An Enhanced Postpartum Transition Program to Primary Care.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are risk factors for future cardiovascular disease, yet few individuals receive postpartum care with primary care clinicians (PCP). To facilitate transitions of care to PCPs and improve cardiovascular health monitoring within the first 13 months postpartum, we developed and piloted an enhanced postpartum referral pathway for patients with GDM or HDP. Methods: Eligible patients included those who received perinatal care at a large, urban, academic medical center, experienced GDM or HDP during their most recent pregnancy, and lacked an existing PCP. Resident, faculty, and advanced practitioners referred patients during antenatal, delivery-related, or postpartum visits. A dedicated scheduler contacted patients to schedule an appointment with a women's health-focused resident or faculty PCP. The percent of patients who attended a postpartum PCP visit, who had an HbA1c and cholesterol panel checked within the first 13 months postpartum, were compared between patients referred and not referred to the program using adjusted odds ratios (aOR). Results: Of 129 individuals referred, 48.1% attended a PCP visit, 31.8% completed cholesterol screening, and 41.9% completed HbA1c screening within 13 months postpartum. After adjusting for age, parity, insurance, and referral indication, referred individuals had greater odds for each outcome (PCP visit: aOR = 6.0, 95% CI 4.0-9.0; cholesterol: aOR = 2.4, 95% 1.6-3.9; HbA1c: aOR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.7) compared with nonreferred individuals in the same time period. Discussion: A enhanced postpartum PCP referral pathway pilot for birthing individuals was associated with improved follow-up in the first year postpartum.

Use of Electronic Patient Messaging by Pregnant Patients Receiving Prenatal Care at an Academic Health System: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine and mobile app use, potentially changing our historic model of maternity care. MyChart is a widely adopted mobile app used in health care settings specifically for its role in facilitating communication between health care providers and patients with its messaging function in a secure patient portal. However, previous studies analyzing portal use in obstetric populations have demonstrated significant sociodemographic disparities in portal enrollment and messaging, specifically showing that patients who have a low income and are non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and uninsured are less likely to use patient portals. Objective: The study aimed to estimate changes in patient portal use and intensity in prenatal care before and during the pandemic period and to identify sociodemographic and clinical disparities that continued during the pandemic. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic medical record (EMR) and administrative data from our health system's Enterprise Data Warehouse. Records were obtained for the first pregnancy episode of all patients who received antenatal care at 8 academically affiliated practices and delivered at a large urban academic medical center from January 1, 2018, to July 22, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. All patients were aged 18 years or older and attended ≥3 clinical encounters during pregnancy at the practices that used the EMR portal. Patients were categorized by the number of secure messages sent during pregnancy as nonusers or as infrequent (≤5 messages), moderate (6-14 messages), or frequent (≥15 messages) users. Monthly portal use and intensity rates were computed over 43 months from 2018 to 2021 before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. A logistic regression model was estimated to identify patient sociodemographic and clinical subgroups with the highest portal nonuse. Results: Among 12,380 patients, 2681 (21.7%) never used the portal, and 2680 (21.6%), 3754 (30.3%), and 3265 (26.4%) were infrequent, moderate, and frequent users, respectively. Portal use and intensity increased significantly over the study period, particularly after the pandemic. The number of nonusing patients decreased between 2018 and 2021, from 996 of 3522 (28.3%) in 2018 to only 227 of 1743 (13%) in the first 7 months of 2021. Conversely, the number of patients with 15 or more messages doubled, from 642 of 3522 (18.2%) in 2018 to 654 of 1743 (37.5%) in 2021. The youngest patients, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients, and, particularly, non-English-speaking patients had significantly higher odds of continued nonuse. Patients with preexisting comorbidities, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, diabetes, and a history of mental health conditions were all significantly associated with higher portal use and intensity. Conclusions: Reducing disparities in messaging use will require outreach and assistance to low-use patient groups, including education addressing health literacy and encouraging appropriate and effective use of messaging.

Understanding the Postpartum Cesarean Pain Experience Among Individuals With Publicly Funded Insurance: A Qualitative Investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Pain is the most common postpartum concern and has been associated with adverse outcomes, such as difficulty with neonatal bonding, postpartum depression, and persistent pain. Furthermore, racial and ethnic disparities in the management of postpartum pain are well described. Despite this, less is known regarding patients' lived experiences regrading postpartum pain. The purpose of this study was to assess patient experiences related to postpartum pain management after cesarean birth. METHODS: This is a prospective qualitative study of patients' experiences with postpartum pain management after cesarean birth at a single large tertiary care center. Individuals were eligible if they had publicly funded prenatal care, were English or Spanish speaking, and underwent a cesarean birth. Purposive sampling was used to ensure a racially and ethnically diverse cohort. Participants underwent in-depth interviews using a semistructured interview guide at 2 time points: postpartum day 2 to 3 and 2 to 4 weeks after discharge. Interviews addressed perceptions and experiences of postpartum pain management and recovery. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. RESULTS: Of 49 participants, 40.8% identified as non-Hispanic Black and 40.8% as Hispanic. The majority (59.2%) had experienced a cesarean birth with a prior pregnancy. Thematic analysis yielded 2 overarching domains: (1) experience of pain after cesarean birth and (2) pain management and opioid use after cesarean birth. Themes related to the experience of pain included pain as a meaningful experience, pain not aligned with expectations, and limitations caused by pain. All participants discussed limitations caused by their pain, voicing frustration with pursuing activities of daily living, caring for home and family, caring for neonate, and impact on mood. Themes related to pain management and opioid use addressed a desire for nonpharmacologic pain management, positive and negative experiences using opioids, and hesitancy and perceived judgement regarding opioid use. Several participants described experiences of judgement regarding the request for opioids and needing stronger pain medications, such as oxycodone. DISCUSSION: Understanding experiences regarding postpartum cesarean pain management and recovery is essential to improving patient-centered care. The experiences identified by this analysis highlight the need for individualized postpartum pain management, improved expectation counseling, and the expansion of multimodal pain management options.

Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion Versus Multiple Daily Injections of Insulin for Pregestational Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The use of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy in pregnancies affected by pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM) has generated mixed outcome data worthy of further investigation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate clinical outcomes associated with CSII versus multiple daily injections (MDIs) in pregnant persons with pregestational DM. METHODS: A predefined, systematic, librarian-assisted search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (published from 2010 to 2022) yielded 3003 studies describing pregnancy outcomes associated with CSII and/or MDI for pregestational DM. The primary exposure was mode of insulin administration, with cesarean delivery and neonatal hypoglycemia as the primary maternal and neonatal outcomes, respectively. Secondary outcomes included hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, first and third-trimester glycemic control, large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonate, preterm birth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, need for respiratory support, hyperbilirubinemia, 5-minute Apgar <7, shoulder dystocia, and perinatal mortality. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random-effects models. RESULTS: Among 39 eligible studies, 39% of the 5518 pregnancies included were exposed to CSII. Odds of cesarean delivery were higher with CSII (20 studies: 63% vs 56%, odds ratio [OR] 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.5]), but we did not identify a difference in the odds of neonatal hypoglycemia (23 studies: 31% vs 34%, OR 1.1 [95% CI 0.9-1.5]). Among secondary outcomes, only the odds of LGA (20 studies: 47% vs 38%, OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2-1.6]) were higher in individuals using CSII versus MDI. CONCLUSIONS: Use of CSII (vs MDI) for pregestational DM in pregnancy is associated with higher odds of cesarean delivery and delivery of an LGA neonate. Further evaluation of how CSII use may influence neonatal size and delivery route is warranted.

SweetMama: Usability Assessment of a Novel Mobile Application Among Low-Income Pregnant People to Assist With Diabetes Management and Support.

Background: Mobile health tools may be effective strategies to improve engagement, education, and diabetes-related health during pregnancy. We developed SweetMama, a patient-centered, interactive mobile application (app) designed to support and educate low-income pregnant people with diabetes. Our objective was to evaluate the SweetMama user experience and acceptability. Methods: SweetMama is a mobile app with static and dynamic features. Static features include a customized homepage and resource library. Dynamic features include delivery of a theory-driven diabetes-specific curriculum via 1) motivational, tip, and goal-setting messages aligning with treatment and gestational age; 2) appointment reminders; and 3) ability to mark content as "favorite." In this usability assessment, low-income pregnant people with gestational or type 2 diabetes used SweetMama for 2 weeks. Participants provided qualitative feedback (via interviews) and quantitative feedback (via validated usability/satisfaction measures) on their experience. User analytic data detailed the duration and type of interactions users had with SweetMama. Results: Of 24 individuals enrolled, 23 used SweetMama and 22 completed exit interviews. Participants were mostly non-Hispanic Black (46%) or Hispanic (38%) individuals. Over the 14-day period, users accessed SweetMama frequently (median number of log-ins 8 [interquartile range 6-10]), for a median of 20.5 total minutes, and engaged all features. A majority (66.7%) rated SweetMama as having moderate or high usability. Participants emphasized design and technical strengths and beneficial effects on diabetes self-management and also identified limitations of the user experience. Conclusion: Pregnant people with diabetes found SweetMama to be user-friendly, informative, and engaging. Future work must study its feasibility for use throughout pregnancy and its efficacy to improve perinatal outcomes.

Healthcare-based interventions to address food insecurity during pregnancy: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This study was a systematic review aimed to assess published literature regarding healthcare-based interventions addressing food insecurity during pregnancy and their effects on patient-reported, pregnancy, or nutritional outcomes. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was performed in February 2022 (subsequently updated in August 2022) using Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Scopus using terms related to food insecurity interventions during pregnancy. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies examining healthcare-based interventions addressing food insecurity during pregnancy with patient-reported outcomes (eg, program satisfaction), adverse pregnancy outcomes (eg, preterm birth), or nutritional outcomes (eg, dietary intake) were included. Studies using data before 1995, conducted outside the United States, or focused solely on dietary content or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as the intervention of interest were excluded. METHODS: Of note, 3 authors screened the abstracts and full articles for inclusion. The final cohort included 5 studies. Moreover, 3 authors independently extracted data from each article and assessed the study quality using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations and the risk of bias using the National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment tools. RESULTS: Overall, 5 studies describing the interventions addressing food insecurity during pregnancy were included. Study designs included prospective cohort (n=1) and retrospective cohort (n=4) studies. There was heterogeneity in the type of intervention, with 3 using food vouchers, 1 focusing on a group prenatal service with nutrition and food management education, and 1 using a food connection program. Most studies (4 [80%]) shared patient-reported outcomes (eg, food security levels and program utilization rates), with 2 studies examining pregnancy-related outcomes (ie, glucose level, blood pressure, and preterm birth) and 2 studies examining nutritional outcomes. The interventions were associated with improved levels of food insecurity, reduced odds of preterm birth, and improved blood pressure trends; the findings demonstrated a 56% to 81% program utilization rate. All studies exhibited moderate to low study quality, with fair to good internal validity. CONCLUSION: Although data on healthcare-based interventions targeted at food insecurity during pregnancy are limited, the few studies identified suggest that such interventions may affect pregnancy outcomes. A better understanding of the local scope and context of food insecurity and community-based organizations' efforts not captured by the literature in this area can help inform the development of interventions targeting food access during pregnancy.

Improving Postpartum and Long-Term Health After an Adverse Pregnancy Outcome: Examining Interventions From a Health Equity Perspective.

Gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) that affect 15% of pregnancies in the United States. These APOs have long-term health implications, with greater risks of future cardiovascular and chronic disease later in life. In this manuscript, we review the importance of timely postpartum follow-up and transition to primary care after APOs for future disease prevention. We also discuss interventions to improve postpartum follow-up and long-term health after an APO. In recognizing racial and ethnic disparities in APOs and chronic disease, we review important considerations of these interventions through a health equity lens.

Understanding Food Security as a Social Determinant of Diabetes-Related Health during Pregnancy.

Gestational and pregestational diabetes during pregnancy are substantial and growing public health issues. Low-income individuals and individuals who identify as racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected. Food security, which is defined as the degree to which individuals have capacity to access and obtain food, is at the center of nutritional resources and decisions for individuals with diabetes. While increasingly recognized as an important mediator of health disparities in the United States, food insecurity is understudied during pregnancy and specifically among pregnant individuals with diabetes, for whom the impact of food-related resources may be even greater. Previous research has suggested that food insecurity is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnoses and disease exacerbation in the general adult population. An emerging body of research has suggested that food insecurity during pregnancy is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus diagnoses and adverse diabetes-related outcomes. Additionally, food insecurity during pregnancy may be associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Future research and clinical work should aim to further examine these relationships and subsequently develop evidence-based interventions to improve diabetes-related outcomes among pregnant individuals with food insecurity. The purpose of this article is to offer a working definition of food security, briefly review issues of food insecurity and diabetes, summarize research on food insecurity and diabetes-related pregnancy health, and discuss clinical recommendations and areas for future investigation. KEY POINTS: · Research on food insecurity and diabetes-related health is limited.. · The impact of food security on diabetes management and obstetric outcomes is likely significant.. · Future work to evaluate perinatal food security screening is warranted..

Content Quality of YouTube Videos About Gestational Diabetes: Systematic Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: People with gestational diabetes have enhanced learning requirements during pregnancy, and management of their disease often requires the translation of health information into new health behavior changes. Seeking information from the internet to augment learning from health professionals is becoming more common during pregnancy. YouTube is a popular free and accessible web-based resource, which may be particularly useful for individuals with low health literacy or other barriers to receiving high-quality health care; however, the quality and content of YouTube videos varies, and little is known about those covering gestational diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically evaluate the quality, content, and reliability of YouTube videos about gestational diabetes. METHODS: A systematic search of YouTube videos was conducted over the course of 1 week in April 2020 using the following keywords: "gestational diabetes," "gestational diabetes management," "gestational diabetes treatment," and "pregnancy and diabetes." The search results were displayed by relevance, replicating a default YouTube search attempt. The first 60 results from each keyword were reviewed (n=240). Exclusion criteria were videos unrelated to gestational diabetes, videos not in English, and those for which the full video was not available at the time of review. For each unique video, a gestational diabetes content score was used to rate video comprehensiveness and accuracy, and the DISCERN instrument, a validated metric to assess consumer health information, was used to evaluate the reliability of information presented. Videos were further categorized by quality: videos with DISCERN scores lower than 3 (out of 5) or a content score less than 4 (out of 7) were categorized as low quality, and all others were designated high quality. We performed descriptive analysis and compared video characteristics by source and quality rating. RESULTS: For 115 unique videos, the mean content score (out of 7) was 3.5 (SD 2.0) , and the mean DISCERN score (out of 5) was 2.7 (SD 0.7), representing low to moderate information comprehensiveness and reliability respectively. Video sources were categorized as personal vlog (12/115, 10.4%), web-based education (37/115, 32.2%), medical (52/115, 45.2%), business or company (13/115, 11.3%), and media clip (1/115, 0.9%). DISCERN and content scores trended higher among medical and web-based education videos. The majority of videos (n=88) were categorized as low quality, while 27 videos were categorized as high quality. Video duration was longer for high-quality videos (P<.001); high- and low-quality videos otherwise had similar views and viewer interaction numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Although high-quality videos about gestational diabetes exist, reliability, accuracy, and comprehensiveness were low overall, and higher quality was not associated with increased viewer interaction. It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this platform and to assist patients in accessing high quality content and differentiating the quality of information sources.

Association of Inpatient Postpartum Opioid Use with Bedside Nurse.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to assess the association between the nurse providing bedside care and women's postpartum opioid use. METHODS: Retrospective study of all women who birthed at a single center (December 2015 to November 2016). Patient, prescriber, and clinical data were abstracted. The postpartum nurse and total opioid use during the first 12-hour postpartum shift after birth were determined. A high amount of opioid use was defined as morphine milligram equivalents greater than or equal to 90% for this population (stratified by vaginal and cesarean births). A logistic regression model was fit with covariates entered in a step-wise manner to identify the extent to which individual nurses were associated with a greater likelihood of high opioid use by establishing one model in which the only covariate was nurse (model 1) and assessing whether the addition of patient (model 2), birth (model 3), and prescriber factors (model 4) altered the association. Kendall rank correlation assessed rank changes between models. RESULTS: Of the 8376 and 2957 women who had vaginal and cesarean births, 17.9% and 10.2%, respectively, had high opioid use. In the vaginal cohort, women cared for by 46 of 200 nurses were significantly less likely to have high opioid use. Following adjustment, patients cared for by 53 of 200 bedside nurses (model 4) had significantly lower odds of having high opioid use. The rank order of nurses, with respect to the likelihood of opioid use, remained similar after adjustment for patient, birth, and prescriber factors (Τ = 0.84). Findings were similar for the cesarean cohort: 35 of 113 nurses were associated with a significantly lower likelihood of their patients having high opioid use, and the rank order remained similar after covariate adjustment (Τ = 0.78). DISCUSSION: There is significant variation in postpartum women's opioid use based on the nurse that is not explained by patient, birth, or prescriber factors.

Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Introduction of Early Diabetes Screening Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate perinatal outcomes associated with introduction of and adherence to early diabetes screening guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of all women who received prenatal care at a single, high-volume tertiary care center before ("preguidelines") and after ("postguidelines") American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines for early pregnancy diabetes screening for women at high risk for diabetes. Women with known pregestational diabetes, late entry to prenatal care, a fetus with a known anomaly, or multiple gestation were excluded. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were constructed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between women in the preguidelines cohort to those in the postguidelines cohort. Similarly, adherence to screening guidelines was assessed, and among all women who were eligible for early diabetes screening, multivariable linear, and logistic models were created to compare outcomes between those women who were screened early to those who were not. RESULTS: Of the 2,069 women eligible for analysis, 64.6% (n = 1,337) were in the postguideline cohort. Women in the postguideline cohort were older, less likely to have a history of smoking, and more likely to be non-Hispanic white. On multivariable analysis, women in the postguideline cohort had significantly less gestational weight gain (aß = -2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.4 to -1.1), but a higher odds of 5-minute Apgar's score of <7 (adjusted odds ratio: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.11-5.66). Of 461 women who met ACOG early diabetes screening criteria, 58.7% (n = 270) were screened appropriately. Adherence to screening was associated with parity, race, insurance, and BMI. On multivariable analysis, there were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes between women meeting early screening criteria who were screened early and those who were not. CONCLUSION: Introduction of early diabetes screening guidelines was associated with a significant decrease in gestational weight gain, but did not improve neonatal outcomes. KEY POINTS: · Introduction of early diabetes screening guideline did not improve rate of early screening.. · Detection and treatment of gestational diabetes may not improve perinatal outcomes.. · Early screening guidelines was associated with decreased gestational weight..

Optimizing Engagement in an mHealth Intervention for Diabetes Support During Pregnancy: the Role of Baseline Patient Health and Behavioral Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) technology that addresses diabetes mellitus in pregnancy has the potential to improve maternal and child health while diminishing socioeconomic and racial disparities. Little is known about health literacy, electronic health literacy, or patient characteristics that contribute to increased mHealth use. In this pilot study, we aimed to examine patient factors associated with user engagement with a novel app for diabetes support during pregnancy. METHOD: Low-income pregnant individuals with gestational or type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited for a 2-week usability assessment of a novel mHealth smartphone application, "SweetMama," designed to improve diabetes care. This analysis of user characteristics was a pilot assessment of data from the usability study phase. Participants completed assessments of patient health literacy, electronic health literacy, diabetes self-efficacy, and activation. User metrics (eg, sessions and total duration of use) were evaluated by participant characteristics. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess outcomes with respect to patient's clinical history, health literacy, electronic health literacy, diabetes self-efficacy, and activation. RESULTS: Twenty-two diverse, low-income pregnant patients with either gestational or type 2 diabetes engaged with SweetMama for 14 days. Participants with gestational diabetes had greater mean minutes of use per session and mean total duration of use than those with type 2 diabetes. Participants with greater electronic health literacy, lower patient activation, and greater self-efficacy demonstrated greater total duration of use. No user metrics differed significantly by participant general health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this pilot study suggest engagement with a novel mHealth app for diabetes support during pregnancy varied by baseline behavioral and clinical characteristics. Results could indicate that digital health literacy better differentiates engagement patterns than general health literacy.

Health Care Providers' Utilization of and Perspectives on Mobile Health Technology for Diabetes and Pregnancy Support.

OBJECTIVE: Mobile health (mHealth) technology can be an effective tool to deliver behavioral interventions to improve health outcomes for individuals with diabetes. However, there is limited evidence on mHealth for pregnant women managing diabetes or for the role of health care providers (HCPs) in delivering mHealth tools. To prepare for the development of a pregnancy-specific mHealth intervention for diabetes, we sought to understand HCPs' acceptance, utilization, and design recommendations for how mHealth technology can best be used to support the management of diabetes during pregnancy. METHODS: Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with clinical HCPs (obstetricians, nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, and lactation counselors) who care for low-income pregnant women with diabetes. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. RESULTS: Participants (n = 29) generated five themes and 14 subthemes. Knowledge and acceptance themes included utilization of mobile resources and barriers to HCPs' adoption. Knowledge of popular pregnancy applications (apps) dominated, while familiarity with and use of diabetes apps varied by profession and proximity to continued education. Technology adoption barriers included lack of credibility, dependence on Internet resources, and reliance on knowledge networks. Design themes addressed user-centered design, responsive and practical education, and clinical integration. Clinicians recommended patient-participatory design, customizable features, data-tracking features, motivational feedback, and bidirectional communication capabilities. CONCLUSION: Although HCPs strongly embraced mHealth tools as an adjunct to obstetric care for women with diabetes, they also expressed limited knowledge and apprehension about patient engagement. HCP recommendations and concerns must critically inform the development of meaningful tools for this population.

Identifying Mobile Health Technology Experiences and Preferences of Low-Income Pregnant Women with Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Rapid expansion of mobile technology has resulted in the development of many mobile health ("mHealth") platforms for health monitoring and support. However, applicability, desirability, and extent of tailoring of these platforms for pregnant women, particularly in populations who experience the greatest health inequities-such as women with diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or those with greater socioeconomic barriers-remains unknown. The objective is to understand low-income pregnant women's experiences and preferences for mHealth tools to support DM health and improve DM self-management during pregnancy. METHODS: Low-income pregnant and postpartum women were included in individual interviews or focus groups; women with type 2 DM, gestational DM, or no DM were included. Analysis was performed with the constant comparison method. RESULTS: In this population of 45 (N=37 with DM) low-income, largely minority, pregnant and postpartum women, 100% reported access to smartphones and prior experience with apps. Interest in mHealth to support health and engagement during pregnancy was high. Preferences for general mHealth features included education that reduces uncertainty, support communities, visualizing progress, convenient access to information, and support for better management of pregnancy-related tasks. Preferred design elements included personalization, interactive features, and integrated graphics. Women with DM expressed multiple additional DM-specific needs, including support tools for DM self-management and self-regulation tasks. CONCLUSION: Pregnant and postpartum women, especially those with DM, desire mHealth technology to support engagement and to adapt lifestyle guidelines and treatment requirements for a healthy pregnancy. Further work to develop mHealth interventions tailored for target populations remains a key step in reducing health inequities and promoting access to evidence-based perinatal health interventions.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on a Novel Mobile Health Intervention for Low-Income Pregnant Women With Gestational or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Management of diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy is burdensome given the intensity of required patient engagement and skills, especially for women with greater social disadvantage. Mobile health (mHealth) technology is a promising avenue for DM health promotion, but few evidence-based mHealth tools exist for pregnancy. Thus, we designed a theory-driven mHealth tool called SweetMama, and planned a priori to gather usability and acceptability feedback from patients and providers to ensure a user-centered design. METHODS: In this qualitative assessment, we solicited patient and provider feedback on this novel educational and motivational mobile application for low-income pregnant women with type 2 or gestational DM. Patients and providers participated in separate focus groups. Participants shared feedback regarding SweetMama's visual appeal, architecture, and content. SweetMama modifications were made in an iterative manner. Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative technique. RESULTS: Patient (N = 16) and provider (N = 29) feedback was organized as positive feedback, negative feedback, or additional desired features. Within each category, themes addressed SweetMama visual features, information, or functional features. The majority of negative feedback was addressed and multiple desired features were implemented via iterative application development, resulting in a user-friendly, efficient, and potentially impactful mHealth app designed to support the unique needs of this population. CONCLUSIONS: SweetMama users had largely positive feedback about the mHealth tool's appeal, content, and functionality. Suggested improvements were incorporated in preparation for further evaluation steps, which include longitudinal usability testing, feasibility trials, and larger trials to determine the efficacy of SweetMama use for improving perinatal outcomes.

Evaluation of a Text Messaging Intervention to Support Self-Management of Diabetes During Pregnancy Among Low-Income, Minority Women: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Given the growing burden of diabetes in underserved communities and the complexity of diabetes self-management during pregnancy, the development of interventions to support low-income pregnant women with diabetes is urgently needed. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to develop and pilot test a theory-driven curriculum of SMS text messaging for diabetes support and education during pregnancy. METHODS: This was a prospective pilot investigation of a novel SMS text messaging intervention offered to pregnant women with pregestational or gestational diabetes mellitus and publicly funded prenatal care. Prior work yielded a conceptual model of diabetes self-management barriers and support factors in this population, which was used to guide curriculum development along with health behavior theories. Participants received three supportive or educational one-way text messages per week during pregnancy. In-depth semistructured interviews were performed at study exit to solicit feedback on the program. Narrative data were analyzed using the constant comparative technique to identify themes and subthemes. RESULTS: Participants (N=31 enrolled and n=26 completed both interviews) consistently reported that SMS text messaging provided enhanced motivation for diabetes self-care, reduced diabetes-related social isolation, increased perceived diabetes-associated knowledge, enhanced comfort with the health care team, and reduced logistical burdens of diabetes during pregnancy. Participants requested enhanced interactive and customizable features in future intervention iterations. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women with diabetes who were enrolled in this pilot study of an SMS text messaging curriculum for diabetes support described enhanced motivation, knowledge, and comfort with diabetes self-care activities as a result of the health education intervention. The next steps include enriching the interactive features of the intervention and investigating the effect of the intervention on perinatal outcomes.

Evaluation of an Intrapartum Insulin Regimen for Women With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether an insulin protocol for intrapartum glucose control among parturients with diabetes was associated with improved outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of women with pregestational or gestational diabetes delivering a liveborn neonate at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Before 2011, women with diabetes were given intravenous (IV) insulin or glucose during labor at the discretion of the on-call endocrinologist. In 2011, a standardized protocol was designed to titrate insulin and glucose infusions. Outcomes were compared between two time periods: January 2005-December 2010 (before implementation) and January 2012-December 2017 (after implementation) with 2011 excluded to account for a phase-in period. Maternal outcomes included intrapartum hyperglycemia (blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL) and hypoglycemia (blood glucose less than 60 mg/dL). Neonatal outcomes included hypoglycemia (blood glucose less than 50 mg/dL), intensive care admission, and IV dextrose therapy. t tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and χ tests were used for bivariable analyses. Linear and logistic multivariable regression were used to account for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of 3,689 women, 928 (25.2%) delivered before 2011. After protocol implementation, frequencies of both maternal intrapartum hyperglycemia (51.3% vs 37.9%) and hypoglycemia decreased (6.1% vs 2.5%), both P<.001; respective adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.64, 95% CI 0.54-0.77 and 0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.78. The frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia, however, increased (36.6% vs 49.2%, P<.001; aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.45-2.07). Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and need for IV dextrose therapy were similar across time periods. CONCLUSION: A formal protocol to manage insulin and glucose infusions for parturients with diabetes was associated with improved intrapartum maternal glucose control, but an increased frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Health Care Providers' Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to Care for Low-Income Pregnant Women With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE | Treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes during pregnancy can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes; yet, self-care burdens for pregnant women with diabetes are high, particularly for low-income and minority women. Although prior studies have investigated patient-perceived barriers and facilitators to diabetes self-management during pregnancy, little work investigates the perspectives of health care providers (HCPs) on these factors. The objective of this study was to investigate HCPs' perspectives on patient barriers and facilitators to diabetes care during pregnancy. METHODS | In this qualitative investigation, focus groups were conducted using a semistructured interview guide designed to elicit HCPs' perceptions of patient barriers and facilitators to successful diabetes-related self-care. HCPs included physicians, nurses, health educators, and other personnel who care for low-income pregnant women with diabetes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative technique to identify themes and subthemes, using the Social Ecological Model as a theoretical framework. RESULTS | Participants (n = 29) identified barriers and facilitators to women's achievement of optimal diabetes self-care according to six levels (environment, access, institution, interpersonal, knowledge, and individual). Example subthemes included inflexible work schedule, poor access to medication and supplies, overburdened clinic, perceived patient "policing," and low health literacy. Individual factors included self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement. HCPs identified barriers, but not facilitators, for each theme. CONCLUSION | HCPs described facilitators and barriers to diabetes care at all levels of the Social Ecological Model. These data can inform interventions to dismantle barriers patients face and thus create meaningful health care interventions to improve outcomes for low-income pregnant women with diabetes.

Management of Diabetes in the Intrapartum and Postpartum Patient.

Achieving maternal euglycemia in women with pregestational and gestational diabetes mellitus is critical to decreasing the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, as maternal blood glucose levels around the time of delivery are directly related to the risk of hypoglycemia in the neonate. Many institutions use continuous insulin and glucose infusions during the intrapartum period, although practices are widely variable. At Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the "Management of the Perinatal Patient with Diabetes" policy and protocol was developed to improve consistency of management while also allowing individualization appropriate for the patient's specific diabetic needs. This protocol introduced standardized algorithms based on maternal insulin requirements to drive real-time maternal glucose control during labor as well as provided guidelines for postpartum glycemic control. This manuscript describes the development and implementation of this protocol to encourage other institutions to adopt a standardized protocol that allows highly individualized intrapartum care to women with diabetes.

Optimizing postpartum care for the patient with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus poses well-established risks to both the mother and infant. As >50% of women with gestational diabetes mellitus will develop type 2 diabetes mellitus in their lifetime, performing postpartum oral glucose tolerance testing is paramount to initiation of appropriate lifestyle interventions and pharmacologic therapy. Nonetheless, test completion among women with gestational diabetes mellitus is estimated to be <50%, with particularly low rates in Latina patients, as well as patients with public insurance, low education levels, and low health literacy. Data suggest our current health services infrastructure loses patients in the postpartum gap between pregnancy-focused care and primary care. Previous studies have suggested strategies to promote oral glucose tolerance testing completion to identify type 2 diabetes mellitus. Based on existing evidence, we propose best practices for the postpartum care of women with gestational diabetes mellitus: (1) enhanced patient support for identifying long-term health care providers, (2) patient-centered medical home utilization when possible, (3) patient and provider test reminders, and (4) formalized obstetrician-primary care provider hand offs using the Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) mnemonic. These strategies deserve future investigation to solidify a multilevel approach for identifying and preventing the continuum of diabetes.