Impact of gestational weight gain on fetal growth in obese normoglycemic mothers: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the pattern of gestational weight gain (GWG) and its effect on fetal growth among normogylycemic obese and lean mothers. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study. SETTING: Teaching hospitals, Sheffield, UK. POPULATION: Forty-six euglycemic obese and 30 lean mothers and their offspring. METHOD: The contrast slope of GWG was calculated and its impact on fetal growth trajectory and birth anthropometry examined in both groups. RESULTS: The GWG contrast slope trended significantly upward in both groups but it was steeper among lean mothers (p = 0.003), particularly in second trimester. Lean mothers had a biphasic GWG pattern with a higher early weight gain (p = 0.02), whereas obese mothers had a monophasic GWG. Both groups had similar third trimester GWG. The GWG contrast slope was influenced by early pregnancy maternal anthropometry in the obese group only. Nonetheless, the obese mothers' glucose and insulin indices had no significant relationship to GWG. GWG had a significant positive relationship with intrauterine femur length (r = 0.32, p = 0.04) and abdominal circumference (r = 0.42, p = 0.006) growth trajectories, as well as birthweight standard deviation scores (r = 0.32, p = 0.036) and the ponderal index (r = 0.45, p = 0.003) in the obese mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Gestational weight gain among lean mothers is biphasic and significantly higher than their obese counterparts, but without effect on fetal growth. The obese mothers' monophasic weight gain was influenced by their anthropometry, but not by their insulin or glucose indices, and impacted on the growth of their babies.

Umbilical vein oxytocin for the treatment of retained placenta (Release Study): a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Retained placenta is associated with post-partum haemorrhage. Meta-analysis has suggested that umbilical injection of oxytocin could increase placental expulsion without the need for a surgeon or anaesthetic. We assessed the effect of high-dose umbilical vein oxytocin as a treatment for retained placenta. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, haemodynamically stable women with a retained placenta for more than 30 min were recruited from 13 sites in the UK, Uganda, and Pakistan. 577 women were randomly assigned by a computer-generated randomisation list stratified by centre to 30 mL saline containing either 50 IU oxytocin (n=292) or 5 mL water (n=285), which was injected into the placenta through an umbilical vein catheter. All trial participants, study workers, and data handlers were masked to individual allocations. The primary outcome was the need for manual removal of the placenta. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered, number ISRCTN 13204258. FINDINGS: The primary outcome was recorded for all participants. We detected no difference between the groups in the need for manual removal of placenta (oxytocin 179/292 [61.3%] vs placebo 177/285 [62.1%]; relative risk 0.98, 95% CI 0.87-1.12; p=0.84). The need for manual removal was higher in the UK (overall 250/361 [69%]) than in Uganda (90/190 [47%]) or Pakistan (16/26 [62%]). Adverse events did not differ between the two groups. INTERPRETATION: Umbilical oxytocin has no clinically significant effect on the need for manual removal for women with retained placenta. FUNDING: WHO, WellBeing of Women, Pakistan Higher Education Commission.

Blood product support for delivery in severe factor X deficiency: the use of thrombin generation to guide therapy.

BACKGROUND: Severe FX deficiency is a rare disorder with a variable bleeding tendency but spontaneous life threatening haemorrhage can occur. Treatment for invasive procedures and spontaneous bleeding is with prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC). When used in large or repetitive doses these are associated with a thrombotic tendency. FX:C levels of 0.15 - 0.30 IU/ mL are thought to be haemostatic during surgery . There is only limited information on the outcome and management of pregnancy in severe FX deficiency. Caesarean section is suggested as delivery mode to reduce the risk of intracranial/abdominal neonatal haemorrhage, but successful vaginal deliveries are also described. The calibrated automated thrombin generation assay (CAT) is a global coagulation test that measures the time course of thrombin generation. It has been reported to correlate with prothrombotic states and the severity of bleeding in rare coagulation disorders. The variability in phenotype, the uncertainty of the minimal haemostatic FX:C concentration and the association of PCC's with thrombosis make thrombin generation of interest in the management of FX deficient patients. PATIENT: We describe the use of CAT as a possible means to monitor treatment with PCC (Beriplex) in a patient with severe FX deficiency (FX:C < 0.01 IU/mL) during successful vaginal delivery and epidural anaesthesia. RESULTS: Thrombin generation was normal at FX:C 0.80 IU/mL but only borderline normal at FX:C 0.25 IU/mL. Repetitive doses over 3 days increased thrombin generation to the upper limit of normal at FX:C 0.25 IU/mL consistent with a prothrombotic tendency after multiple doses. The increase in thrombin generation was not related to prothrombin levels. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that CAT may be used to monitor treatment with PCC in FX deficiency. Higher levels than previously thought may be needed to normalize thrombin generation. Further studies into the correlation with bleeding or thrombosis are needed before the approach can be accepted in clinical practice.

Obstetric management of the very low birth Weight baby in a district maternity hospital.

A retrospective survey of very low birth weight babies delivered in a large non-teaching hospital in 1977 and in 1983 was carried out in order to determine how obstetric complications and management were associated with perinatal mortality. The prognosis for these infants had improved markedly by 1983. This was associated with better diagnosis of intra-uterine growth retardation, an increased incidence of elective delivery. Particularly where abnormalities of pregnancy existed in addition to very low birth weight, the liberal use of caesarean section, and better paediatric care of the baby with severe respiratory distress syndrome.