What is the role played by pregnancy in the construction of a woman’s identity and her association with her child-to-be?

Calcium homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation in primiparous and multiparous women with sub-adequate calcium intakes

Background: Prenatal attachment, the emotional bond a mother develops with her fetus, evolves throughout pregnancy and is affected by maternal attachment history, body image and gender role. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between attachment styles and prenatal attachment in Iranian pregnant women mediated by body image and gender roles in the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2023, recruiting 132 Iranian pregnant women aged 15 - 45 in the third trimester of pregnancy living in Tehran, Iran. The sampling method was convenience sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSIR), Revised Collins and Reed's Attachment Scale (RAAS), along with questionnaires on prenatal body image (PBIQ) and prenatal attachment (MFAS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation) and structural equation modeling (SEM) via partial least squares (PLS) regression. Results: The final model accounted for 21% of the variance in prenatal attachment. A significant negative relationship was found between prenatal body image and prenatal attachment (β = -0.429, P < 0.05), as well as secure attachment style and prenatal body image (β = -0.291, P < 0.05). Crucially, mediation analysis indicated that prenatal body image significantly mediated the relationship between secure attachment style and prenatal attachment (β = 0.125, P < 0.05). No direct relationships were found between any attachment style and prenatal attachment, or between any gender role and prenatal attachment. Gender roles did not serve as a significant mediator. Only a significant positive relationship was found between secure attachment style and masculine gender role (β = 0.405, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that the relationship between secure attachment style and prenatal attachment in pregnant women of the third trimester is mediated by prenatal body image and not by gender roles. This highlights the importance of integrating psychological interventions aimed at improving body image into prenatal care to foster the prenatal attachment.

Maintained thymic output of conventional and regulatory T cells during human pregnancy

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy

Calcium and vitamin D play major roles in calcium homeostasis and skeletal development, especially during pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine changes in calcium, 25 hydroxy [25(OH)] vitamin D3 and other biochemical factors (PTH, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, magnesium, phosphorus) related to calcium homeostasis and bone turnover during pregnancy and compare the values to those of non-pregnant women. In a cohort study, 48 pregnant women, in their first trimester of pregnancy (12+/-2.7 weeks), from 5 prenatal care centers, and 47 non-pregnant women randomly selected from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population were enrolled. These pregnant women were followed in their second (26+/-1.9 weeks) and third trimesters (37+/-3.2 weeks) of pregnancy. Samples were drawn from June 2002 to March 2003. Including criteria were healthy women with no background of disease. Women using photo protection and calcium and vitamin D supplementation were excluded. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic information for both groups. Venous blood samples were taken after 12-14 h of overnight fasting to measure serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, PTH, 25 (OH) vitamin D3 and serum osteocalcin levels. The repeated measures analysis of variance and t-test were used for statistical analysis. Data were matched for age and weight in both the case (in the first trimester) and control groups. Significant differences were found in the mean serum levels of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase between the three trimesters of pregnancy (p< 0.001). Osteocalcin was significantly higher in the first trimester as compared to second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Alkaline phosphatase was significantly lower in the first trimester as compared to the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and their controls. There was also a significant difference in osteocalcin in the second and third trimesters and alkaline phosphatase in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy in comparison to the control group. The mean values of osteocalcin were 12.7+/-8.5, 8.1+/-6.9, 5.6+/-5.0 and 13.9+/-7.9 ng/ml, respectively, and mean values for alkaline phosphatase were 115+/-38, 125+/-37, 174+/-61 and 134+/-35.0 Iu/l, respectively. In the first trimester, alkaline phosphatase was lower and osteocalcin was higher than in the second and third trimesters. In the first trimester of pregnancy, 20 and 40% of women had 25(OH) vitamin D3 < 10 and < 20 ng/ml, respectively, and 19% of women had serum calcium levels < 8.6 mg/dl. 60% of women in the first trimester, 48% in the second and 47% in the third trimester had either severe or moderate vitamin D deficiency. It is recommended that the importance of calcium supplements with vitamin D in pregnant women be stressed for these individuals.

To determine changes in malondialdehyde (product of lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Per-oxidase) levels in pre-eclamptic Nigerian women A Total of 100 subjects each for pre-eclamptic,apparently normal and non pregnant women were recruited into the study.Venous blood samples were taken from the participants during second and third trimesters of pregnancy and at the point of contact for non pregnant women. Malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were measured accordingly from plasma and haemolysate prepared from whole blood.Variables were analysed using SPSS version 16, taking level of significance to be 0.05 RESULTS: Plasma malondialdehyde in the third trimester (3.13±0.61umol/l) of pre-eclamptic subjects was higher than in the second trimester (3.00±1.21umol/l).Plasma malondialdehyde in the third trimester of normal pregnancy (2.03±0.71umol/l) was also found to be significantly higher than in the second trimester (1.65±0.62umol/ l)(p<0.0001). Glutathione peroxidase in pre-eclamptic subjects was significantly higher in the third trimester (2804.11±1573.00U/L) as compared to the second trimester (2655.00±1751.30U/L), p= 0.0001.Glutathione peroxidase activity in the third trimester of normal pregnancy(3339.50±1733.80U/L) was also found to be higher than in the second trimester(3023.50±1115.90U/L)(p=0.131). Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower in the third trimester of pre-eclamptic pregnancy when compared to second trimester (110.40±59.47 Vs 118.01±64.41 U/ ml)(p<0.039) .Similarly,superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower in the third trimester of normal pregnancy (110.40±59.47U/ml) than in the second trimester(153.01±71.85U/ml)(p<0.0001). There was an increased level of lipid peroxidation products,malondialdehyde in subjects with pre-eclampsia. This was more in the third trimester. There was an increased oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia as evidenced also by low serum level of superoxide dismutase in the third trimester.Diet rich in antioxidant enzyme might be beneficial.

Background. The purpose of our study was to investigate the concentrations of markers of bone turnover in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Material and Methods. Forty-five pregnant patients with preeclampsia, 78 healthy pregnant women (26 in first, 26 in the second, and 26 in third trimester of pregnancy), and 20 nonpregnant women were included in the study. Serum concentrations of osteoprotegrin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (sRANKL), and the markers of bone turnover, osteocalcin and CrossLaps—degradation products of type I collagen, were determined using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney U-test. Results. The concentrations of sRANKL and OPG were significantly higher in the second trimester of normal pregnancy when compared to the first and the third trimesters and to nonpregnant controls. The concentrations of osteocalcin were significantly higher in the first trimester of physiological pregnancy in comparison with nonpregnant women and with second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The concentrations of CrossLaps were significantly higher in the second trimester of normal pregnancy when compared to the first and third trimester. In preeclampsia, the sera concentrations of osteocalcin and CrossLaps were significantly higher when compared to the third trimester of normal pregnancy. Conclusion. The results suggest that the bone formation is increased in the first trimester, whereas the bone resorption is increased in the second trimester of normal pregnancy. Furthermore, the results suggest that the bone turnover is increased in patients with preeclampsia when compared to healthy normotensive pregnant women.

Prenatal attachment and its association with foetal movement during pregnancy - A population based survey.

Detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in newborns from mothers infected with COVID-19 at different gestational ages

Emosi yang tidak stabil sering terjadi pada ibu yang tidak dapat menyesuaikan diri dengan kehamilan, kesulitan dan kegagalan untuk beradaptasi selama periode kehamilan merupakan transisi stres. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi hubungan antara perceived stress yang dirasakan dengan sindrom depresi pada kehamilan trimester ketiga. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross sectional, sejumlah 72 peserta memenuhi kriteria inklusi hingga dianalisis. Pengukuran perceived stress menggunakan kuesioner Perceived Stress Scale dan sindrom depresi diukur menggunakan Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Syndrome. Analisis statistik dilakukan untuk melihat korelasi antar variabel. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan prevalensi perceived stress tinggi sebanyak 75%, dan sindrom depresi sebanyak 37,5% pada ibu primigravida trimester ketiga. Terdapat ada perbedaan perceived stress antara kelompok depresi dan non-depresi; F = 5,787 (p = 0,019), dan terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada sindrom depresi F = 122,176 (p <0,001. Ada hubungan yang signifikan antara perceived stress dengan sindrom depresi pada ibu primigravida trimester ketiga kehamilan r = 0,386 (p <0,001). Kesimpulan: Semakin tinggi perceived stress secara signifikan berkorelasi dengan sindrom depresi pada ibu primigarvida trimester ketiga, dengan demikian penting untuk menurunkan perceived stress selama kehamilan sehingga sindrom depresi dapat dicegah.

Preeclampsia and associated hypertensive disorders of pregnancy represent a leading cause of global maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Identification of women at high risk for developing preterm-preeclampsia and prophylaxis with low-dose aspirin has the potential to significantly reduce the rate of preterm-preeclampsia. In addition, risk assessment and monitoring of women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, to aid in early detection of evolving disease, timely referral to specialist care, and active monitoring of women with confirmed or suspected preeclampsia is essential for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. The angiogenesis-related biomarkers sFlt-1 and PlGF have been shown to have clinical value to aid in the prediction, diagnosis, and risk stratification of preeclampsia when used either alone or in combination with other risk factors. However, currently there is no consensus on the optimum strategy to link first trimester screening for preterm-preeclampsia with appropriate second and third trimester risk assessment strategies. This opinion paper will outline the current evidence for first trimester preeclampsia screening and prevention, as well as the evidence for various risk stratification approaches for detection of evolving preeclampsia through the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and proposes a potential model integrating these tools. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Factors influencing folic acid, multivitamin, and calcium supplementation among pregnant women in China based on a national cross-sectional survey.

The prevalence of panic disorder in pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy

To examine the possibility of a different extent of chloroquine (CQ) metabolism in human pregnancy by determining blood level profiles of the drug and its major metabolite, desethylchloroquine (CQM). Five women in the early third trimester of pregnancy and five non-pregnant women received each a single 600 mg oral dose of CQ and blood samples were collected at pre-determined intervals following drug administration. Plasma concentrations of CQ and CQM were analysed by an established HPLC method. The C(max) and AUC(0-48 h) of CQM were significantly higher in the pregnant than the non-pregnant group (P = 0.009). The ratio AUC(CQ)/AUC(CQM) ranged from 0.09 to 0.35 among pregnant women, and from 1.70 to 4.81 among non-pregnant women. Results from this preliminary study indicate an occurrence of induction of metabolism of CQ in the early third trimester of pregnancy. In view of toxicological importance of CQ metabolites, it is suggested that caution should be exercised in evaluation of higher dosage regimen of CQ in pregnant women.

Maternal pertussis and influenza immunization coverage and attitude of health care workers towards these recommendations in Flanders, Belgium