End In Live Birth Research Articles

COVID-19 Vaccination in the First Trimester and Major Structural Birth Defects Among Live Births

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended throughout pregnancy to prevent pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes associated with COVID-19 disease. To date, data on birth defects after first-trimester vaccination are limited. To evaluate the associated risks for selected major structural birth defects among live-born infants after first-trimester receipt of a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine. This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies with estimated last menstrual period (LMP) between September 13, 2020, and April 3, 2021, and ending in live birth from March 5, 2021, to January 25, 2022. Included were data from 8 health systems in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Receipt of 1 or 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses in the first trimester, as part of the primary series. Selected major structural birth defects among live-born infants, identified from electronic health data using validated algorithms, with neural tube defects confirmed via medical record review. Among 42 156 eligible pregnancies (mean [SD] maternal age, 30.9 [5.0] years) 7632 (18.1%) received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in the first trimester. Of 34 524 pregnancies without a first-trimester COVID-19 vaccination, 2045 (5.9%) were vaccinated before pregnancy, 13 494 (39.1%) during the second or third trimester, and 18 985 (55.0%) were unvaccinated before or during pregnancy. Compared with pregnant people unvaccinated in the first trimester, those vaccinated in the first trimester were older (mean [SD] age, 32.3 [4.5] years vs 30.6 [5.1] years) and differed by LMP date. After applying stabilized inverse probability weighting, differences in baseline characteristics between vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant persons in the first trimester were negligible (standardized mean difference <0.20). Selected major structural birth defects occurred in 113 infants (1.48%) after first-trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and in 488 infants (1.41%) without first-trimester vaccine exposure; the adjusted prevalence ratio was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.78-1.33). In secondary analyses, with major structural birth defect outcomes grouped by organ system, no significant differences between infants vaccinated or unvaccinated in the first trimester were identified. In this multisite cohort study, among live-born infants, first-trimester mRNA COVID-19 vaccine exposure was not associated with an increased risk for selected major structural birth defects.

Fear of childbirth after induced abortion in primiparous women: Population-based register study from Finland.

Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a common obstetrical challenge that complicates about every 10th pregnancy. Background factors of FOC are diverse. We evaluated the association of induced abortion (IA) and FOC in subsequent pregnancy. Population-based register study based on three Finnish national registers: the Register of Induced Abortions, the Medical Birth Register and the Hospital Discharge Register. The study cases were primigravid women undergoing an IA in 2000-2015 and subsequent pregnancy ending in live singleton birth up to 2017. Each case had three controls, matched by age and residential area, whose first pregnancy ended in a live birth. The main outcome was the incidence of FOC in the subsequent pregnancy. In a secondary analysis, we assessed other risk factors for FOC. The study cohort consisted of 21 455 women and 63 425 controls. Altogether, 4.2% of women had a diagnosis of FOC. The incidence was higher in women with a history of IA than in controls (5.6% vs 3.7%, P < 0.001). A history of IA was associated with higher odds for FOC: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.20 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.30. In addition, a history of psychiatric diagnosis (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 3.15-3.83), high maternal age, 30-39 years old (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.43-1.67; P < 0.001) and ≥40 years old (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 2.37-3.77; P < 0.001) and smoking (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.31; P < 0.001) were associated with increased odds for FOC. Women living in densely populated or rural areas and those with lower socioeconomic class had lower odds for FOC. A history of IA is associated with increased odds for FOC in subsequent pregnancy. However, the associations of FOC with a history of psychiatric diagnosis and elevated maternal age (especially ≥40 years old) are more pronounced.

Development and evaluation of an algorithm to link mothers and infants in two US commercial healthcare claims databases for pharmacoepidemiology research

BackgroundAdministrative healthcare claims databases are used in drug safety research but are limited for investigating the impacts of prenatal exposures on neonatal and pediatric outcomes without mother-infant pair identification. Further, existing algorithms are not transportable across data sources. We developed a transportable mother-infant linkage algorithm and evaluated it in two, large US commercially insured populations.MethodsWe used two US commercial health insurance claims databases during the years 2000 to 2021. Mother-infant links were constructed where persons of female sex 12–55 years of age with a pregnancy episode ending in live birth were associated with a person who was 0 years of age at database entry, who shared a common insurance plan ID, had overlapping insurance coverage time, and whose date of birth was within ± 60-days of the mother’s pregnancy episode live birth date. We compared the characteristics of linked vs. non-linked mothers and infants to assess similarity.ResultsThe algorithm linked 3,477,960 mothers to 4,160,284 infants in the two databases. Linked mothers and linked infants comprised 73.6% of all mothers and 49.1% of all infants, respectively. 94.9% of linked infants’ dates of birth were within ± 30-days of the associated mother’s pregnancy episode end dates. Characteristics were largely similar in linked vs. non-linked mothers and infants. Differences included that linked mothers were older, had longer pregnancy episodes, and had greater post-pregnancy observation time than mothers with live births who were not linked. Linked infants had less observation time and greater healthcare utilization than non-linked infants.ConclusionsWe developed a mother-infant linkage algorithm and applied it to two US commercial healthcare claims databases that achieved a high linkage proportion and demonstrated that linked and non-linked mother and infant cohorts were similar. Transparent, reusable algorithms applied to large databases enable large-scale research on exposures during pregnancy and pediatric outcomes with relevance to drug safety. These features suggest studies using this algorithm can produce valid and generalizable evidence to inform clinical, policy, and regulatory decisions.

Pregnancy outcomes in a dimethyl fumarate exposure registry

IntroductionThe delayed-release dimethyl fumarate (DMF) label recommends use during pregnancy only if potential benefit justifies the potential risk. Given limited pregnancy data, United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland are enrolling DMF-exposed pregnant women into an ongoing international registry assessing pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancies end in live birth (62%), abortion (22%), and fetal loss (16%) in general, with similar rates in MS patients.MethodsPregnant women with MS exposed to DMF since the first day of their last menstrual period prior to conception/during pregnancy were included. The UK/Ireland Coordinating Centres liaise directly with patients and HCPs.ResultsAs of April 2019, 263 patients (14 patients from UK/Ireland) were enrolled. Of the 214 pregnancy outcomes (12 UK/Ireland) reported to date, 197(92%) were live births (12 UK/Ireland) and 17(8%) foetal loss. Of infants with known gestational age (n=197), 176(89%) births were full-term (12 UK/Ireland) and 18(9%) premature (&lt;37 weeks). There were 16 spontaneous abortions (1 ectopic pregnancy), and 1 foetal death at ≥28 weeks of gestation. No molar pregnancies or infant or maternal deaths were reported. Seven(4%) infants (1 UK/Ireland) had confirmed birth defects.ConclusionNo safety signal was observed, consistent with MS and general populations. Support: Biogen; disclosures detailed on poster.david.rog@srft.nhs.uk

Embryo morphologic quality in relation to the metabolic and cognitive development of singletons conceived by in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a matched cohort study

Embryos with higher morphologic quality grading may have a greater potential to achieve clinical pregnancy that leads to a live birth regardless of the type of cleavage-stage embryos or blastocysts. Few studies have investigated the impacts of embryo grading on the long-term health of the offspring. This pilot study aimed to examine the associations between embryo morphologic quality and the physical, metabolic, and cognitive development of singletons conceived by invitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection at preschool age. This matched cohort study included singletons born to infertile couples who underwent fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles with good- or poor-quality embryos from 2014 to 2016 at the reproductive center of the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. A total of 144 children, aged 4 to 6 years, participated in the follow-up assessment from 2020 to 2021, and the response rate of poor-quality embryo offspring was 39%. Singletons in the good-quality embryo group were matched with singletons in the poor-quality embryo group at a 2:1 ratio according to the fertilization method and the children's age (±1 year). We measured the offspring's height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, thyroid hormone levels, and metabolic indicators. Neurodevelopmental assessments were performed using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition, and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition. We also collected data from the medical records. A linear regression model was used to analyze the association between embryo morphologic quality and offspring health outcomes. A total of 48 singletons conceived with poor-quality embryo transfer and 96 matched singletons conceived with good-quality embryo transfer were included in the final analysis. Age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, thyroid function, and metabolic indicators were comparable between the 2 groups. After adjustment for potential risk factors by linear regression model 1 and model 2, poor-quality embryo offspring exhibited a tendency toward higher free thyroxine levels than offspring of good-quality embryo transfers (beta, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.90; beta, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.91, respectively), but this difference was not clinically significant. Regarding neurodevelopmental assessments, there was no difference in the full-scale intelligence quotient based on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (109.96±12.42 vs 109.60±14.46; P=.88) or the general adaptive index based on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (108.26±11.70 vs 108.08±13.44; P=.94) between the 2 groups. The subindices of the 2 tests were also comparable. These findings remained after linear regression analysis. At 4 to 6 years of age, singletons born from poor-quality embryo transfers have comparable metabolic and cognitive development as those born from good-quality embryo transfers using fresh cleavage-stage embryos. The results of this pilot study indicate that poor-quality embryos that can survive implantation and end in live birth are likely to have a developmental potential comparable to that of good-quality embryos.

Estimating proportions of identical twins and twin survival rates in cetaceans using fetal data

AbstractMultiplet pregnancies are rare in cetaceans, and live‐born multiple births even rarer. We used whaling data collected from pregnant females and held by the International Whaling Commission to examine multiplets in 16 cetacean species, finding that 0.87% (2,197 out of 252,651) of pregnancies included multiple fetuses, including 12 instances of five or more fetuses in five different species, all rorquals. For six species, we estimate the proportion of twins that are identical using Weinberg's differential rule. Identical twins are less common than fraternal twins in all species (4%–34%) except humpback whales (57%). To infer survival rates of twins to term, we fitted models to the proportion of twins by fetal length, finding that the probability of surviving twins declined exponentially to near zero with increasing fetal length for sei, fin, and blue whales; but not for sperm, humpback, and Antarctic minke whales. Because some fetuses may be missed at smaller lengths, we repeated this analysis excluding fetuses shorter than 2 ft (61 cm), finding that twin survival declined with increasing fetal length for sei, fin, blue, and Antarctic minke whales. We conclude that few multiple pregnancies (&lt;1 in 500) end in live birth, and even these pregnancies experience high mortality after birth.

THE EARLIER THE BETTER: INITIAL SERUM HCG LEVELS PREDICT LIVE BIRTH AFTER SINGLE EMBRYO TRANSFER

To examine how early serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels predict live birth (LB) after single embryo transfer (SET). All fresh and frozen embryo transfers between 2002 and 2019 where a single embryo was transferred and a detectable hCG level was confirmed were reviewed. In our practice, serum hCG levels are routinely examined with serum testing done eight days after blastocyst SET (B-SET) and ten days after cleavage stage SET (C-SET). In order to compare hCG levels across IVF cycles where embryos were transferred at different stages, hCG levels were determined in reference to days “after oocyte retrieval (AOR),” which was calculated as the number of days after fertilization. Two hCG parameters were examined to evaluate their relationship with live birth: “reached 100” which was defined as an hCG level of >100 mIU/mL 15 days AOR and “doubled” which was defined as an hCG level that at least doubled over a 48 hour period between the first and second measurements. Analysis of the descriptive statistics was performed. A total of 1397 IVF cycles (1065 patients) where an SET was performed and the initial hCG level was detectable were included in the analysis (82% B-SET and 18 % C-SET). 35% were fresh and 65% were frozen. The mean age at the time of SET was 35.5 years. 62% of cycles where hCG was detectable on first examination ended in LB. In the cycles that ended in LB the median hCG level was 268.4 mIU/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 181.6, 375.0) 15 days AOR. In the cycles that did not end in LB the median hCG level was 56.7 mIU/mL (IQR 18.8, 142.6) 15 days AOR. In cycles where hCG levels only “doubled” the LB rate was 33%, while in cycles where hCG levels only “reached 100” by 15 days AOR the LB rate was 54%. In cycles where hCG levels both “doubled” and “reached 100” by 15 days AOR the LB rate was 84%. In cycles where hCG levels did not “double” or “reach 100” by 15 days AOR the LB rate was 9%. Among cycles that ended in LB there was no relationship between patient age at time of SET and early hCG levels. In those <35, the median hCG level was 121.7 mIU/mL (IQR 86.0, 115.5), in those 35 - 40 the median hCG level was 110.2 mIU/mL (IQR 75.8, 155.8), and in those > 40 the median hCG level was 119.8 mIU/mL (IQR 78.2, 173.8) at mean of 13.4 days AOR. Specific rises in early hCG levels after SET were associated with LB when hCG levels were checked 15 days AOR. In cycles where hCG levels both doubled and reached 100 mIU/mL by 15 days AOR, the LB rate was 84% and this was a stronger predictor of LB than either parameter alone. LB was only achieved in 9% of cycles where hCG levels neither “doubled” nor “reached 100”. Age was not associated with early hCG levels in cycles that ended in LB.

Hydroxyurea Use and Outcomes of Pregnancy in Sickle Cell Disease

Hydroxyurea Use and Outcomes of Pregnancy in Sickle Cell Disease

Rural-Urban Disparities in Pregnancy Intentions, Births, and Abortions Among US Adolescent and Young Women, 1995-2017.

Objectives. To examine rural-suburban-urban disparities in intendedness and resolution of first pregnancies among adolescent and young women (aged 15-19 and 20-24 years) across racial/ethnic backgrounds in the United States.Methods. We used the National Survey of Family Growth and pooled pregnancy files from 2002 through the 2015-2017 surveys. We report baseline rural-suburban-urban disparities in first pregnancy intention and outcomes. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate these disparities, accounting for sociodemographic background, religious upbringing, and other factors.Results. The first adolescent pregnancies of rural women were more likely to be unintended and end in live birth relative to their urban counterparts. Disparities were most striking among Black adolescents, with about 60% of first adolescent pregnancies among rural Black women being unintended and ending in live birth (urban: 51%). Newly collected state health department data on rural and urban adolescent births and abortions corroborate the findings from the National Survey of Family Growth.Conclusions. Rural-urban differences in the share of first adolescent pregnancies ending in live births are not accounted for by pregnancy intention or confounding individual-level characteristics. Future research should explore the role of structural barriers, including access to family planning and abortion services.

Measuring the adequacy of antenatal health care: a national cross-sectional study in Mexico.

ObjectiveTo propose an antenatal care classification for measuring the continuum of health care based on the concept of adequacy: timeliness of entry into antenatal care, number of antenatal care visits and key processes of care.MethodsIn a cross-sectional, retrospective study we used data from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) in 2012. This contained self-reported information about antenatal care use by 6494 women during their last pregnancy ending in live birth. Antenatal care was considered to be adequate if a woman attended her first visit during the first trimester of pregnancy, made a minimum of four antenatal care visits and underwent at least seven of the eight recommended procedures during visits. We used multivariate ordinal logistic regression to identify correlates of adequate antenatal care and predicted coverage.FindingsBased on a population-weighted sample of 9 052 044, 98.4% of women received antenatal care during their last pregnancy, but only 71.5% (95% confidence interval, CI: 69.7 to 73.2) received maternal health care classified as adequate. Significant geographic differences in coverage of care were identified among states. The probability of receiving adequate antenatal care was higher among women of higher socioeconomic status, with more years of schooling and with health insurance.ConclusionWhile basic antenatal care coverage is high in Mexico, adequate care remains low. Efforts by health systems, governments and researchers to measure and improve antenatal care should adopt a more rigorous definition of care to include important elements of quality such as continuity and processes of care.

Association Between Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Later Risk of Cardiomyopathy

Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia in particular, have an increased risk of cardiomyopathy during the peripartum period. Whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are also associated with cardiomyopathy later in life is unknown. To determine whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with cardiomyopathy beyond the peripartum period. Nationwide register-based cohort study using Cox regression to compare rates of cardiomyopathy in women with and without a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a cohort of 1,075,763 women with at least 1 pregnancy ending in live birth or stillbirth in Denmark, 1978-2012, with follow-up through December 31, 2012. A hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (severe or moderate preeclampsia or gestational hypertension) registered in the National Patient Register. Cardiomyopathy more than 5 months after delivery (outside the peripartum period) up to 34 years 7 months. The women in the primary cohort had 2,067,633 eligible pregnancies during the study period, 76,108 of which were complicated by a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. During follow-up, 1577 women (mean age, 48.5 years at cardiomyopathy diagnosis; 2.6% with multiple pregnancies) developed cardiomyopathy. Compared with women with normotensive pregnancies (18,211,603 person-years of follow-up; n = 1408 cardiomyopathy events, 7.7/100,000 person-years [95% CI, 7.3-8.2]), women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had significantly increased rates of cardiomyopathy (in 173,062 person-years of follow-up among women with severe preeclampsia, n = 27 cardiomyopathy events; 15.6/100,000 person-years [95% CI, 10.7-22.7]; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.20 [95% CI, 1.50-3.23]; in 697,447 person-years of follow-up among women with moderate preeclampsia, n = 102 cardiomyopathy events; 14.6/100,000 person-years [95% CI, 12.0-17.8]; adjusted HR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.55-2.23]; in 213,197 person-years of follow-up among women with gestational hypertension, n = 40 cardiomyopathy events; 17.3/100,000 person-years [95% CI, 12.7-23.6]; adjusted HR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.50-2.82]). These increases persisted more than 5 years after the latest pregnancy. Mediation analyses suggested that only about 50% of the association was an indirect association through postpregnancy chronic hypertension. In this cohort, 11% of all cardiomyopathy events occurred in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, compared with women without such a history, had a small but statistically significant increased risk of cardiomyopathy more than 5 months after delivery. Further research is necessary to understand whether there is a causal mechanism behind this association.

Early Pregnancy Losses: Multiple Meanings and Moral Considerations

Early Pregnancy Losses: Multiple Meanings and Moral Considerations

Medical termination of pregnancy during the second versus the first trimester and its effects on subsequent pregnancy

ObjectiveThe objective was to compare the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) infants and placental complications in subsequent pregnancy after second vs. first trimester medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP) in primigravid women. Study DesignA total of 88,522 women who underwent termination of pregnancy during 2000–2009 were identified using Finnish health registers. Of them, primigravid women who underwent MTOP and had subsequent pregnancy ending in live birth up to the end of 2009 (n=3843) were included in the study. The incidences and risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, SGA infants and placental complications after first- (n=3427) vs. second-trimester MTOP (n=416) were compared. ResultsDifferences between the study groups in the incidences of preterm birth (3.9% in both groups), low birth weight (3.9% in the second- vs. 3.2% in the first-trimester group), SGA infants (2.4% vs. 2.5%) and placental complications (1.9% vs. 2.6%) were statistically insignificant. Second-trimester MTOP was associated with similar risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, SGA infants and placental complications compared with first-trimester MTOP after adjustment for background characteristics. After second-trimester MTOP, 51.2% of women underwent surgical evacuation, and 4.3% were diagnosed with infection. The differences in the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, SGA infants and placental complications were statistically insignificant between women with vs. without these complications following second-trimester MTOP. ConclusionsSecond-trimester MTOP among primigravid women did not increase the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, SGA infants or placental complications in subsequent pregnancy compared with first-trimester MTOP. ImplicationsThe present study suggests that medical termination of pregnancy in primigravid women during second vs. first trimester does not increase the risks of adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancy and delivery. The data are of value when counseling women undergoing second-trimester TOP.

Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on maternal perinatal mental illnesses presenting to UK general practice

Although maternal perinatal mental illnesses commonly present to and are primarily treated in general practice, few population-based estimates of this burden exist, and the most affected socioeconomic groups of pregnant women remain unclear. To provide estimates of maternal depression, anxiety and serious mental illness (SMI) in UK general practice and quantify impacts of socioeconomic deprivation. Cross-sectional analysis of prospectively recorded general practice records from a UK-wide database. A pregnancy ending in live birth was randomly selected for every woman of childbearing age, 1994-2009. Prevalence and diagnostic overlap of mental illnesses were calculated using a combination of medical diagnoses and psychotropic drug prescriptions. Socioeconomic deprivation was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for calendar period and pregnancy history. Among 116 457 women, 5.1% presented with antenatal depression and 13.3% with postnatal depression. Equivalent figures for anxiety were 2.6% and 3.7% and for SMI 1/1000 and 2/1000 women. Socioeconomic deprivation increased the risk of all mental illnesses, although this was more marked in older women. Those age 35-45 years in the most deprived group had 2.63 times the odds of antenatal depression (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.22 to 3.13) compared with the least deprived; in women aged 15-25 years the increased odds associated with deprivation was more modest (odds ratio = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.70). Similar patterns were found for anxiety and SMI. Strong socioeconomic inequalities in perinatal mental illness persist with increasing maternal age. Targeting detection and effective interventions to high-risk women may reduce inequity and avoid substantial psychiatric morbidity.

The hazard of pregnancy loss and stillbirth among women in Kersa, East Ethiopia: A follow up study

BackgroundAlthough pregnancy loss causes considerable challenge to women’s health, population-based studies in rural areas are not widely available in low-income countries. This study aims to determine the hazard of pregnancy loss and related factors in the rural communities of Ethiopia. MethodologyA prospective community-based study was conducted over a period of 1year. Pregnancy was identified as early as possible by a pregnancy urine test. All pregnant women identified during the screening were followed up at their home until termination of pregnancy or delivery of the neonate. The total follow-up time was 7802 ‘pregnant person months’. A Cox regression analysis was done to estimate the hazard of pregnancy loss. ResultOut of a total of 1438 terminated pregnancies, 143 (9.9%) did not end in live birth, 116 ended due to bleeding and 27 were stillbirths. Whilst the hazard of pregnancy loss was low among women with pregnancy interval of two or more years [AHR 0.3 (95%CI: 0.15, 0.43)], it was high among women having unplanned pregnancy [AHR 2.2 (95%CI: 1.56, 3.11)], among those who complained STI like symptoms during the index pregnancy [AHR 4.5 (95%CI: 2.79, 7.38)] and among those never received antenatal care [AHR 1.8 (95%CI: 1.13, 2.73)]. ConclusionPregnancy loss was higher amongst women experienced unplanned pregnancy, complained STI like symptoms and women who had not attended antenatal care services. RecommendationTo reduce pregnancy loss in rural Ethiopia expanding and promoting the use of family planning, antenatal services and other reproductive health care is necessary.

Seasonality of birth and conception to teenagers in Texas

We study the births to teenagers during the years 1964-2000 and analyze separately the three main racial/ethnic groups in Texas (White, Hispanic, and African American), as well as married and unmarried teens during the years 1994-2000. By using traditional statistical methods of analysis and a filter based on the multiresolution wavelet analysis, we draw inferences about the times of the year when adolescent females of different racial/ethnic and marital groups have the highest probability for pregnancy ending in live birth. Multiple factors influencing teen pregnancy are identified and associated with temporal features of social, cultural, educational, and familial processes. In particular, we detect links between unmarried teen conception times and school terms, and weekly birth patterns associated with scheduled c-sections that differ according to racial/ethnic groups.