The effect of a combined intervention on exclusive breastfeeding in primiparas: A randomised controlled trial.

An antenatal/postnatal intervention involving proactive telephone support and written materials was conducted among primiparas. Four hundred women, from the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, were randomized between November 2013 and December 2016 into three groups: intervention (IG), active control (ACG) and standard care (SCG). Primary outcome was exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding difficulties, attitudes towards infant feeding, breastfeeding self-efficacy and social support. Practice staff were blinded to group allocation. Of 400 women, 45 (11%) were lost to follow-up, and final analyses were conducted on 129 (IG), 103 (ACG) and 123 (SCG) participants. EBF rates at 3 months were significantly higher for the IG (odds ratio [OR] 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7 to 8.1; EBF 81%) as well as at 6 months (OR 15.7, 95% CI, 9.1 to 27.1; EBF 64%) compared with SCG (EBF 47% at 3 months and 3% at 6 months). Higher rates were also observed for the ACG at 3 months (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.8, EBF 68%) and 6 months (OR 2.3, 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.9, EBF 16%). Participants in the IG had the highest increase in positive attitudes towards infant feeding, in comparison to baseline, and significantly higher breastfeeding self-efficacy. Participants in SCG experienced significantly more breastfeeding difficulties, both at 3 and 6 months, in comparison to AC and IGs. Written breastfeeding materials and proactive telephone support among primiparas are an effective means of increasing breastfeeding rates, decreasing breastfeeding difficulties and improving self-efficacy and attitudes towards infant feeding.

Maternal body mass index change as a new optimal gestational weight gain predictor in overweight women.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body-mass index (BMI) and neonatal birth weight. METHODS: The observational study included 2906 mothers and their neonates born from 2005 to 2011 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Split University Hospital Center. Mothers with singleton term pregnancies who were overweight before pregnancy (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) were compared with those with normal pre-pregnancy weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). BMI change was assessed as a predictor of birth weight, categorized as small (SGA), appropriate (AGA), or large for gestational age (LGA). RESULTS: The rate of SGA infants was significantly lower (n=199; 6.8% vs n=1548; 9.2%) and the rate of LGA infants significantly greater among pre-pregnancy overweight mothers compared with normal-weight mothers (n=371; 12.8% vs n=1302; 7.8%; P<0.001 both). Overweight mothers had a significant probability of delivering an SGA neonate when they gained less than 6 kg, as compared with 8 kg among normal-weight mothers. They had a significant probability of delivering an LGA neonate when they gained more than 14 kg, compared with more than 20 kg among normal-weight mothers. BMI change was a more consistent indicator, suggesting that the ranges of 3.0-7.9 kg/m2 in overweight and 2-5.9 kg/m2 in normal-weight women were not associated with a significant increase in the rate of SGA or LGA. CONCLUSION: Maternal height seems to be an important factor in optimal weight gain definition, suggesting that BMI change should be a preferred measure of pregnancy-related weight.

The value of ultrasound measurement of cervical length and parity in prediction of cesarean section risk in term premature rupture of membranes and unfavorable cervix.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of cervical length (CL) and parity as prediction factors for assessment of cesarean section (CS) risk in women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at term and unfavorable cervix, undergoing induction of labor (IOL) with dinoprostone intracervical gel. METHODS: A prospective study involved 50 nulliparous and 51 multiparous women admitted for IOL. Pre-induction CL was measured and delivery outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Nulliparous women were younger than the multiparous (26.6±5.2 vs. 30.5±4.9; P<0.001) and had longer pre-induction CL (35.6±5.5 vs. 31.5±4.8; P<0.001) and induction-delivery interval (582 vs. 420 min; P<0.001). There was no difference in the mode of delivery, CS indications, Apgar score, neonatal weight, the rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission and perinatal death in respect of parity. CL was significantly shorter in vaginal vs. cesarean deliveries regardless of parity (31.4 vs. 38.8 mm, P<0.001, respectively). Cut-off values of CL for predicting CS were 37.5 mm in nulliparae and 34.5 mm in multiparae. CONCLUSIONS: CLs of 37.5 mm in nulliparae and 34.5 mm in multiparae were determined as the cut-off values in predicting CS risk in women with PROM at term and unfavorable cervix.

Immunohistochemical expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in stromal cells of vaginal tissue in post-menopausal women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Background & objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common medical condition that affects adult women of different ages. The support of a normal pelvic floor is the result of complex interactions between ligaments, muscles, connective tissue and vaginal walls. Hypoxia and oxidative stress can reduce protein synthesis in the pelvic muscles that may contribute to muscular atrophy. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcriptional activator which, expressed in response to hypoxia, activates a number of genes involved in cellular response to hypoxia. However, a potential role of hypoxia and oxidative stress in pathogenesis of POP is not known. This study was aimed to compare the level of HIF-1α immunohistochemical expression in the vaginal stromal cells of postmenopausal women with and without POP. Methods: Samples of the vaginal tissue from 120 menopausal women were obtained during surgery, and immunohistochemical expression of HIF-1α was assessed. There were 60 women with POP while 60 women in the control group were without prolapse but with benign gynaecological diseases. Results: In post-menopausal women with prolapse, significant differences were observed in the number of HIF-1α-positive stromal cells in the vaginal tissue compared to the control group. There was a significant increase in the number of HIF-1α in the stromal cells of the vaginal tissue in women with prolapse. Interpretation & conclusions: Difference in expression of HIF-1α in stromal cells of the vaginal tissue in the post-menopausal women with and without POP suggests that prolonged hypoxia probably has an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of POP.

The Impact of Inherited Thrombophilia Types and Low Molecular Weight Heparin Treatment on Pregnancy Complications in Women with Previous Adverse Outcome.

PURPOSE: To assess the distribution of births and spontaneous abortions, first-trimester abortion (FTA) and mid-trimester abortion (MTA), in untreated (n=128) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treated pregnancies (n=50) of the same women with inherited thrombophilias and adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) in previous pregnancies. We particularly investigated the impact of LMWH on reducing the pregnancy complications in two thrombophilia types, "Conventional" and "Novel". MATERIALS AND METHODS: 50 women with inherited thrombophilia (26 Conventional and 24 Novel) and APO in previous pregnancies were included in the study. Conventional group included factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin G20210A (PT) mutations and antithrombin (AT), protein S (PS), and protein C (PC) deficiency, while the Novel group included methylentetrahydrofolate-reductase (MTHFR), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism. APO was defined as one of the following: preterm birth (PTB), fetal growth restriction (FGR), preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), placental abruption (PA) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). RESULTS: There was no difference in distribution of births and spontaneous abortions between Conventional and Novel thrombophilia in untreated pregnancies (χ²=2.7; p=0.100) and LMWH treated pregnancies (χ²=0.442; p=0.506). In untreaed pregnancies thrombophilia type did not have any impact on the frequency of FTA and MTA (χ²=0.14; p=0.711). In birth-ended pregnancies LMWH treatement reduced the incidence of IUFD (p=0.011) in Conventional and FGR, IUFD, and PTB in Novel thrombophilia group. CONCLUSION: The equal impact of two thrombophilia types on the pregnancy outcomes and a more favorable effect of LMWH therapy on pregnancy complications in Novel thrombophilia group point the need for Novel thrombophilias screening and the future studies on this issue should be recommended.

Low molecular weight heparin treatment and impact of inherited thrombophilia type in pregnancies with previous adverse outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment in 50 pregnancies of women with inherited thrombophilia and adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) in previous untreated pregnancies. The impact of "Conventional" (FVL, PT, AT, PC, PS) and "Novel" (MTHFR, PAI-1, ACE) thrombophilias on APO was investigated. METHODS: The primary outcomes (PO) were: early and late pregnancy loss (EPL, LPL), preterm birth (PTB) or term birth (TB) compared to the last untreated pregnancies of the same women. Secondary outcomes (SO) were APO in LMWH treated and last untreated pregnancies ended with birth. PO and SO were compared in relation to the thrombophilia type. RESULTS: LMWH decreased EPL and LPL rate and improved TB rate compared with last untreated pregnancies (p < 0.001). There were less PTB (p = 0.019) and no cases of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) (p = 0.0019) in LWMH-treated pregnancies. The division to Conventional and Novel thrombophilias showed: (a) difference between pregnancy losses and birth rate (p = 0.0069) and (b) no difference in the prevalence of APO in untreated pregnancies ended with birth. CONCLUSIONS: LMWH treatment improves pregnancy outcome in women with inherited thrombophilia and APO in previous pregnancies. Novel thrombophilias have the equal impact on the pregnancy outcome compared to the Conventional thrombophilias.