Search

Background Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) is a significant public health issue and while millions of neonates are affected each year, an optimal pharmacologic weaning protocol has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, we compare hospital length of stay (LOS) and length of treatment (LOT) for treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal (NOWS) with morphine versus methadone. Methods This was a single-site, open-label, randomized controlled pilot study conducted from October 2016-September 2018. Infants were eligible if their primary in-utero drug exposure was heroin, oral opioids, or methadone and they were born at greater than or equal to 34 weeks gestation. Infants were excluded for serious medical comorbidities and primary in-utero exposure to buprenorphine. Results Sixty-one infants were enrolled; 30 were randomized to methadone treatment, and 31 to morphine treatment. Overall 46% of infants required treatment for NOWS. LOS and LOT for infants treated with morphine was 17.9 days and 14.7 days respectively, compared to 16.1 days and 12.8 days for babies treated with methadone (p = 0.5, p = 0.54). Infants treated with morphine received lower total morphine equivalents than those treated with methadone (9.7 vs. 33, p Conclusions Infants treated with morphine versus methadone had no significant differences in LOS or LOT in this pilot study. Infants treated with methadone received up to 3 times the opioid based on morphine equivalents as infants treated with morphine and had more transfers to the NICU for over sedation. Clinical trial registration Morphine Versus Methadone for Opiate Exposed Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome NCT02851303, initiated 01/08/2016.

Background Substance use disorder (SUD) during pregnancy requires efficacious interventions based on understanding the ebb and flow of risk and protective factors for substance use across time. To assess how these fluctuations are associated temporally with substance use, we used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate substance use risk (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms) and protective (prenatal fetal bonding) factors and their associations with prenatal substance use recorded in real time. Methods Pregnant women in SUD treatment (N = 33) with prior trauma exposure received smartphones with an EMA application that queried them thrice daily for 28 days about PTSD symptoms, prenatal bonding, and substance use. Results Nearly all (N = 32) provided EMA data resulting in 2049 EMA reports (74% compliance). Most participants reported tobacco (72%), alcohol (22%), heroin (41%), and/or other illicit drug (6%–31%) use at least once via EMA. There were moderate associations (average β = 0.23) between greater daily peak PTSD symptoms and substance use with significant effects on illicit drug (β = 0.37), cannabis (β = 0.35) and cigarette use (β = 0.24). Prenatal bonding subscales were modestly associated with substance use, with daily intensity of attachment low point associated with lower heroin (β=-0.34), but higher alcohol (β = 0.24) use. Quality of attachment low point was associated with higher cigarette use (β = 0.06). Conclusions Despite the SUD severity and social instability of this sample, we observed high rates of compliance. We found preliminary support suggesting daily PTSD symptoms as a risk factor and less consistent support for prenatal bonding as a protective factor for prenatal substance use.

Background The number of children with prenatal polysubstance exposure is increasing. Supportive mother-child interaction is a protective factor, which can ameliorate adverse effects of prenatal polysubstance exposure on developmental outcomes. Aim To examine the role of maternal verbal scaffolding on cognitive and language development in children with prenatal polysubstance exposure. Study design Pregnant women were recruited, and we prospectively followed mother-child dyads to 20 months of age. This analysis included 66 dyads (33 healthy controls and 33 with prenatal polysubstance exposure). Multivariable linear regression modelling was used to examine the cross-sectional association between maternal scaffolding and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) score, as well as an interaction between the study group and scaffolding score. Outcome measures The BSID-III cognitive and language score was used. Videotaped mother-child play was coded to obtain a maternal verbal scaffolding score. Effect sizes were measured using average differences in scores between groups. Results There was no evidence of an association between study group and maternal scaffolding scores. Children in the polysubstance exposure group had lower cognitive and language scores compared to controls, but this association was not statistically significant after controlling for maternal education. Maternal scaffolding was predictive of language scores, with scores increasing by 1.24 points on average (95% CI: 0.42, 2.06) for every 1-point increase in scaffolding score after adjustment for covariates. There was no evidence of a study group-by-scaffolding interaction with respect to the language or cognitive scores. Conclusions Maternal scaffolding during play was associated with language development in children with and without prenatal polysubstance exposure.

There are significant barriers in engaging pregnant and postpartum women that are considered high-risk (e.g., those experiencing substance use and/or substance use disorders (SUD)) into longitudinal research studies. To improve recruitment and retention of this population in studies spanning from the prenatal period to middle childhood, it is imperative to determine ways to improve key research engagement factors. The current manuscript uses a qualitative approach to determine important factors related to recruiting, enrolling, and retaining high-risk pregnant and postpartum women. The current sample included 41 high-risk women who participated in focus groups or individual interviews. All interviews were analyzed to identify broad themes related to engaging high-risk pregnant and parenting women in a 10-year longitudinal research project. Themes were organized into key engagement factors related to the following: (1) recruitment strategies, (2) enrollment, and (3) retention of high-risk pregnant and parenting women in longitudinal research studies. Results indicated recruitment strategies related to ideal recruitment locations, material, and who should share research study information with high-risk participants. Related to enrollment, key areas disclosed focused on enrollment decision-making, factors that create interest in joining a research project, and barriers to joining a longitudinal research study. With regard to retention, themes focused on supports needed to stay in research, barriers to staying in research, and best ways to stay in contact with high-risk participants. Overall, the current qualitative data provide preliminary data that enhance the understanding of a continuum of factors that impact engagement of high-risk pregnant and postpartum women in longitudinal research with current results indicating the need to prioritize recruitment, enrollment, and retention strategies in order to effectively engage vulnerable populations in research.

BACKGROUND Accurate characterization of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is challenging due to inconsistent use of screening questionnaires in routine prenatal care and substantial underreporting due to stigma associated with alcohol use in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to identify self-report tools that are efficient in accurately characterizing PAE. METHODS Participants meeting eligibility criteria for mild-to-moderate PAE were recruited into the University of New Mexico Ethanol, Neurodevelopment, Infant and Child Health cohort (N = 121) and followed prospectively. Timeline follow-back (TLFB) interviews were administered at baseline to capture alcohol use in the periconceptional period and 30 days before enrollment; reported quantity was converted to oz absolute alcohol (AA), multiplied by frequency of use and averaged across 2 TLBF calendars. The interview also included questions about timing and number of drinks at the most recent drinking episode, maximum number of drinks in a 24-hour period since the last menstrual period, and number of drinks on "special occasions" (irrespective of whether these occurred within the TLFB reported period). Continuous measures of alcohol use were analyzed to yield the number of binge episodes by participants who consumed ≥4 drinks/occasion. The proportion of women with ≥1 binge episode was also tabulated for each type of assessment. RESULTS Average alcohol consumption was 0.6 ± 1.3 oz of AA/day (≈ 8.4 drinks/wk). Only 3.3% of participants reported ≥1 binge episode on the TLFB, 19.8% had ≥1 binge episode when asked about "special occasions," and 52.1% when asked about the number of drinks the last time they drank alcohol. An even higher prevalence (89.3%) of bingeing was obtained based on the maximum number of drinks consumed in a 24-hour period. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported quantity of alcohol use varies greatly based on type of questions asked. Brief targeted questions about maximum number of drinks in 24 hours and total number of drinks during the most recent drinking episode provide much higher estimates of alcohol use and thus might be less affected by self-reporting bias.

Background Prenatal care programs for women with opioid use disorder (OUD) often focus treatment/counseling plans around illicit substances, while concurrent use of alcohol might present an equal or greater risk to the fetus. Methods This study evaluated self-reported prevalence of alcohol use in patients participating in a comprehensive prenatal care program for women with substance use disorder (SUD; n = 295), of which 95% are treated for OUD, and pregnant women being served through general obstetrical clinics at the University of New Mexico (n = 365). During the screening phase of a prospective study, patients were asked to report alcohol use in the periconceptional period, and between the last menstrual period and pregnancy recognition. Results The screening interview was conducted at 22.3 (median = 22; Q1 = 16; Q3 = 29) gestational weeks. Among patients screened at the SUD clinic, 28.8% and 24.1% reported at least one binge drinking episode in the periconceptional period and in early pregnancy, respectively. The prevalence of binge drinking was similar in the general obstetrics population (24.7% and 24.4%, respectively). Among those who reported drinking in early pregnancy, median number of binge drinking episodes was higher among patients screened at the SUD clinic (median = 3; Q1 = 1; Q3 = 10) compared to the general obstetrics group (median = 1; Q1 = 1; Q3 = 3; p Conclusions This study demonstrates a high prevalence of prenatal alcohol use in early pregnancy in both groups, while patients with SUD/OUD consume more alcohol. These findings underscore the need for targeted screening and intervention for alcohol use in all pregnant women, especially those with SUD/OUD.

Background: Women taking methadone or buprenorphine are encouraged to breastfeed if stable without polysubstance use. Research Aim: We aimed to determine the difference between stated intention to breastfeed prenatally in women taking methadone or buprenorphine compared with breastfeeding at discharge and 2 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes were determining whether breastfeeding was more common in women taking buprenorphine, in women without hepatitis C infection, and in women without a history of heroin use, and whether breastfeeding reduced the need for pharmacological treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 228 women enrolled in a perinatal substance abuse treatment program. Electronic medical records were reviewed to abstract data on mother-infant dyads. Chi-square tests were used to analyze our outcomes. Results: Women taking buprenorphine had a higher prevalence of breastfeeding compared with women taking methadone (83% [ n = 100] vs. 71% [ n = 76]; χ2 = 4.35, p = .03), despite no difference in their prenatal intention to breastfeed (87% vs. 81%; χ2 = 1.28, p = .25). Only 31% ( n = 38) of women taking buprenorphine and 19.6% ( n = 21) of women taking methadone exclusively breastfed at discharge (χ2 = 5.43, p = .06). Exclusively breastfed infants required less pharmacological treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome compared with formula-fed infants (15.8% [ n = 21] vs. 47.4% [ n = 38]; χ2 = 19.72, p < .05). Conclusion: Despite most women reporting a high prenatal intention to breastfeed, exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge postpartum was low. Breastfeeding was associated with a decreased likelihood of pharmacological treatment for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Early identification of children who experience developmental delays due to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) remains a challenge for individuals who do not exhibit facial dysmorphia. It is well-established that children with PAE may still exhibit the cognitive and behavioral difficulties, and individuals without facial dysmorphia make up the majority of individuals affected by PAE. This study employed a prospective cohort design to capture alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy and then followed the infants to 6 months of age. Infants were assessed using magnetoencephalography to capture neurophysiological indicators of brain development and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III to measure behavioral development. To account for socioeconomic and family environmental factors, we employed a two-by-two design with pregnant women who were or were not using opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) and did or did not consume alcohol during pregnancy. Based on prior studies, we hypothesized that infants with PAE would exhibit broad increased spectral amplitude relative to non-PAE infants. We also hypothesized that the developmental shift from low to high frequency spectral amplitude would be delayed in infants with PAE relative to controls. Our results demonstrated broadband increased spectral amplitude, interpreted as hypersynchrony, in PAE infants with no significant interaction with OMT. Unlike prior EEG studies in neonates, our results indicate that this hypersynchrony was highly lateralized to left hemisphere and primarily focused in temporal/lateral frontal regions. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between estimated number of drinks consumed during pregnancy and spectral amplitude revealing a dose-response effect of increased hypersynchrony corresponding to greater alcohol consumption. Contrary to our second hypothesis, we did not see a significant group difference in the contribution of low frequency to high frequency amplitude at 6 months of age. These results provide new evidence that hypersynchrony, previously observed in neonates prenatally exposed to high levels of alcohol, persists until 6 months of age and this measure is detectable with low to moderate exposure of alcohol with a dose-response effect. These results indicate that hypersynchrony may provide a sensitive early marker of prenatal alcohol exposure in infants up to 6 months of age., Highlights • 6 month old infants with prenatal alcohol exposure exhibit broadband hypersynchrony. • Hypersynchrony was positively correlated with number of drinks consumed prenatally. • Distribution of low frequency to high frequency amplitude did not differ by group. • Hypersynchrony may provide an early marker of prenatal alcohol exposure in infants.

Objective The objective of the study was to compare nitrous oxide with oxygen (N 2 O/O 2 ) to oral hydrocodone/acetaminophen and lorazepam for analgesia during first-trimester surgical abortion. Study design This double-blind randomized trial assigned women undergoing first-trimester surgical abortion at 2 O/O 2 vs. oral sedation for pain management. The N 2 O/O 2 group received up to 70:30 ratio during the procedure and placebo pills preprocedure; the oral group received inhaled oxygen during the procedure and oral hydrocodone/acetaminophen 5 mg/325 mg and lorazepam 1 mg preprocedure. The primary outcome was maximum procedural pain, assessed on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS; anchors 0= no pain and 100= worst pain ) at 2 min postprocedure. A difference of 13 mm on the VAS was considered clinically significant. Satisfaction with pain management was measured on a 100-mm VAS (anchors 0= very unsatisfied , 100= very satisfied) . Results We randomized 140 women, 70 per study arm. Mean age of participants was 26±6.6 years; mean gestational age was 7.3±1.5 weeks. Mean maximum procedure pain scores were 52.5±26.7 and 60.8±24.4 for N 2 O/O 2 and oral groups, respectively (p=.09). Satisfaction with pain management was 69.3±28.4 and 61.5±30.4 for N 2 O/O 2 and oral groups. respectively (p=.15). Conclusion We found no difference in mean procedural pain scores between women assigned to N 2 O/O 2 vs. those assigned to oral sedation for first-trimester surgical abortion. Satisfaction with both options was high. Implications Women undergoing early surgical abortion experienced no differences in pain and satisfaction between those who used inhaled nitrous oxide and oral sedation. Nitrous oxide, with side effects limited to the duration of inhalation and no need for a ride home, is a viable alternative to oral sedation for first-trimester abortion pain management.

We describe pelvic floor function in nulliparous pregnant women.Nulliparous midwifery patients completed the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scale (W), and answered questions about sexual activity and perineal pain at baseline during the first (T1), second (T2), or third trimester (T3) and repeated in late T3. They also underwent a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) exam at their baseline visit. Data were compared across trimesters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression accounted for repeated measures and was controlled for age and education.We recruited 627 women. In T1, 124 women gave baseline data and completed questionnaires; in T2, 403; and in early T3, 96 (496 repeated questionnaires in later T3). Besides an increase in genital hiatus and perineal body (all adjusted p .05), physical exam measures did not differ between trimesters. As pregnancy progressed, urinary incontinence (UI) (T1 = 33, T2 = 44, T3 = 69% women with ISI0, all comparisons p .02) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) scores increased. Fecal incontinence (FI) increased (T1 = 8, T2 = 15, T3 = 16% from T2 to T3, p = .04); the Colorectal-Anal Impact Questionnaire (CRAIQ-7) scores did not. Perineal pain increased (T1 = 17, T2 = 18 and T3 = 40%, all adjusted p .001), and sexual activity decreased (T1 = 94, T2 = 90, T3 = 77% sexually active, T1 vs T3 and T2 vs T3, p .001) as pregnancy progressed.During pregnancy, women experience worsening UI, FI, and perineal pain. UI symptoms are associated with a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). Sexual activity decreased and POP-Q stage did not change.

Pregnant women with substance use disorder (SUD) comprise an underserved population with complex treatment needs, including complications from trauma histories and comorbid psychological disorders. Using ecological momentary assessment, we examined momentary fluctuations in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, prenatal bonding, and substance craving, among pregnant women in SUD treatment who had a history of trauma. We hypothesized that (a) PTSD symptoms and prenatal bonding would each be associated with substance craving and (b) PTSD symptoms would be negatively associated with prenatal bonding, and this would at least partially account for the association between PTSD symptoms and substance craving (i.e., indirect effect). Participants (n = 32) were on average 27.1 weeks pregnant (SD = 5.27), 27.8 years old (SD = 4.54), and predominantly Hispanic/Latina (66%). At the within subjects level, higher momentary ratings of PTSD symptoms were associated with lower quality (but not intensity of preoccupation) of prenatal bonding, which in turn was associated with greater craving. Lower quality of prenatal bonding partially mediated the positive association between PTSD symptoms and craving, which remained strong after accounting for prenatal bonding. Our results provide some preliminary support for considering interventions aimed at stabilizing or decreasing PTSD symptoms and stabilizing or increasing prenatal bonding to reduce substance craving and, thus, the risk of perinatal substance use among women with SUD and trauma histories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The opioid epidemic in the United States has led to a significant increase in the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS); however, the understanding of long-term consequences of NOWS is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate post-discharge healthcare utilization in infants with NOWS and examine the association between NOWS severity and healthcare utilization. A retrospective cohort design was used to ascertain healthcare utilization in the first year after birth-related discharge using the CERNER Health Facts® database. ICD-9/ICD-10 diagnostic codes were used to identify live births and to classify infants into two study groups: NOWS and uncomplicated births (a 25% random sample). Evaluated outcomes included rehospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits within 30-days and one-year after discharge, and a composite one-year utilization event (either hospitalization or emergency department visit during that year). NOWS severity was operationalized as pharmacologic treatment, length of hospitalization, and medical conditions often associated with NOWS. In 3,526 infants with NOWS (restricted to gestational age ≥ 33 weeks), NOWS severity was associated with an increase in composite one-year utilization (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.04–1.2) after adjusting for prematurity, sepsis, jaundice, use of antibiotics, infant sex, insurance status, race, hospital bed size, year of birth, and census division. In a subset of full-term infants (3008 with NOWS and 88,452 uncomplicated births), having a NOWS diagnosis was associated with higher odds of a 30-day (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.03–2.4) and one-year rehospitalization (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.4) after adjusting for infant sex, race, type of medical insurance, hospital location, census division, year of primary encounter, hospital bed size, and medical conditions. This study found higher healthcare utilization during the first year of life in infants diagnosed with NOWS, especially those with severe NOWS. Findings suggest a need for closer post-discharge follow-up and management of infants with NOWS.

Objective To determine the effect of perineal lacerations on pelvic floor outcomes, including urinary and anal incontinence, sexual function, and perineal pain in a nulliparous cohort with low incidence of episiotomy. Methods Nulliparous women were prospectively recruited from a midwifery practice. Pelvic floor symptoms were assessed with validated questionnaires, physical examination, and objective measures in pregnancy and 6 months postpartum. Two trauma groups were compared, those with an intact perineum or only 1st degree lacerations and those with second-, third-, or fourth-degree lacerations. Results Four hundred and forty-eight women had vaginal deliveries. One hundred and fifty-one sustained second-degree or deeper perineal trauma and 297 had an intact perineum or minor trauma. Three hundred and thirty-six (74.8%) presented for 6-month follow-up. Perineal trauma was not associated with urinary or fecal incontinence, decreased sexual activity, perineal pain, or pelvic organ prolapse. Women with trauma had similar rates of sexual activity; however, they had slightly lower sexual function scores (27.3 vs 29.1). Objective measures of pelvic floor strength, rectal tone, urinary incontinence, and perineal anatomy were equivalent. The subgroup of women with deeper (> 2 centimeter) perineal trauma demonstrated increased likelihood of perineal pain (15.5% vs 6.2%) and weaker pelvic floor muscle strength (61.0% vs 44.3%) compared with women with more superficial trauma. Conclusion Women having second-degree lacerations are not at increased risk for pelvic floor dysfunction other than increased pain, and slightly lower sexual function scores at 6 months postpartum.

The perineum stretches naturally during obstetrical labor, but it is unknown whether this stretch has a negative impact on pelvic floor outcomes after a vaginal birth (VB). We aimed to evaluate whether perineal stretch was associated with postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and we hypothesized that greater perineal stretch would correlate with worsened outcomes.This was a prospective cohort study of primiparous women who had a VB. Perineal body (PB) length was measured antepartum, during labor, and 6 months postpartum. We determined the maximum PB (PBmax) measurements during the second stage of labor and PB change (ΔPB) between time points. Women completed functional questionnaires and had a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system exam 6 months postpartum. We analyzed the relationship of PB measurements to perineal lacerations and postpartum outcomes, including urinary, anal, and fecal incontinence, sexual activity and function, and POP-Q measurements.Four hundred and forty-eight women with VB and a mean age of 24 ± 5.0 years with rare (5 %) third- or fourth-degree lacerations were assessed. During the second stage of labor, 270/448 (60 %) had perineal measurements. Mean antepartum PB length was 3.7 ± 0.8 cm, with a maximum mean PB length (PBmax) during the second stage of 6.1 ± 1.5 cm, an increase of 65 %. The change in PB length (ΔPB) from antepartum to 6 months postpartum was a net decrease (-0.39 ± 1.02 cm). PB change and PBmax were not associated with perineal lacerations or outcomes postpartum (all p 0.05).PB stretch during labor is unrelated to perineal laceration, postpartum incontinence, sexual activity, or sexual function.

The Blueprint for Advancing High-Value Maternity Care Through Physiologic Childbearing charts an efficient pathway to a maternity care system that reliably enables all women and newborns to experience healthy physiologic processes around the time of birth, to the extent possible given their health needs and informed preferences. The authors are members of a multistakeholder, multidisciplinary National Advisory Council that collaborated to develop this document. This approach preventively addresses troubling trends in maternal and newborn outcomes and persistent racial and other disparities by mobilizing innate capacities for healthy childbearing processes and limiting use of consequential interventions. It provides more appropriate care to healthier, lower-risk women and newborns who often receive more specialized care, though such care may not be needed and may cause unintended harm. It also offers opportunities to improve the care, experience and outcomes of women with health challenges by fostering healthy perinatal physiologic processes whenever safely possible.

Background While use of prescription opioids and medication assisted therapy (MAT) for opioid use disorder in pregnancy, as well as the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) continue to rise, little is known about outcomes for children with NOWS beyond the newborn period. Methods We examined 1) prenatal MAT exposure vs. unexposed healthy controls [HC]; and 2) treatment for NOWS and NOWS severity on infant neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes at 5–8 months of age in 78 maternal-infant pairs from the ENRICH prospective cohort study. Data were obtained from 3 study visits: prenatal, delivery, and neurodevelopmental evaluation at 5–8 months of age. Neurodevelopmental outcomes included the Bayley Scales of Infant Development [BSID-III], caregiver questionnaires (Parenting Stress Index [PSI-SF], Infant Behavior Questionnaire [IBQ-R], Sensory Profile), and the experimental Still-Face Paradigm (SFP). Results No differences in the BSID-III, PSI-SF, or IBQ-R scores were observed between MAT and HC groups; however, MAT-exposed and HC infants differed with respect to SFP self-regulation (β = −18.9; p = 0.01) and Sensory Profile sensation seeking (OR = 4.87; 95% CI: 1.55; 15.30) after adjusting for covariates. No significant differences between Treated-for-NOWS vs. not-Treated-for-NOWS were observed. Shorter timing to NOWS treatment initiation was associated with higher Total Stress (β = −9.08; p = 0.035), while longer hospitalization was associated with higher Parent-child dysfunctional interaction (p = 0.018) on PSI-SF. Conclusions Our results provide additional evidence of little-to-no effect of MAT and pharmacological treatment of NOWS on infant neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes at 5–8 months of age. However, prolonged hospitalization might increase family psychosocial stress and requires further examination.

While direct ethanol metabolites, including ethylglucuronide (EtG), play an important role for the confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), their utility is often limited by their short half-lives in blood and urine. Maternal hair might allow for a retrospective measure of PAE for up to several months. This study examined the validity of hair EtG (hEtG) relative to self-reporting and five other biomarkers (gamma glutamyltranspeptidase [GGT], carbohydrate-deficient transferrin [%dCDT], urine ethyl glucuronide [uEtG], urine ethyl sulfate [uEtS], and phosphatidylethanol [PEth]) in 85 pregnant women. Patients were recruited from a University of New Mexico prenatal clinic, which provides care to women with substance abuse and addiction disorders, and followed until early postpartum. The composite index, which was based on self-reported measures of alcohol use and allowed us to classify subjects into PAE (n = 42) and control (n = 43) groups, was the criterion measure used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of hEtG and other biomarkers. Proximal segments of hair were collected at enrollment (average 22.0 gestational weeks) and analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). At the same visit, maternal blood and urine specimens were collected for analysis of GGT, %dCDT, PEth, uEtG, and uEtS. The study population included mostly opioiddependent (80%) patients, a large proportion of ethnic minorities (75.3% Hispanic/Latina, 8.2% American Indian, 4.7% African-American), and patients with low education (48.2% < high school). The mean maternal age at enrollment was 26.7 ± 4.8 years. Hair EtG demonstrated 19% sensitivity and 86% specificity. The sensitivities of other biomarkers were comparable (5–20%) to hEtG in this cohort, but specificities were higher (98–100%). Hair EtG sensitivity improved when combined with other biomarkers, especially with GGT (32.5%) and PEth (27.5%). In addition, validity of hEtG improved in patients with less frequent shampooing and those who did not use hair dyes/chemical treatments. Mothers of two children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome had hEtG levels of 158 and 58 pg/mg. These data suggest that hEtG alone, as measured in maternal hair, is not a sufficiently sensitive or specific biomarker to be used separately for the identification of PAE, but might be useful in a battery along with other maternal biomarkers.

This study assesses validity of self-report for the use of major classes of illicit drugs and opioid-maintenance therapy among pregnant women at a substance abuse treatment program. Analyses used data collected from 83 pregnant women in a prospective cohort study at the University of New Mexico. Study participants with a history of substance abuse were screened and, if eligible, enrolled during an early prenatal care visit. A follow-up interview was conducted shortly after delivery. Self-reported information about drug use later in pregnancy was compared with urine drug screen (UDS) results collected during the third trimester. Simple kappa (k) and prevalence-and-bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) coefficients were calculated as the measures of agreement. Sensitivity and specificity of self-report for each drug class were estimated using UDS as the ‘gold standard’. The sample included a large proportion of ethnic minority (80 % Hispanic/Latina and 7 % American Indian) and socially disadvantaged (50 % less than high school education and 94 % Medicaid-insured) pregnant women. On average, patients had 4.8 ± 3.0 urine drug screens during the third trimester. Sensitivity of self-report was low (

Introduction and hypothesis We aimed to determine whether anal sphincter complex (ASC) measurements on translabial ultrasound (TL-US) were related to anal incontinence (AI) or fecal incontinence (FI) symptoms 6 months postpartum. Methods A prospective cohort of primiparous women underwent TL-US 6 months after a vaginal birth (VB) or cesarean delivery (CD). Muscle thickness was measured at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions of the external anal sphincter (EAS), the same four quadrants of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) at proximal, mid, and distal levels, and at the bilateral pubovisceralis muscle (PVM). Measurements were correlated to AI and FI on the Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scale, with sub-analyses by mode of delivery. The odds ratio (OR) of symptoms was calculated for every 1 mm increase in muscle thickness (E1MIT). Results A total of 423 women (299 VB, 124 CD) had TL-US 6 months postpartum. Decreased AI risk was associated with thickermeasurementsatthe6o’clock(OR0.74E1MIT)and9 o’clock proximal IAS (OR 0.71 E1MIT) in the entire cohort. For CD women, thicker measurements of the 9 o’clock proximal IAS were associated with decreased risk of AI (OR 0.56 E1MIT) and thicker distal 6 o’clock IAS measurements were related to a decreased risk of FI (OR 0.37 E1MIT). For VB women, no sphincter measurements were significantly related tosymptoms, but thicker PVM measurementswere associated with increased risk of AI (right side OR 1.32 E1MIT; left side OR 1.21 E1MIT). Conclusions ASC anatomy is associated with AI and FI in certain locations; these locations vary based on the patient’s mode of delivery.

This study examined the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on the incidence and severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).For this pilot study, 70 pregnant women on opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) were recruited from a perinatal substance abuse clinic. Subjects were categorized into three study groups based on the timing of alcohol use during pregnancy as assessed by repeated self-reported measures and a comprehensive panel of ethanol biomarkers. NAS outcomes included: duration of hospital stay, the need for pharmacological treatment of NAS, newborn age at the initiation of NAS treatment, duration of treatment and cumulative methadone dose administered.The study included a large proportion of ethnic minorities (81.4% Hispanic, 5.7% American Indian), women with less than a high school education (52.2%) and unplanned pregnancy (82.9%). In multivariate analysis, PAE was not associated with NAS outcomes; however, one newborn diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) demonstrated much more severe NAS compared to other PAE infants. Interestingly, 3rd trimester PAE was associated with a higher prevalence of microcephaly (62.5%) compared to the PAE abstaining group (36.8%; p = 0.08).In this study, PAE was not associated with NAS severity; however, further examination in a larger study is needed.

To evaluate the effects of prenatal polydrug and exclusive opioid use on fetal growth outcomes.This analysis relied on the data obtained from two prospective cohorts at the University of New Mexico. For both cohorts, pregnant women were recruited during one of their prenatal care visits and followed up to delivery. The merged sample included 59 polydrug users, 22 exclusive opioid users, and 278 abstinent controls. Continuous growth measures (birth weight, height, occipital frontal circumference [OFC], and corresponding sex-specific percentiles) were compared by ANOVA and ANCOVA in bivariate and multivariable analyses, respectively. Categorical outcomes (prevalence of small-for-gestational age [SGA] for weight, length, and OFC) were compared among groups by Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression analyses..The sample included a large proportion of ethnic minorities (78.8% Hispanic) and patients with low educational attainment (68% ≤ high school). The risk of microcephaly (OFC10Given that microcephaly is often associated with serious neurocognitive and behavioral deficits later in life, our finding of 49.2% incidence of microcephaly among polydrug users is alarming and requires further investigation.

Background Given the large increases in opioid use among pregnant women and associations with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, screening pregnant women who are on (opioid agonist) pharmacotherapy for HCV infection has potential to inform medical care for these mothers as well as their newborns. We investigated the HCV testing cascade among pregnant women on pharmacotherapy in order to describe exposure and infection rates and to identify opportunities that would improve care. Methods Secondary analyses of laboratory results were performed for HCV testing, including anti-HCV, viremia (RNA) and genotype. Information was abstracted from the medical records of women who were followed at a comprehensive prenatal care clinic for women with substance use disorders at the University of New Mexico. Results The sample included 190 pregnant women, of whom 188 were on pharmacotherapy (43.7% on buprenorphine and 55.3% on methadone); the remaining two had tested positive for heroin or prescription opioids. A total of 178 (93.7%) were tested for anti-HCV, 94 (98.9%) of whom were tested for RNA, and 41 (57.7%) were genotyped. Prevalence of exposure to HCV by anti-HCV results was 53.3%, and 37.3% were positive for HCV RNA indicating chronic infection. Conclusions The high prevalence of exposure and infection with HCV in pregnant women involved in pharmacotherapy for a substance use disorder indicate a need for ongoing surveillance and testing for HCV. Identifying HCV during pregnancy is crucial because this identification would serve to enhance medical care and potentially prevent vertical transmission. Identifying HCV would also facilitate referrals to newly available curative HCV treatments following delivery.

Immediate postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion is increasing in frequency in the United States, but few studies have investigated the effect of early placement on breast-feeding outcomes.This study examined the effect of immediate vs delayed postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion on breast-feeding outcomes.We conducted this noninferiority randomized controlled trial at the University of Utah and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centers from February 2014 through March 2016. Eligible women were pregnant and planned to breast-feed, spoke English or Spanish, were aged 18-40 years, and desired a levonorgestrel intrauterine device. Enrolled women were randomized 1:1 to immediate postpartum insertion or delayed insertion at 4-12 weeks' postpartum. Prespecified exclusion criteria included delivery37.0 weeks' gestational age, chorioamnionitis, postpartum hemorrhage, contraindications to levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion, and medical complications of pregnancy that could affect breast-feeding. We conducted per-protocol analysis as the primary approach, as it is considered the standard for noninferiority studies; we also report the alternative intent-to-treat analysis. We powered the study for the primary outcome, breast-feeding continuation at 8 weeks, to detect a 15% noninferiority margin between groups, requiring 132 participants in each arm. The secondary study outcome, time to lactogenesis, used a validated measure, and was analyzed by survival analysis and log rank test. We followed up participants for ongoing data collection for 6 months. Only the data analysis team was blinded to the intervention.We met the enrollment target with 319 participants, but lost 34 prior to randomization and excluded an additional 26 for medical complications prior to delivery. The final analytic sample included 132 in the immediate group and 127 in the delayed group. Report of any breast-feeding at 8 weeks in the immediate group (79%; 95% confidence interval, 70-86%) was noninferior to that of the delayed group (84%; 95% confidence interval, 76-91%). The 5% difference in breast-feeding continuation at 8 weeks between the groups fell within the noninferiority margin (95% confidence interval, -5.6 to 15%). Time to lactogenesis (mean ± SD) in the immediate group, 65.3 ± 25.7 hours, was noninferior to that of the delayed group, 63.6 ± 21.6 hours. The mean difference between groups was 1.7 hours (95% confidence interval, -4.8 to 8.2 hours), noninferior by log-rank test. A total of 24 intrauterine device expulsions occurred in the immediate group compared to 2 in the delayed group (19% vs 2%, P.001), consistent with the known higher expulsion rate with immediate vs delayed postpartum intrauterine device insertion. No intrauterine device perforations occurred in either group.Our results of noninferior breast-feeding outcomes between women with immediate and delayed postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion suggest that immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion is an acceptable option for women planning to breast-feed and use the levonorgestrel intrauterine device. Expulsion rates are higher with immediate postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion compared to delayed insertion, but this disadvantage may be outweighed by the advantages of immediate initiation of contraception. Providers should offer immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion to breast-feeding women planning to use the levonorgestrel intrauterine device.

Women may experience anal sphincter anatomy changes after vaginal birth (VB) or Cesarean delivery (CD). Therefore, accurate and acceptable imaging options to evaluate the anal sphincter complex (ASC) are needed. ASC measurements may differ between translabial (TLUS) and endoanal (EAUS) ultrasound imaging and between 2D and 3D US. The objective of this analysis was to describe measurement variation between these modalities.Primiparous women underwent 2D and 3D TLUS imaging of the ASC 6 months after VB or CD. A subset of women also underwent EAUS measurements. Measurements included internal anal sphincter (IAS) thickness at proximal, mid, and distal levels and the external anal sphincter (EAS) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions, as well as bilateral thickness of the pubovisceralis muscle (PVM).There were 433 women presenting for US: 423 had TLUS and 64 had both TLUS and EAUS of the ASC. All IAS measurements were significantly thicker on TLUS than EAUS (all p 0.01), while EAS measurements were significantly thicker on EAUS (p 0.01). PVM measurements with 3D or 2D imaging were similar (p 0.20). On both TLUS and EAUS, there were multiple sites where significant asymmetry existed in left versus right measurements.US modality used to image the ASC introduces small but significant changes in measurements, and the direction of the bias depends on the muscle and location being imaged.

Objective The objective of the study was to determine if postpartum contraceptive choices by primiparous women differ by ethnicity. Study design Retrospective nested cohort study analyzing women’s characteristics and contraceptive choice. Results Of 652 participants, 312 (47.8%) were Hispanic, 287 (44.0%) were non-Hispanic white, and 53 (8.1%) were American Indian (AI). In multivariate analysis, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and intrauterine device (IUD)/implant choice was related to AI [DMPA: odds ratio (OR) 15.28, confidence interval (CI) 4.49–52.04; IUD/implant: OR 0.46, CI 0.22–0.92] and Hispanic (DMPA: OR 3.44, CI 1.12–10.58) ethnicity. Conclusion DMPA use was higher among Hispanic and AI women and IUD/implant use lower in AI women compared to non-Hispanic white women.

Background: Perineal trauma after vaginal delivery can have significant long- term consequences. It is unknown if a larger infant head circumference or smaller maternal perineal anatomy are risk factors for perineal trauma after vaginal delivery. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of low-risk nulliparous women. Data collected included maternal characteristics, antepartum Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification measurements of the perineal body and genital hiatus, labor characteristics, perineal trauma, and infant head circumference. Perineal trauma was defined as trauma that extended into the muscles of the perineum (second-degree or deeper). Univariate and multivariate logistic models were created to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI). Results: We observed 448 vaginal births. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between infant head circumference at birth and perineal trauma: OR 1.22 for each increase of 1 cm in head circumference (95% CI 1.05-1.43). There was no association between perineal body or genital hiatus length and perineal trauma. Conclusions: In nulliparous low-risk women a larger infant head circumference at birth increases the likelihood of perineal trauma, although the effect is modest. Antenatal perineal body and genital hiatus measurements do not predict perineal trauma. These results do not support alteration in mode of delivery or other obstetric practices. (BIRTH 2014)

Introduction The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of body mass index (BMI) or pregnancy weight gain on the presence, site, and severity of genital tract trauma at childbirth in nulliparous women. Methods The present study is a subanalysis of a prospective cohort of healthy nulliparous women recruited during pregnancy and followed through birth. Weight gain during pregnancy and prepregnancy BMI were recorded. At birth, women underwent detailed mapping of genital tract trauma. For analyses, women were dichotomized into obese (BMI ≥ 30) versus nonobese (BMI

Objective To describe how nurse‐midwives verbally support nulliparous women during second‐stage labor and document specific details of each second stage. Design Descriptive qualitative study. Setting A university hospital labor and delivery unit in the southwestern United States. Participants Nulliparous women ( n = 14) older than age 18 and their attendant midwives ( n = 9). Methods A single research midwife observed the entire second stage of each woman and used a standardized data collection form to record spontaneous or directed pushing, position changes, open and closed glottis pushing. A digital audio recorder was employed to capture verbal communication between the midwife and laboring woman. The research midwife and two qualitative experts employed content analysis to analyze the audio transcripts and identify categories of verbal support. Results Analysis revealed four categories of verbal support: affirmation, information sharing, direction, and baby talk. The vast majority of verbal communication by nurse‐midwives consisted of affirmation and information sharing. Nurse‐midwives gave direction for specific reasons. Women pushed spontaneously the majority of the time, regardless of epidural use. Conclusion Nurse‐midwives use a range of verbal support strategies to guide the second stage. Directive support was relatively uncommon. Most verbal support instead affirmed a woman's ability to follow her own body's lead in second‐stage labor, with or without epidural.

Background Accurate confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is required as a diagnostic criterion for the majority of children adversely affected by PAE who do not manifest the physical features associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. A number of ethanol biomarkers have been used to assess PAE, often with suboptimal results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and cost of PAE screening in newborns by measuring phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in dried blood spot (DBS) cards. Methods The feasibility of collecting an additional DBS card during routine newborn screening and the background prevalence of PAE were evaluated in a de-identified sample of newborn children delivered at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Electronic orders to collect DBS cards from newborns who continue to bleed after the routine newborn screen, glucose, or hematocrit testing were initiated for all infants delivered during a 4-week time frame. Specimens were sent to a contract laboratory for PEth analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. A cost analysis was conducted to compare the cost of PAE screening by PEth in DBS versus PEth in conventional blood specimens and by meconium fatty acid ethyl esters. Results From 230 collected cards, 201 (87.4%) had at least 1 full blood spot (amount sufficient for PEth analysis), and 6.5% had PEth >20 ng/ml indicative of potential PAE in late pregnancy. PAE screening by PEth in DBS is logistically simpler and less expensive compared with 2 other screening approaches. Conclusions These results indicate that screening for PAE in DBS cards is a feasible procedure and that a majority of infants have enough blood after the routine heel prick to fill an additional card. Moreover, screening by PEth analysis from DBS cards is cost-efficient. The acceptability of such screening by parents and corresponding ethical issues remain to be investigated.

Objectives Characterise the demographics, management and outcomes of obstetric patients transported by emergency medical services (EMS). Design Prospective observational study. Setting Five Indian states using a centralised EMS agency that transported 3.1 million pregnant women in 2014. Participants This study enrolled a convenience sample of 1684 women in third trimester of pregnancy calling with a ‘pregnancy-related’ problem for free-of-charge ambulance transport. Calls were deemed ‘pregnancy related’ if categorised by EMS dispatchers as ‘pregnancy’, ‘childbirth’, ‘miscarriage’ or ‘labour pains’. Interfacility transfers, patients absent on ambulance arrival and patients refusing care were excluded. Main outcome measures Emergency medical technician (EMT) interventions, method of delivery and death. Results The median age enrolled was 23 years (IQR 21–25). Women were primarily from rural or tribal areas (1550/1684 (92.0%)) and lower economic strata (1177/1684 (69.9%)). Time from initial call to hospital arrival was longer for rural/tribal compared with urban patients (66 min (IQR 51–84) vs 56 min (IQR 42–73), respectively, p

Elevated blood pressure in pregnancy may represent chronic hypertension (occurring before 20 weeks' gestation or persisting longer than 12 weeks after delivery), gestational hypertension (occurring after 20 weeks' gestation), preeclampsia, or preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension. Preeclampsia is defined as hypertension and either proteinuria or thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, impaired liver function, pulmonary edema, or cerebral or visual symptoms. Proteinuria is not essential for the diagnosis and does not correlate with outcomes. Severe features of preeclampsia include a systolic blood pressure of at least 160 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure of at least 110 mm Hg, platelet count less than 100 × 103 per µL, liver transaminase levels two times the upper limit of normal, a doubling of the serum creatinine level or level greater than 1.1 mg per dL, severe persistent right upper-quadrant pain, pulmonary edema, or new-onset cerebral or visual disturbances. Preeclampsia without severe features can be managed with twice-weekly blood pressure monitoring, antenatal testing for fetal well-being and disease progression, and delivery by 37 weeks' gestation. Preeclampsia with any severe feature requires immediate stabilization and inpatient treatment with magnesium sulfate, antihypertensive drugs, corticosteroids for fetal lung maturity if less than 34 weeks' gestation, and delivery plans. Preeclampsia can worsen or initially present after delivery. Women with hypertensive disorders should be monitored as inpatients or closely at home for 72 hours postpartum.

Perineal pain after vaginal delivery affects women’s recovery from childbirth. Genital tract trauma after birth is common; the HOOP (“Hands On Or Poised”) trial revealed that 85 percent of 5,471 women giving birth had at least minimal genital tract trauma (1). Both episiotomy and perineal laceration are strongly associated with the presence of perineal pain during the immediate postpartum period (2, 3) and at 3 months (2). At 3 months 20 percent of 89 women after an episiotomy described pain as distressing to excruciating on the McGill pain scale and 44 percent had pain that was present most of the time (2). Nine percent of 274 primiparas reported pain interfering with routine activities “extremely” or “quite a bit” in the first 2 months after spontaneous vaginal delivery in a nationwide United States survey (4). Perineal pain can also occur after birth with an intact perineum; 38 percent of 84 women who delivered with intact perineums reported pain 7 days postpartum (3). Few studies address the role of obstetrical risk factors other than perineal trauma (2, 3) or operative vaginal delivery (3, 5, 6) on the presence of postpartum perineal pain. Both increased length of labor (6, 7) and decreased parity (3, 6) have been positively associated with postpartum perineal pain, although it is unclear if they remain independent risk factors for perineal pain when the presence and severity of genital tract trauma are controlled for. Other labor care factors associated with increased perineal pain are the use of chromic rather than synthetic polyglactin suture (8-10) and the suturing of the perineal skin edges (11). The practice of routine episiotomy is gradually being abandoned, with overall rates of episiotomy in the Untied States decreasing from 56 to 16 percent from 1990 to 2006 (12, 13). In the absence of routine episiotomy, the relationship between perineal pain and spontaneous genital tract trauma, labor care measures, and birth variables can be investigated. The aim of the current study was to describe the incidence and risk factors for postpartum perineal pain in a low-risk healthy population of women exposed to low rates of episiotomy and operative delivery.

Changes in sexual function are common in postpartum women. In this comparative, descriptive study, a prospective cohort of midwifery patients consented to documentation of genital trauma at birth and assessment of sexual function at 3 months postpartum. The impact of spontaneous genital trauma on postpartum sexual function was the focus of the study. Trauma was categorized into minor trauma (no trauma or first-degree perineal or other trauma that was not sutured) or major trauma (second-, third-, or fourth-degree lacerations or any trauma that required suturing). Women who underwent episiotomy or operative delivery were excluded. Fifty-eight percent (326/565) of enrolled women gave sexual function data; of those, 276 (85%) reported sexual activity since delivery. Seventy percent (193) of women sustained minor trauma and 30% (83) sustained major trauma. Sexually active women completed the Intimate Relationship Scale (IRS), a 12-item questionnaire validated as a measure of postpartum sexual function. Both trauma groups were equally likely to be sexually active. Total IRS scores did not differ between trauma groups nor did complaints of dyspareunia. However, for two items, significant differences were demonstrated: women with major trauma reported less desire to be held, touched, and stroked by their partner than women with minor trauma, and women who required perineal suturing reported lower IRS scores than women who did not require suturing.

To compare the postpartum pelvic floor function of women with sutured second-degree perineal lacerations, unsutured second-degree perineal lacerations, and intact perineums.A prospective cohort of nurse-midwifery patients consented to mapping of genital trauma at birth and an assessment of postpartum pelvic floor outcomes. Women completed validated questionnaires for perineal pain and urinary and anal incontinence at 12 weeks postpartum and underwent physical examination to assess pelvic floor strength and anatomy at 6 weeks postpartum.One hundred seventy-two of 212 (80%) eligible women provided follow-up assessment data at 6 or 12 weeks postpartum. Women with an intact perineum (n=89) used fewer analgesics (P.002) and had lower pain scores at the time of hospital discharge than women with second-degree lacerations (sutured, n=46; unsutured, n=37; intact, n=89) (Por=.02). The sutured group was more likely to use analgesics (52%) than the unsutured (35%) or intact (23%) groups at time of hospital discharge (P.002), although pain scores were not different between sutured and unsutured groups. Postpartum reports of urinary or anal incontinence, sexual inactivity, or sexual function scores did not vary between groups. Weak pelvic floor exercise strength was more common among the women with second-degree lacerations compared with women with an intact perineum (53% vs. 28%; P=.03) but did not differ between sutured (58%) and unsutured (47%) groups (P=not significant). Likewise, perineal body or genital hiatus measurements did not vary between groups (P=not significant).Women with sutured lacerations report increased analgesic use at the time of hospital discharge compared with women with intact perineums or unsutured lacerations. At 12 weeks postpartum, no differences were noted between groups regarding complaints of urinary or anal incontinence, sexual inactivity, or sexual function.

The advanced life support in obstetrics (ALSO) course is designed to help maternity care providers prepare for obstetrical emergencies. A team of 12 US physicians and a medical interpreter recently taught the ALSO course in Ecuador, with the goal of addressing Ecuador's high maternal and infant mortality rates. To have a greater impact, a teach-the-teacher model was used so that Ecuadorian physicians can now hold their own ALSO courses. In the process of implementing the courses, valuable lessons were learned which can be applied to future ALSO courses in developing countries and in the United States.

Cesarean deliveries are a common surgical procedure in the United States, accounting for 1 in 3 US births. The primary purpose of this guideline is to provide clinicians with evidence to guide planning for labor and vaginal birth after cesarean (LAC/VBAC). A multidisciplinary guideline development group representing family medicine, epidemiology, obstetrics, midwifery, and consumer advocacy used a high quality systematic review by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as the primary evidence source. The evidence report was updated to include research published through September 2012 with an additional key question on facilities and resources needed for LAC/VBAC. The guideline development group developed recommendations using a modified Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The panel recommended that an individualized assessment of risks and benefits be discussed with pregnant women with a history of 1 or more prior cesarean births who are deciding between a planned LAC/VBAC and a repeat cesarean birth. A planned LAC/VBAC is an appropriate option for most women with a history of prior cesarean birth. Increased access to providers and facilities capable of managing LAC/VBAC are required to reduce the US cesarean rate and associated maternal morbidity while increasing choice for childbearing women and their families.

Objective The objective was to determine feasibility of a study comparing mean pain scores between women randomized to nitrous oxide/oxygen (NO) versus oxygen+oral analgesics for trimester surgical abortion. Study design Pilot randomized controlled trial comparing NO ( n =10) versus oxygen+oral analgesics ( n =10). Feasibility of subject recruitment, and pain and satisfaction scores on a visual analog scale were evaluated. Results Fifty-seven percent of eligible women participated. Mean pain scores were similar between groups, and mean satisfaction scores were higher for the NO group (77.5 vs. 46.7, P =.048). Conclusions The majority of eligible women agreed to participate in this study evaluating an uncommon pain control intervention.

Objective Maternal expulsive efforts are thought to damage the pelvic floor. We aimed to compare pelvic floor function and anatomy between women who delivered vaginally (VB) versus those with caesarean delivery (CD) prior to the second stage of labour. Design Prospective cohort. Setting University Hospital Midwifery practice. Population Nulliparas. Methods Pregnant nulliparas were recruited during pregnancy and women who underwent CD prior to the 2nd stage of labour at birth were recruited immediately postpartum. Both groups were followed prospectively to 6 months postpartum. Main outcome measures POPQ, perineal ultrasound (U/S) and Paper Towel Test (PTT), an objective measure of stress incontinence; Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), Wexner Fecal Incontinence Scale (W) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results 336/448 (75%) VB and 138/224 (62%) CD followed up. The VB group was younger (23.9 ± 4.9 versus 26.6 ± 6.1 years, P 0.05). At follow-up, urinary incontinence (UI) (55 versus 46% ISI > 0, P = 0.10), fecal incontinence (FI) (8 versus 13% FI on W, P = 0.12), sexual activity rates (88 versus 92%, P = 0.18) and PFIQ-seven scores were similar. Positive PTT tests (17 versus 6%, P = 0.002) and ≥ Stage 2 prolapse (22 versus 15%, P = 0.03) were higher with VB; differences were limited to points Aa and Ba. U/S findings were not different between groups. Stepwise multivariate analyses controlling for age, body mass index, and non-Hispanic White race for prolapse of points Aa and Ba did not alter conclusions (all P

Background Accurate identification of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the newborn period offers an opportunity for early identification of children at risk of future neurocognitive problems and the implementation of interventional approaches earlier in life. PAE newborn screening by measuring phosphatidylethanol in dried blood spot (PEth-DBS) cards is feasible, logistically easier, and more cost-efficient compared with other biomarkers. However, the sensitivity and specificity of this method have yet to be established. Methods This prospective cohort study examined validity of PEth-DBS among 28 infants with PAE and 32 controls relative to maternal self-report and other biomarkers. Pregnant women were recruited from a University of New Mexico clinic and followed to early postpartum period. The composite index, which was based on self-reported measures of alcohol use and allowed to classify subjects into PAE and control groups, was the criterion measure used to estimate sensitivity and specificity of PEth-DBS. Results The study included large proportions of patients representing ethnic minorities (7.4% American Indian, 81.7% Hispanic/Latina), low education (54.2%

Bartonellosis (Carrion's Disease) during pregnancy is associated with high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. We report the immunological patterns in two cases of human bartonellosis during pregnancy. One patient had an uncomplicated course while the second patient developed life threatening anasarca and cardiac tamponade. The patient with a complicated course had a Th1 response with a higher elevation of IL-10. This elevation has been associated with poor outcome pregnancies during bacterial infections.