverse outcomes (24.3% vs 3.9%, p = 0.002), neonatal intensive care unit admissions (71.9% vs 40.8%; p = 0.003), severe postpartum hypertension (67.6% vs 38.5%, p = 0.01) and longer hospital stays (median 6.0 vs 4.5 days, p = 0.003).In contrast to patients with a low ratio, high sFlt1/PlGF is characterized by an increased risk of maternal adverse outcomes and prematurity. Incorporation of angiogenic biomarkers while managing cHTN may improve accuracy of early identification of adverse outcomes to improve outcomes.

Objective Due to advances in medical care available for patients with congenital heart disease, these patients now have a longer life span. As a result, the number of pregnancies of mothers with congenital heart disease has increased. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate perinatal outcomes of women with congenital heart disease and to examine long-term cardiovascular morbidity of offspring to mothers with congenital heart disease. Materials and methods A population-based cohort analysis was performed including all singleton deliveries occurring between years 1991–2014 at Soroka University Medical Center. The primary exposure was defined as maternal congenital heart disease. Short-term perinatal outcomes as well as long-term cardiovascular related hospitalizations of the offspring up to the age of 18 years were compared between women with and without congenital heart disease. To compare perinatal outcomes between the two study groups, we conducted a Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) model accounting for maternal age and multiple occurrence in the cohort, parity, fertility treatment, smoking and induction of labor. To compare cumulative long-term cardiovascular morbidity, we compared cardiovascular hospitalization incidence of offspring of mothers with and without congenital heart disease using Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Weibull regression analysis to control for maternal age, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, birth weight, and cesarean delivery. Results During the study period 243,313 deliveries met the inclusion criteria, of which 369 were of mothers with congenital heart disease. Maternal congenital heart disease was found to be an independent risk factor for low birth weight (adjusted OR = 1.5 CI 95 % 1.06–2.32, p=0.022) and cesarean delivery (adjusted OR = 1.4 CI 95 % 1.09–1.86, p = 0.008). Mothers with congenital heart disease also had higher risk for placental abruption, but it was not statistically significant (adjusted OR = 2.3 CI 95 % 0.87–6.16, p = 0.09). Long-term cardiovascular morbidity was comparable between the groups (Log rank p = 0.251; adjusted HR = 1.6 CI 95 % 0.62–4.42, p = 0.313). Conclusion In conclusion, pregnancies of women with congenital heart disease are at an increased risk for adverse short-term perinatal outcomes, such as low birth weight and cesarean delivery. However, we did not find an increase in long-term cardiovascular morbidity among offspring of these women; still this association cannot be ruled out.

Objective: Management of patent ductus arteriosus is still controversial. This study aimed to describe the impact of a more conservative approach on treatment rates and on main outcomes of prematurity, especially in preterm infants with

Objective History of prior preterm birth (PTB) represents one of the strongest risk factors for recurrent PTB. Nevertheless, whether the occurrence of PTB in multifetal gestation is associated with increased risk of PTB in subsequent pregnancies remains unclear. We aimed to determine the recurrence risk of PTB in a subsequent singleton pregnancy after a previous spontaneous preterm triplet delivery. Study design A retrospective matched case-control study. The study group comprised all women with spontaneous preterm trichorionic triplet delivery who had a subsequent singleton pregnancy during 2006–2017 at two university hospitals. A control group of women with spontaneous preterm dichorionic twin delivery and a subsequent singleton pregnancy, was established by matching, four-to-one, according to maternal age, parity, gestational age at delivery, and delivery year. Results Data from 170 women were analyzed, 34 with preterm triplet delivery and 136 matched control women with preterm twin delivery. Gestational age at the subsequent singleton delivery was higher in those with preterm triplet delivery than in those with preterm twin delivery (median 39 vs 38 weeks, P = 0.02). Women with prior triplet PTB had a significantly lower rate of recurrent PTB as compared with women with prior twin PTB (5.9 % vs. 25.0 %; OR [95 % CI]: 0.19 (0.04, 0.82), P = 0.02) with lower proportions of low-birth weight infants ( Conclusions The risk of recurrent PTB following spontaneous PTB in triplet pregnancy was low compared to preterm twin delivery. These data provide reassurance for those who experienced preterm triplet delivery and suggest the need for further studies to understand the mechanisms contributing to PTB in multifetal pregnancies.

This population-based study showed that maternal opioid plus marijuana use during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of prematurity and low birth weight but lower odds of neonatal abstinence syndrome and prolonged hospitalization compared with opioid exposure without marijuana use. Further research should evaluate the biologic mechanisms responsible for these outcomes.

Background The tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine was approved for U.S. adults in 2005 and recommended for administration in every pregnancy in 2012, with optimal timing between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation. In the military, however, a current Tdap vaccination status is compulsory for service, and active duty women may be inadvertently exposed in early pregnancy. Safety data in this population are limited. Objectives To assess safety of inadvertent (0–13 weeks’ gestation) and recommended (27–36 weeks’ gestation) exposure to the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy. Methods Pregnancies and live births from Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program data were linked with military personnel immunization records to determine pregnancy Tdap vaccine exposure among active duty women, 2006–2014. Multivariable Cox and generalized linear regression models estimated associations between Tdap vaccine exposure and adverse pregnancy or infant outcomes. Results Of 145,883 pregnancies, 1272 were exposed to the Tdap vaccine in the first trimester and 9438 between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation. Neither inadvertent nor recommended vaccine exposure were associated with spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, or preterm labor. Among 117,724 live born infants, 984 were exposed to the Tdap vaccine in the first trimester and 9352 between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation. First trimester exposure was not associated with birth defects, growth problems in utero, growth problems in infancy, preterm birth, or low birth weight. Tdap vaccine exposure between 27 and 36 weeks’ gestation was not associated with any adverse infant outcome. Conclusions Among a population of active duty women in the U.S. military who received the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, we detected no increased risks for adverse maternal, fetal, or infant outcomes. Our findings corroborate existing literature on the safety of exposure to the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy.

Background Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden of preterm birth (PTB) and low infant birth weight (LBW) complications where affective and anxiety disorders are more common in the antepartum period than in industrialized countries. Objective To evaluate the extent to which early pregnancy antepartum depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with infant birth weight and gestational age at delivery among a cohort of pregnant women in Peru. Methods Our prospective cohort study consisted of 4408 pregnant women. Antepartum depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD were assessed in early pregnancy using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 and PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version, respectively. Pregnancy outcome data were obtained from medical records. Multivariable linear and logistic regression procedures were used to estimate adjusted measures of association (β coefficients and odds ratios) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results After adjusting for confounders, women with antepartum generalized anxiety (32.6% prevalence) had higher odds of LBW (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.47; 95%CI: 1.10–1.95) and were more likely to deliver small for gestational age (OR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.01–1.92) infants compared to those without anxiety. Compared to those without PTSD, women with PTSD (34.5%) had higher odds of delivering preterm (OR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.00–1.65) yet PTSD was not associated with LBW nor gestational age at delivery. Women with antepartum depression (26.2%) were at no increased risk of delivering a preterm, low-birth-weight or small-for-gestational-age infant. Limitations Our ability to make casual inferences from this observational study is limited; however, these findings are consistent with prior studies. Conclusion Generalized anxiety disorder during pregnancy appeared to increase odds of delivering a low-birth-weight or small-for-gestational-age infant, while PTSD was associated with increased odds of delivering preterm. Our findings, and those of others, suggest antenatal care should be tailored to screen for and provide additional mental health services to patients.

Age is a known risk factor for both maternal cardiovascular disease and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. We aimed to characterize the hemodynamic profiles in pregnancies of advanced maternal age (AMA) and correlate these with fetal outcomes.This was a prospective observational study of pregnancies undergoing antenatal testing. Maternal hemodynamics were measured non-invasively using an imaging probe at the descending aorta and the Uscom BP + arm cuff utilizing pulse pressure wave analysis. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman rank correlation test were used for statistical analysis in R.Hemodynamic measurements, neonatal birthweight.Twenty-one AMA and twenty-four control patients were enrolled. Mean age ± SD was 39 ± 3.22 in the AMA cohort and 28 ± 4.32 in the control cohort (p 0.001). AMA patients were evaluated at a later gestational age (36 4/7 weeks) compared to control (34 1/7 weeks, p = 0.02). Between groups, there was no difference in BMI, race, hypertensive disease, diabetes, asthma, drug use, or indication for antenatal testing. 38% (AMA) and 37% (control) had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In AMA patients but not control patients, cardiac output (r = 0.52, p = 0.01), systemic vascular resistance (r = -0.53, p = 0.01), and systemic vascular resistance index (r = -0.62, p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with neonatal birthweight percentile.Hemodynamic alterations consistent with a low output, high resistance cardiovascular circuit were associated with lower birthweight in AMA, but not in control pregnancies.