Bmc Pregnancy Childb
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Nov 2014
Observational StudyFolic acid supplementation, dietary folate intake during pregnancy and risk for spontaneous preterm delivery: a prospective observational cohort study.
Health authorities in numerous countries recommend periconceptional folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects. The objective of this study was to examine the association of dietary folate intake and folic acid supplementation during different periods of pregnancy with the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD). ⋯ Our findings do not support a protective effect of dietary folate intake or folic acid supplementation on spontaneous PTD. Preconceptional folic acid supplementation starting more than 8 weeks before conception was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous PTD. These results require further investigation before discussing an expansion of folic acid supplementation guidelines.
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialHealthcare providers' views on the acceptability of financial incentives for breastfeeding: a qualitative study.
Despite a gradual increase in breastfeeding rates, overall in the UK there are wide variations, with a trend towards breastfeeding rates at 6-8 weeks remaining below 40% in less affluent areas. While financial incentives have been used with varying success to encourage positive health related behaviour change, there is little research on their use in encouraging breastfeeding. In this paper, we report on healthcare providers' views around whether using financial incentives in areas with low breastfeeding rates would be acceptable in principle. This research was part of a larger project looking at the development and feasibility testing of a financial incentive scheme for breastfeeding in preparation for a cluster randomised controlled trial. ⋯ Healthcare providers believe that financial incentives could have both positive and negative impacts on a mother's relationship with her family, baby and healthcare provider. When designing a financial incentive scheme we must take care to minimise the potential negative impacts that have been highlighted, while at the same time recognising the potential positive impacts for women in areas where breastfeeding rates are low.
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Sep 2014
Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical TrialMulticenter prospective clinical study to evaluate the prediction of short-term outcome in pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia (PROGNOSIS): study protocol.
Preeclampsia is defined as new onset of hypertension and proteinuria at gestational week 20 or after. However, use of these measures to predict preeclampsia before its clinical onset is unreliable, and evidence suggests that preeclampsia, eclampsia, or hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome may develop without hypertension or proteinuria being evident. Because of its unpredictability, varying clinical presentation and potential adverse outcomes, pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia require intensive monitoring or hospitalization. Beyond preeclampsia diagnosis, there is a high unmet medical need for more reliable predictive markers for preeclampsia to improve maternal and fetal outcomes and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. An imbalance of circulating angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, including raised soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and decreased placental growth factor (PlGF), has been found in women diagnosed with preeclampsia and before clinical onset of the disease. The PRediction of short-term Outcome in preGNant wOmen with Suspected preeclampsIa Study (PROGNOSIS) was designed to investigate the use of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the short-term prediction of preeclampsia. ⋯ The results of PROGNOSIS will provide the most comprehensive evidence to date on the accuracy of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for short-term prediction of preeclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP syndrome. Adoption of the sFlt-1/PlGF test in clinical practice has the potential to reduce the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and fetus, and decrease healthcare costs associated with unnecessary hospitalization of women with suspected preeclampsia.
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Sep 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyInduction of labour in pre-eclamptic women: a randomised trial comparing the Foley balloon catheter with oral misoprostol.
Between 40,000 and 80,000 pregnant women die annually from pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Although magnesium sulphate and anti-hypertensive therapies can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with pre-eclampsia, the only cure comes with delivery. Prompt delivery of the baby, preferably by vaginal route, is vital in order to achieve good maternal and neonatal outcomes. Induction of labour is therefore a critical intervention in order to prevent morbidity to both mother and baby. Two low cost interventions - oral misoprostol tablets and transcervical Foley catheterization - are already used by some in low resource settings, but their relative risks and benefits are not known. The trial will compare the risks, benefits, and trade-offs in efficacy, safety, acceptability and cost of misoprostol and Foley catheter for induction in women with preeclampsia or uncontrolled hypertension. ⋯ A total of 602 women with an ongoing pregnancy with a live fetus requiring delivery because of pre-eclampsia or uncontrolled hypertension will be randomly assigned to labor induction with a transcervical Foley catheter or oral misoprostol 25 micrograms. Women will be recruited at two hospitals in Nagpur, India. The misoprostol group will receive oral misoprostol 25 microgram every 2 hours for a maximum of 12 doses or until active labor commences. The Foley group will undergo induction using a Foley catheter (silicone, size 18 F with 30 ml balloon) which will remain until active labor starts, the Foley catheter falls out, or 12 hours have elapsed. The primary outcome will be the attainment of vaginal delivery within 24 hours. Providers administering the treatment and those assessing the outcomes will not be blinded to group assignment.
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Bmc Pregnancy Childb · Sep 2014
Seaweed consumption and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: Baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study.
Seaweed is a popular traditional food in Japan and is a rich source of bioactive metabolites. The neuroprotective properties of seaweed have attracted attention; to date, however, there has been no epidemiological evidence regarding the relationship between seaweed consumption and depression. The current cross-sectional study investigated the association between seaweed consumption and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan. ⋯ The present results suggest that seaweed consumption may be inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japanese women.