Search results for "BIRTH"

Returns to Childbirth Technologies: Evidence from Preterm Births

2013

We investigate the impact of obstetrician supervision, as opposed to midwife supervision, on the short-term health of low-risk newborns. We exploit a unique policy rule in the Netherlands that creates a large discontinuity in the probability of a low-risk birth being attended by an obstetrician at gestational week 37. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we consistently find no health benefits from obstetrician supervision, despite increased rates of neonatal intensive care unit admissions among births supervised by obstetricians. These results indicate potential cost savings from increased use of midwifery care for low-risk deliveries.

Response to the comment on "Can stress biomarkers predict preterm birth in women with threatened preterm labor?"

2017

Obstetric and offspring risks of women’s morbid conditions linked to prior anticancer treatments

2016

Background Literature shows the effects of type of cancer and/or anticancer treatment on live birth percentages and/or pregnancy and neonatal complications in female cancer survivors. However, studies analyzing the obstetric and offspring risks of the morbid conditions associated with previous anti-cancer treatments are missing. The present review aims to uncover these risks. Methods A literature search based on publications up to March 2016 identified by PubMed and references cited in relevant articles. Results The morbid conditions associated with prior anticancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and/or hematopoietic stem-cell transplant may induce not only obstet…

The effects on offspring of premature parturition

2001

The time of parturition defines the length of the intrauterine period of fetal life, a requisite to achieve adequate adaptation to the external environment. Immaturity, a condition whose severity is inversely related to the length of pregnancy, is the main determinant of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with preterm birth. Despite great advances in medical technology and expertise, mainly after the introduction of the neonatal intensive care units, only one- to two-thirds of infants from the subsets with lower birthweight/gestational age reach survival at discharge. Distinct major neurological and sensorial sequelae, including cerebral palsy, retinopathy of prematurity, and …

Birth Weight and Diabetic Retinopathy: Results From the Population-Based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS).

2020

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and birth weight (BW) in diabetic subjects sampled from the general population. Methods: The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, observational cohort study in participants aged from 35 to 74 years. Criteria for diabetes diagnosis were HbA1c ≥6.5% at study entry, a doctor-diagnosis of diabetes, or diabetes medication. The presence of DR was determined by evaluating fundus photographs. BW was assessed by self-reports. GHS participants were divided into three different BW groups (low: <2500 g; normal: 2500–4000 g; high:>4000 g). Logistic regression analysis was conducted as uni- and multiv…

2014

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant catch-up growth seem associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases in later life, but individual studies showed conflicting results. OBJECTIVES: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis for 147,252 children of 31 birth cohort studies to determine the associations of birth and infant growth characteristics with the risks of preschool wheezing (1-4 years) and school-age asthma (5-10 years). METHODS: First, we performed an adjusted 1-stage random-effect meta-analysis to assess the combined associations of gestational age, birth weight, and infant weight gain with childhood asthma. Second, we performed an adjus…

Comparison of the ability of alternative birthweight and fetal weight standards to identify preterm newborns at increased risk of perinatal death

2013

Objective To compare prediction of perinatal deaths among preterm infants based on fetal weight standards versus a new subpopulation-based birthweight standard. Design Population-based cohort study. Setting France. Population A total of 9100 preterm singletons, born between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation in 2000–09, in Burgundy (France). Methods We first classified all newborns as either small for gestational age (SGA) or not, based on alternative fetal weight or birthweight standards, including a new birthweight standard that excludes infants born to mothers with disease related to the weight of a fetus. Based on discrepancies between the different classifications, we then divided the newbor…

Newborn screening of inherited metabolic disorders by tandem mass spectrometry: past, present and future

2013

Inborn errors of metabolism are inherited biochemical disorders caused by lack of a functional enzyme, transmembrane transporter, or similar protein, which then results in blockage of the corresponding metabolic pathway. Taken individually, inborn errors of metabolism are rare. However, as a group these diseases are relatively frequent and they may account for most of neonatal mortality and need of health resources. The detection of genetic metabolic disorders should occur in a pre-symptomatic phase. Recently, the introduction of the tandem mass spectrometric methods for metabolite analysis has changed our ability to detect intermediates of metabolism in smaller samples and provides the mea…

Outcome of pregnancy in type 1 diabetic patients treated with insulin lispro or regular insulin: an Italian experience.

2008

Some studies have shown that fetal outcome observed in patients using insulin lispro is much the same as in pregnant women using regular insulin. This study aims to analyze the Italian data emerging from a multinational, multicenter, retrospective study on mothers with type 1 diabetes mellitus before pregnancy, comparing those treated with insulin lispro for at least 3 months before and 3 months after conception with those treated with regular insulin. The data collected on pregnant women with diabetes attending 15 Italian centers from 1998 to 2001 included: HbA1c at conception and during the first and third trimesters, frequency of severe hypoglycemic episodes, spontaneous abortions, mode …

Long-term prediction of birth weight

1993

On the basis of the hypothesis that undisturbed individual growth in fetal life keeps a constant proportional difference with the standard population 50th percentile, birth weight can be predicted with a single sonographic exploration after the 16th week of pregnancy. Data on 135 singleton pregnancies with accurate dates and delivery at term were used. Sonography was performed between the 17th and 36th weeks of pregnancy, in every case at least 4 weeks before delivery. The observed measurements of BPD, FL, and AC were used for the prediction of their values on the day of delivery, applying the Hadlock equation for the estimation of birth weight. The mean error of birth weight predictions wa…