OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare Foley balloon catheter placement for 6 vs 12 hours in induction of labor after 1 previous cesarean delivery.
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a university hospital in Malaysia from January 2022 to February 2023. Eligible women with 1 previous cesarean delivery admitted for induction of labor were enrolled. Participants were randomized after balloon catheter insertion for 6 or 12 hours of passive ripening before balloon deflation and removal to check cervical status for amniotomy. The primary outcome was the induction of labor to delivery interval. The secondary outcomes were largely derived from the core outcome set for trials on induction of labor (Core Outcomes in Women's and Newborn Health [CROWN]). The Student t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test were used as appropriate for the data.
RESULTS: Overall, 126 women were randomized, 63 to each intervention. The mean induction of labor to delivery intervals were 23.0 (standard deviation, ±8.9) in the 6-hour arm and 26.6 (standard deviation, ±7.1) in the 12-hour arm (mean difference, -3.5 hours; 95% confidence interval, -6.4 to -0.7; P=.02). The median induction of labor (Foley balloon catheter insertion) to Foley balloon catheter removal intervals were 6.0 hours (interquartile range, 6.0-6.3) in the 6-hour arm and 12.0 hours (interquartile range, 12.0-12.5) in the 12-hour arm (P
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate 6- vs 12-hour Foley balloon placement for cervical ripening in the labor induction of nulliparas.
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre from January 2022 to August 2022. Nulliparas aged ≥18 years, with a term, singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation, with intact membranes, with reassuring fetal heart rate tracing, with an unripe cervix, and without any significant contractions, were recruited at admission for labor induction. Participants were randomized after successful Foley balloon insertion, for the balloon to be left passively in place for 6 or 12 hours and then removed to check for a ripened cervix. Amniotomy was performed once the cervix had ripened, followed by titrated oxytocin infusion to expedite labor and delivery. The primary outcome was the labor induction to delivery interval. The secondary outcomes were mostly from the core outcome set for trials on labor induction of labor trial reporting, such as change in the Bishop score after the intervention, use of an additional method for cervical ripening, time to delivery after double-balloon device removal, mode of delivery, indication for cesarean delivery, duration of oxytocin infusion, blood loss during delivery, presence of a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear, maternal infection, maternal satisfaction regional analgesia in labor, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, cardiorespiratory arrest, need for hysterectomy. The neonatal outcomes were Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, neonatal intensive care unit admission, cord pH, neonatal sepsis, fetal birthweight, birth trauma, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or need for therapeutic hypothermia. Data were analyzed using the t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test, as appropriate for the data type.
RESULTS: Overall, 240 women were randomized, 120 to each arm. The median labor induction to delivery intervals were 21.3 hours (interquartile range, 16.2-27.9) for the 6-hour balloon catheter placement and 26.0 hours (interquartile range, 21.5-30.9) for the 12-hour balloon catheter placement (P
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare Foley balloon placement for 6 vs 12 hours in the labor induction of multiparas with unfavorable cervixes.
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a university hospital in Malaysia from January to October of 2022. Eligible multiparous women admitted for induction of labor for various indications were enrolled. Participant inclusion criteria were multiparity (at least 1 previous vaginal delivery of ≥24 weeks' gestation), age ≥18 years, term pregnancy >37 weeks' gestation, singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, intact membranes, normal fetal heart rate tracing, no significant contractions (< 2 in 10 minutes), and unfavorable cervix (Bishop score < 6). Participants were randomized after successful Foley balloon insertion for the balloon to be left in place for 6 or 12 hours of passive ripening before removal to check cervical suitability for amniotomy. The primary outcomes were the induction-to-delivery interval and maternal satisfaction with the allocated intervention assessed using a visual numerical rating scale (0-10). Secondary outcomes were derived in part from the core outcome set for trials on induction of labor (Core Outcomes in Women's and Newborn Health [CROWN]). Maternal outcomes were change in first Bishop score after intervention, use of additional method for cervical ripening, time to delivery after balloon removal, mode of delivery, indication for cesarean delivery, duration of oxytocin infusion, blood loss during delivery, presence of third- or fourth-degree perineal tear, maternal infection, use of regional analgesia in labor, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, cardiorespiratory arrest, and need for hysterectomy. The secondary neonatal outcomes were Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, cord blood pH, neonatal sepsis, birthweight, birth trauma, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or need for therapeutic hypothermia. Analyses were conducted with the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test, as appropriate.
RESULTS: A total of 220 women were randomized (110 to each intervention). Regarding the 2 primary outcomes, the induction-to-delivery intervals were a median (interquartile range) of 15.9 (12.0-24.0) and 21.6 (17.3-26.0) hours (P
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of gestational cardiovascular health-formally characterized by a combination of 5 metrics-with adverse maternal and newborn outcomes.
STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed data from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome study, including 2304 mother-newborn dyads from 6 countries. Maternal cardiovascular health was defined by the combination of the following 5 metrics measured at a mean of 28 (24-32) weeks' gestation: body mass index, blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and smoking. Levels of each metric were categorized using pregnancy guidelines, and the total cardiovascular health was scored (0-10 points, where 10 was the most favorable). Cord blood was collected at delivery, newborn anthropometrics were measured within 72 hours, and medical records were abstracted for obstetrical outcomes. Modified Poisson and multinomial logistic regression were used to test the associations of gestational cardiovascular health with pregnancy outcomes, adjusted for center and maternal and newborn characteristics.
RESULTS: The average age of women at study exam was 29.6 years old, and they delivered at a mean gestational age of 39.8 weeks. The mean total gestational cardiovascular health score was 8.6 (of 10); 36.3% had all ideal metrics and 7.5% had 2+ poor metrics. In fully adjusted models, each 1 point higher (more favorable) cardiovascular health score was associated with lower risks for preeclampsia (relative risk, 0.67 [95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.73]), unplanned primary cesarean delivery (0.88 [0.82-0.95]), newborn birthweight >90th percentile (0.81 [0.75-0.87]), sum of skinfolds >90th percentile (0.84 [0.77-0.92]), and insulin sensitivity <10th percentile (0.83 [0.77-0.90]). Cardiovascular health categories demonstrated graded associations with outcomes; for example, relative risks (95% confidence intervals) for preeclampsia were 3.13 (1.39-7.06), 5.34 (2.44-11.70), and 9.30 (3.95-21.86) for women with ≥1 intermediate, 1 poor, or ≥2 poor (vs all ideal) metrics, respectively.
CONCLUSION: More favorable cardiovascular health at 24 to 32 weeks' gestation was associated with lower risks for several adverse pregnancy outcomes in a multinational cohort.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the risks of stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and severe neonatal morbidity by comparing expectant management with delivery from 37+0 weeks of gestation.
STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating women with singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies at 37+0 to 40+6 weeks' gestation in Queensland, Australia, delivered from 2000 to 2018. Rates of stillbirth, neonatal death, and severe neonatal morbidity were calculated for <3rd, 3rd to <10th, 10th to <25th, 25th to <90th, and ≥90th birthweight centiles. The composite risk of mortality with expectant management for an additional week in utero was compared with rates of neonatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity.
RESULTS: Of 948,895 singleton, term nonanomalous births, 813,077 occurred at 37+0 to 40+6 weeks' gestation. Rates of stillbirth increased with gestational age, with the highest rate observed in infants with birthweight below the third centile: 10.0 per 10,000 (95% confidence interval, 6.2-15.3) at 37+0 to 37+6 weeks, rising to 106.4 per 10,000 (95% confidence interval, 74.6-146.9) at 40+0 to 40+6 weeks' gestation. The rate of neonatal mortality was highest at 37+0 to 37+6 weeks for all birthweight centiles. The composite risk of expectant management rose sharply after 39+0 to 39+6 weeks, and was highest in infants with birthweight below the third centile (125.2/10,000; 95% confidence interval, 118.4-132.3) at 40+0 to 40+6 weeks' gestation. Balancing the risk of expectant management and delivery (neonatal mortality), the optimal timing of delivery for each birthweight centile was evaluated on the basis of relative risk differences. The rate of severe neonatal morbidity sharply decreased in the period between 37+0 to 37+6 and 38+0 to 38+6 weeks, particularly for infants with birthweight below the third centile.
CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the optimal time of birth is 37+0 to 37+6 weeks for infants with birthweight <3rd centile and 38+0 to 38+6 weeks' gestation for those with birthweight between the 3rd and 10th centile and >90th centile. For all other birthweight centiles, birth from 39+0 weeks is associated with the best outcomes. However, large numbers of planned births are required to prevent a single excess death. The healthcare costs and acceptability to women of potential universal policies of planned birth need to be carefully considered.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if visual feedback focusing on the perineum reduced the length of the active second stage of labor in comparison with the control.
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the University Malaya Medical Centre from December 2021 to August 2022. Nulliparous women about to commence the active second stage, at term, with singleton gestation, reassuring fetal status, and no contraindication for vaginal delivery were randomized to live viewing of the maternal introitus (intervention) or maternal face (sham/placebo control) as visual biofeedback during their pushing. A video camera Bluetooth-linked to a tablet computer display screen was used; in the intervention arm, the camera was focused on the introitus, and in the control arm, on the maternal face. Participants were instructed to watch the display screen during their pushing. The primary outcomes were the intervention-to-delivery interval and maternal satisfaction with the pushing experience assessed using a 0-to-10 visual numerical rating scale. Secondary outcomes included mode of delivery, perineal injury, delivery blood loss, birthweight, umbilical cord arterial blood pH and base excess at birth, Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Data were analyzed with the t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test, as appropriate.
RESULTS: A total of 230 women were randomized (115 to intervention and 115 to control arm). The active second stage duration (intervention-to-delivery interval) was a median (interquartile range) of 16 (11-23) and 17 (12-31) minutes (P=.289), and maternal satisfaction with the pushing experience was 9 (8-10) and 7 (6-7) (P
METHODS: Blood lead level, anemia, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, tuberculosis infection or disease, and Strongyloides seropositivity data were available for 8148 refugee children (aged < 19 years) from Bhutan, Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Somalia.
RESULTS: We identified distinct health profiles for each country of origin, as well as for Burmese children who arrived in the United States from Thailand compared with Burmese children who arrived from Malaysia. Hepatitis B was more prevalent among male children than female children and among children aged 5 years and older. The odds of HBV, tuberculosis, and Strongyloides decreased over the study period.
CONCLUSIONS: Medical screening remains an important part of health care for newly arrived refugee children in the United States, and disease risk varies by population.
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the level of the involvement of men in PNC and analyzed the factors that determined this involvement.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey of 381 males who were selected by multistage random sampling in Muaro Jambi, Indonesia, from April to August 2020. The dependent variable was the involvement of men in PNC, which was constructed from four dichotomous indicators. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 at a significance level of 0.05.
RESULTS: Over 50% of respondents were highly involved in PNC, with the predicting factors being the number of children (OR = 2.195, 95% CI = 1.096-4.397), the quality of health service (OR = 6.072, 95% CI = 3.324-11.09), communication (OR = 6.908, 95% CI = 3.255-14.66), and culture (OR = 4.031, 95% CI = 2.196-7.399). The communication factor was the main predictor of male involvement in PNC in Muaro Jambi Regency.
CONCLUSION: The involvement of men in PNC in Muaro Jambi Regency was related to the number of children, quality of health service, communication, and culture. Counseling "as a couple" is needed to improve the communication between husband and wife so that they can understand each other's needs in PNC.