RESUMO
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are essential fatty acids for the human body. Seafood and microalgae are the most important sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Supplementation with 200 mg/day of DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding has been suggested for women and infants in countries with low seafood consumption. Maternal concentration of DHA and EPA was associated with concentration in cord blood and breast milk. High concentrations of DHA and EPA were identified at the level of retinal photoreceptors and neuronal cell membranes. It was observed that supplementation with DHA and EPA during pregnancy had beneficial effects on the neurological development of the fetus and infant by improving language, memory, attention, and hand coordination, affecting sleep patterns, and improving visual acuity. Beneficial effects on the development of the infant were also associated with the maternal intake of omega-3 fatty acids during breastfeeding. Supplementation with DHA and EPA may reduce the risk of preterm birth but also of preeclampsia in low-risk pregnancies. Women of childbearing age should have an intake of 250 mg/day of DHA + EPA from their diet or supplements. To reduce the risk of premature birth, pregnant women must additionally receive at least 100-200 mg of DHA every day. It is recommended that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids starts before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Beneficial effects on the mother have been identified, such as the reduction of postpartum depression symptoms, the decrease of cardiovascular risk, and the anti-inflammatory role.
RESUMO
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue, that leads to dysmenorrhea, painful intercourse and infertility. The shift in paradigm from the previous belief that endometriosis exclusively impacts women of reproductive age has brought attention to the condition in both premenarchal and postmenopausal women. Currently, 2-4% of postmenopausal women have endometriosis. Many women experience menopausal symptoms during the peri- and postmenopausal periods and require extensive investigations and monitoring in order to avoid the recurrence of endometriosis symptoms or the risk of malignant transformation when treatment with menopausal hormones is elected. Our goal was to compile and present a clear and concise overview of the existing literature on postmenopausal endometriosis, offering an up-to-date and precise summary of the available information.
RESUMO
Objective:The aim of the study was to identify the impact of prenatal lectures in breastfeeding and neonatal care in Romania. Methods:We distributed a questionnaire to mothers who gave birth at the Bucur Maternity, Bucharest, Romania. A study group was constituted from women who attended prenatal lectures and their answers were compared with those from women who did not have prenatal education. Results:The study included 122 women. Primiparous women tend to participate in educational lectures to a greater extent than others (p=0.001). Participants in prenatal lectures breastfeed longer than non-participants (.0.001) and they had at least university studies in a higher proportion (94.06%) than non-attenders (52.38%). Women without prenatal lectures live predominantly in rural areas (p=0.003). Most women who attended classes (86.2%) considered that information provided by prenatal lectures was useful. Exclusively breastfeeding was more frequent among participants (47.49%) than non-participants (38.89%). Conclusion:Primiparity, high level of education and living in urban areas are the main characteristics of female participants in prenatal lectures, who tend to breastfeed longer and ensure exclusive human milk feeding for their babies in a higher proportion than non-participants.