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Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides excellent soft tissue visualisation which may be useful in late pregnancy to predict labour outcome and maternal/neonatal birth trauma. Objective: To study if MRI in late pregnancy can predict maternal and neonatal outcomes of labour and birth. Methods: Systematic review of studies that performed MRI in late pregnancy or immediately postpartum. Studies were included if they imaged maternal pelvic or neonatal structures and assessed birth outcome. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity of studies. Results: Eighteen studies were selected. Twelve studies explored the value of MRI pelvimetry measurement and its utility to predict cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) and vaginal breech birth. Four explored cervical imaging in predicting time interval to birth. Two imaged women in active labour and assessed mouldability of the fetal skull. No marker of CPD had both high sensitivity and specificity for predicting labour outcome. The fetal pelvic index yielded sensitivities between 59 and 60%, and specificities between 34 to 64%. Similarly, although the sensitivity of the cephalopelvic disproportion index in predicting labour outcome was high (85%), specificity was only 56%. In women with breech presentation, MRI was demonstrated to reduce the rates of emergency caesarean section from 35 to 19%, and allowed better selection of vaginal breech birth. Live birth studies showed that the fetal head undergoes a substantial degree of moulding and deformation during cephalic vaginal birth, which is not considered during pelvimetry. There are conflicting studies on the role of MRI in cervical imaging and predicting time interval to birth. Conclusion: MRI is a promising imaging modality to assess aspects of CPD, yet no current marker of CPD accurately predicts labour outcome. With advances in MRI, it is hoped that novel methods can be developed to better identify individuals at risk of obstructed or pathological labour. Its role in exploring fetal head moulding as a marker of CPD should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK one in 250 pregnancies end in stillbirth. Abnormal placental villous maturation, commonly associated with gestational diabetes, is a risk factor for stillbirth. Histopathology reports of placental distal villous immaturity (DVI) are reported disproportionately in placentas from otherwise unexplained stillbirths in women without formal diagnosis of diabetes but with either clinical characteristics or risk factors for diabetes. This study aims to establish maternal factors associated with DVI in relation to stillbirth. Placental histopathology reports were reviewed for all pregnant women delivering at University College London Hospital between July 2018 to March 2020. Maternal characteristics and birth outcomes of those with DVI were compared to those with other placental lesions or abnormal villous maturation. Of the 752 placental histopathology reports reviewed, 11 (1.5%) were reported as diagnostic of DVI. Eighty cases were sampled for clinical record analysis. All women with DVI had normal PAPP-A (>0.4 MoM), normal uterine artery Doppler studies (UtA-PI) and were normotensive throughout pregnancy. Nearly one in five babies (2/11, 18.5%) with DVI were stillborn and 70% had at least one high glucose test result in pregnancy despite no formal diagnosis of diabetes. These findings suggest that the mechanism underlying stillbirth in DVI likely relates to glucose dysmetabolism, not sufficient for diagnosis using current criteria for gestational diabetes, resulting in placental dysfunction that is not identifiable before the third trimester. Relying on conventional diabetes tests, foetal macrosomia or growth restriction, may not identify all pregnancies at risk of adverse outcomes from glucose dysmetabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to find how aware pregnant women were of the meaning of the term 'obstetrician', their feelings about it, and their understanding of the role. The perceptions of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary maternity unit were surveyed using an anonymous questionnaire. One hundred questionnaires were issued and 83 completed. Of the 83, 72 (87%) had previously heard the term 'obstetrician', but 50 (69%) of these did not know its meaning. Most women described neutral connotations with the term and had no preference about the term used; however, approximately one-third of the participants preferred non-Latin terms such as maternity doctor. A more descriptive term may help bridge the apparent gap in understanding and promote a more balanced doctor- service user relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately one in six women are blood group RhD negative and are offered anti-D immunoglobulin prophylaxis to prevent sensitization and decrease the risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn in subsequent pregnancies. It has been thought that anti-D is harmless, but there is a risk of anaphylaxis. We describe a case of a woman with a possible immunological reaction to anti-D in her first pregnancy. A multidisciplinary team managed her second pregnancy, offering her evidence-based advice, where available, so that she could reach an informed decision regarding administration of anti-D or not. Women value individual tailored information rather than a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of type of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcomes.Study Design: This is a national prospective observational study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS). Data collection was undertaken in 200 consultant-led NHS maternity units between November 2011 and October 2012 (gastric banding), and April 2014 and March 2016 (gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy). Participants were pregnant women following gastric banding (n = 127), gastric bypass (n = 134) and sleeve gastrectomy (n = 29). Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared using generalised linear and linear mixed models. Maternal outcomes included gestational weight gain, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, anaemia, surgical complications. Perinatal outcomes included birthweight, small/large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), preterm birth, stillbirth.Results: Maternal: Women pregnant after gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy had a lower risk of anaemia compared with gastric bypass (banding (16 %) vs bypass (39 %): p = 0.002, sleeve (21 %) vs bypass: p = 0.04). Gestational diabetes risk was lower after gastric banding compared with gastric bypass (7 % vs 16 %, p = 0.03) despite women with banding having significantly greater weight at booking as well as gestational weight gain. Women pregnant after gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy had a lower risk of surgical complications than after gastric bypass (banding (0.9 %) vs bypass (11.4 %): p = 0.03, sleeve (0.0 %) vs bypass: p = 0.06). Perinatal: Infants born to mothers after gastric banding had a higher birthweight than those born to mothers after gastric bypass (mean difference = 260 g (125-395), p < 0.001). Infants were more likely to be LGA if their mothers had gastric banding compared with gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy (banding (21 %) vs bypass (5 %): p = 0.006; banding vs sleeve (3 %): p = 0.03). Risk of preterm birth was higher in women with gastric banding compared with gastric bypass (13 % vs 8 %, p = 0.04).Conclusions: Women planning bariatric surgery should be counselled regarding the differing impacts of different types of procedure on any future pregnancy. Pre-existing gastric bypass is associated with higher rates of potentially serious surgical complications during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]