Sixth Month Of Pregnancy Research Articles

Longitudinal analysis of body dissatisfaction: the desire to be thinner among women in Japan during low-risk pregnancies.

Body dissatisfaction during pregnancy can significantly impact maternal and child health. Therefore, this longitudinal study investigated changes in body dissatisfaction using two figure rating scales developed from photographic digital data of Japanese pregnant women during the sixth and tenth months of pregnancy. Study participants were recruited at their sixth month prenatal visit at a primary maternity clinic in Japan from October 2014 to March 2015. Body dissatisfaction was estimated based on the perceived and ideal body sizes of 135 pregnant women, expressed as body mass index. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The study found that body dissatisfaction in the tenth month was significantly higher than that in the sixth month. Among the participants, 75 (55.6%) and 79 (58.5%) experienced body dissatisfaction, desiring to be thinner (where perceived body size exceeded ideal body size) during the sixth and tenth months of pregnancy, respectively. Pregnant women who had body dissatisfaction and a desire to be thinner in the sixth month tended to experience an increase in body dissatisfaction by the tenth month compared to those without body dissatisfaction in the sixth month. During the sixth and tenth months, women with body dissatisfaction showed significantly larger perceived body sizes than those without body dissatisfaction. These results indicated that the use of a figure rating scale at the sixth month of pregnancy may help identify women with body dissatisfaction; moreover, perceived body size might be a key factor in preventing an increase in body dissatisfaction from the second to third trimesters.

Association between maternal cardiometabolic markers and fetal growth in non-complicated pregnancies: a secondary analysis of the PRINCESA cohort.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of maternal cardiometabolic markers trajectories (glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)) with estimated fetal weight trajectories and birth weight in Mexican pregnant women without medical complications. Cardiometabolic marker trajectories were characterized using group-based trajectory models. Mixed-effect and linear regression models were estimated to assess the association of maternal trajectories with estimated fetal weight and birth weight. The final sample comprised 606 mother-child dyads. Two trajectory groups of maternal cardiometabolic risk indicators during pregnancy were identified (high and low). Fetuses from women with higher values of TG had higher weight gain during pregnancy ( = 24.00g; 95%CI: 12.9, 35.3), were heavier at the sixth month ( =48.24g; 95%CI: 7.2, 89.7) and had higher birth weight ( = 89.08g; 95%CI: 20.8, 157.4) than fetuses in the low values trajectory. Fetuses from mothers with high SBP and DBP had less weight in the sixth month of pregnancy ( = - 42.4g; 95%CI: - 82.7, - 2.1 and = - 50.35g; 95%CI: - 94.2, - 6.4), and a higher DBP trajectory was associated with lower birth weight ( = - 101.48g; 95%CI: - 176.5, - 26.4). In conclusion, a longitudinal exposition to high values of TG and BP was associated with potentially adverse effects on fetal growth. These findings support the potential modulation of children's phenotype by maternal cardiometabolic conditions in pregnancies without medical complications.

Вагітні жінки на фронті та партизанських загонах під час німецько-радянської війни.

The purpose of the research is to investigate the challenges faced by pregnant women in the Red Army and in partisan units during the German-Soviet war to analyze the attitudes of the military command and the Soviet government towards them. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity, and objectivism. The methods used in the work include historical analysis, historical-comparative analysis, deduction, and analysis. The scientific novelty. Based on the available historical material, for the first time in domestic historiography, an attempt was made to study the life of pregnant women in combat conditions comprehensively; the differences in the Red Army and in partisan units were shown, a number of inconveniences they had to face in a militarized society were revealed; Soviet legislation regarding them and probable reasons for pregnancy planning were analyzed. Conclusions. It was found that the life of expectant mothers in the Red Army was different from those in partisan units. While women in the Red Army on the sixth month of pregnancy were on maternity leave at the rear and didn’t give birth or reside at the frontline, female partisans had to give birth and care for children in the forest. The presence of children in paramilitary formations, as evidenced by archival sources and memories of partisans, could cost the lives of both mothers and children. The Soviet leadership drew attention to the problem of pregnant military women at the end of the war and reacted accordingly at the legislative level by regulating the length of stay of pregnant women at the front or on maternity leave and by approving social costs for children after birth. However, the problem of pregnant women in the Soviet army remained unresolved.

Role of Kasherukadi Yog in treatment of Garbhastrava

All women yearn for and dream of being pregnant. It's crucial to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Considering Indian women, more likely than those of other races to miscarry their first pregnancy or experience repeated miscarriages. The creation, growth, and pathology of "Garbha" are all well-understood in Ayurveda. Up until the fourth month of pregnancy, Acharya Charaka referred to the expulsion of the foetus as "Garbhsrava" because the sperm and egg are still liquid. However, in the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy, it is referred to as "Garbhapata" because by this time the foetal parts have achieved some stability or have solidified. Ayurveda prescribe herbal preparations for “Garbhasthapaka”. Acharya Sushrut explained various drugs for Garbhsrava Chikitsa. It has the Rasayan property and foetal growth promoting action. The present study is designed to find out the effect of Ayurvedic medicine in Garbhsrava Chikitsa. Kasherukadi Yog is one such combination that have excellent role in treatment of Garbhasrava.

Investigating pregnant women's health information needs during pregnancy on internet platforms.

Artificial intelligence gives pregnant women another avenue for receiving healthcare information. With the advancement of information and communication technology, searching online for pregnancy information has become commonplace during COVID-19. This study aimed to explore pregnant women's information-seeking behavior based on data mining and text analysis in China. Posts on maternal and infant-related websites were collected during 1 June 2020, and 31 January 2021. A total of 5,53,117 valid posts were obtained. Based on the data, we performed correlation analysis, topic analysis, and sentiment analysis. The correlation analysis showed the positive effects of population, population with a college education or above, and GDP on post counts. The topic analysis extracted six, nineteen, eighteen, thirteen, eleven, sixteen, thirteen, sixteen, nineteen, and fourteen topics in different months of pregnancy, reflecting different information needs in various pregnancy periods. The results of sentiment analysis show that a peak of the posts emerged in the second month of pregnancy and the proportion of emotionally positive posts reached its peak in the sixth month of pregnancy. The study provides important insights for understanding pregnant women's information-seeking behavior.

In her shoes: Partner reflective functioning promotes family-level resilience to maternal depression.

Parental depression has significant implications for family functioning, yet much of the literature does not consider family-level dynamics in investigating individual, parenting and child outcomes. In the current study we apply a new index of couple-level support, partner reflective functioning (RF), or the romantic partner's ability to consider how the partner's mental states can guide behavior, to study familial resiliency in the face of prenatal parental depression among first-time parents. We investigate how partner RF buffers the association between prenatal parental depression and outcomes of postnatal parental depression, parenting style, and child effortful control. Maternal and paternal depression were measured in 91 primiparous couples during the sixth month of pregnancy and parental depression, partner RF, parental RF at 6 months postnatally. Outcomes of parental depression, permissive parenting, and children's effortful control were assessed 24 months postnatally. Results indicate that average and high levels of paternal partner (not parental) RF attenuate risk for maternal postnatal depression, maternal permissive parenting, and deficits in child effortful control. Implications are discussed from a family systems approach.

Do modified live virus vaccines against bovine viral diarrhea induce fetal cross-protection against HoBi-like Pestivirus?

Bovine Pestivirus heterogeneity is a major challenge for vaccines against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). In breeding herds, fetal protection is a high priority issue. To some degree, fetal infections in vaccinated heifers have been attributed to the antigenic diversity of bovine Pestiviruses. The purpose of this study was to assess fetal protection against a divergent bovine Pestivirus (Hobi-like Pestivirus, HoBiPeV) with a commercially available modified live vaccine (MLV) claiming fetal protection against BVDV 1 and BVDV 2 up to one year after the first inoculation. Five vaccinated and four unvaccinated heifers were challenged by intranasal inoculation with the HoBiPeV Italy-1/10-1 strain between 82 and 89 days after insemination, i.e. between 4 and 6 months after vaccination. At challenge, neutralizing antibody titers to HoBiPeV in vaccinated heifers were low or even undetectable. Of the four unvaccinated heifers, one control animal aborted (fetus not available) and the remaining three gave birth to HoBiPeV positive calves. Among the heifers of the vaccinated group, one aborted the fetus in the sixth month of pregnancy, which tested Pestivirus negative, while three others gave birth to healthy, HoBiPeV negative calves; the remaining heifer delivered one HoBiPeV positive calf. The results suggest that the BVDV vaccine might be able to elicit a partial fetal protection against HobiPeV, even in absence of a strong specific antibody response.

Association between the Area of the Highest Flank Temperature and Concentrations of Reproductive Hormones during Pregnancy in Polish Konik Horses-A Preliminary Study.

Simple SummaryThermographic imaging is a potentially useful tool in pregnancy detection in equids, especially native or wildlife breeds. In late gestation, the differences in temperature of the flank area between pregnant and non-pregnant mares were suspected to be caused by hormonal effects on regional blood flow. This preliminary study aimed to assess changes in thermal features of the abdomen lateral surface and concentrations of reproductive hormones in Polish native pregnant mares. The study was carried out on pregnant and non-pregnant Polish native Konik Polski mares, and both the hormonal profile and the thermal pattern of mares’ abdomens were examined monthly. The features from thermal images in rainbow HC and gray palette were extracted to determine relations with a hormonal profile dependent across the months of pregnancy. The new feature of a thermal image in the gray palette, the area with the highest temperatures (Area of Tmax), was found to be significantly related to progesterone and relaxin blood concentration. The standard features of the thermal image did not show any similar associations over consecutive months of pregnancy. In this preliminary study, a new approach to thermographic imaging analysis based on the Area of Tmax calculation was proposed. However, further research is needed to better understand the relation between the Area of Tmax and concentrations of reproductive hormones, especially including an experiment with at least daily blood sampling and the hair coat lengths examination.Determination of the pregnancy status is one of the most important factors for effective pregnancy management. Knowledge of the stage of pregnancy is important to interpret many of the reproductive hormones’ concentrations, including progesterone (P4), estrone sulfate (E1S), 17-ß estradiol (E2), and relaxin (REL). However, it is limited in wildlife or captive equids that cannot be handled. Reproductive hormones affect regional blood flow, the proliferation of tissues, and local metabolism intensity. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to assess changes in thermal features of the abdomen lateral surface and concentrations of reproductive hormones in Polish native pregnant mares. The study was carried out on 14 non-pregnant and 26 pregnant Polish Konik mares during eleven months of pregnancy. Infrared thermography was conducted to image the lateral surface of mares’ abdomen (Px1) and flank area (Px2); P4, E1S, E2, and REL concentrations in serum were also determined. The evidence of the association between the area with the highest temperatures (Area of Tmax) and serum concentrations of P4 (the slope = 1.373; p = 0.9245) and REL (the slope = 1.342; p = 0.4324) were noted dependent across months of pregnancy. Measures of superficial body temperatures were found to change monthly, similarly to ambient temperatures, with no evidence of coincidence with changes in reproductive hormone concentrations. Individual thermal characteristics of the lateral surface of the abdomen differed between pregnant and non-pregnant mares in other periods. Differences in maximal and average temperature and Area of Tmax were observed from the sixth month of pregnancy, and those in minimal temperature were observed from the eighth month.

Abortion Due to Neospora caninum in Dairy Cattle in Southern Santa Catarina State, Brazil

Background: Neosporosis is a cosmopolitan disease known as the main infectious cause of abortion in cattle, reported in several states in Brazil. The transplacental transmission in cattle is responsible for perpetuating the disease in the herd. In the state of Santa Catarina, previous studies on this protozoan in cattle are mostly serological surveys. To increase information about this reproductive disorder, this work describes the diagnosis of abortions due to Neospora caninum in dairy cattle from state of Santa Catarina and the follow-up for 4 years in a farm affected by neosporosis.Case: From 2015 to 2019, necropsy was performed on 10 aborted bovine fetuses, between fifth and eighth month of pregnancy, with 1 fetus aborted in 2015, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017 and, 4 in 2019, all originating from the same dairy property in the southern region of state of Santa Catarina. No macroscopic lesions were found. Histopathology revealed mild to moderate multifocal mononuclear necrotizing encephalitis in 5 fetuses, and multifocal mild mononuclear myositis and myocarditis in 4 and 3 fetuses, respectively. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using primers based on the Nc-5 gene was positive for N. caninum in five fetuses. Three visits were performed in the farm for epidemiological evaluation and blood samples collection for IgG antibodies anti-N. caninum (IFAT). The total herd was 170 Jersey, Holstein and crossbred cattle, raised in a semi-confined system with mechanical milking system. Since 2014, there has been a significant increase in abortions cases, approximately 20 cows had abortions; in the year 2015, approximately 10; in 2016, less than 5; in 2017, 4 cows aborted; in 2018, 11 abortions and, in 2019, there were 4 abortions. An increase in the rate of return to estrus was also reported, and both primiparous and multiparous cows had reproductive disorders. Abortions were recorded throughout the year and occurred predominantly between the fourth and sixth month of pregnancy. In 2016, an Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction (IFAT) was performed on sera from 26 cows (13 with a history of reproductive disorders and another 13 without disorders). Of these, 50.0% (13/26) were seropositive, with titers ranging from 100 to 1600 (cutoff ≥100). The Enzyme Immunoassay (ELISA) of the entire herd was carried out in 2017, with 26.54% (43/162) of seropositivity, 8.02% (13/162) suspect, and 30.4% (17/56) had reproductive disorders. It was observed that only animals born on the property were used for replacement, there was less possibility of direct contact between dogs on the property with milking facilities, placental and fetal remains, properly disposing of these, incinerating or burying. Thirty animals were discarded from the property, 25 of which had reproductive disorders. All young female daughters of seropositive cows remained on the property for replacement. During the evaluation period, all dogs were eliminated.Discussion: In this study, the diagnosis of neosporosis was made through epidemiology, histopathological lesions characterized by mononuclear encephalitis, myocarditis and myositis, and detection of the agent by PCR, associated with serological techniques. The lesions observed are indicative of N. caninum infection and are compatible with lesions observed in other studies. Serological screening is important to complement the diagnosis of abortion by N. caninum and to help control the agent in herds. From this report it is concluded that N. caninum is an important agent of reproductive disorders in cattle in the southern region of Santa Catarina, the different serological analyzes showed a good screening index for the inclusion of control strategies. In addition, the monitoring of reproductive rates of affected properties becomes necessary over the years, allowing better observation of control strategies.Keywords: reproductive disorder, fetal death, protozoan, parasitology.Descritores: distúrbio reprodutivo, morte fetal, protozoário, parasitologia.

The content of total protein and protein fractions in cows during pregnancy and their diagnostic value

The aim of the article was to study the content of total protein and protein fractions in the blood of cows during pregnancy and determine their diagnostic value. The studies were performed as follows. Within 7 days after insemination on the principle of analogues selected a group of 100 cows. Pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal examination of cows 60 days after insemination. In experimental animals, starting from the 25th to the 29th day after insemination, blood samples for morphological and biochemical studies were taken monthly before delivery. The total protein content in the serum was determined by the biuret reaction, protein fractions – nephelometric method. Depending on the course of labor and the postpartum period, cows were divided into two groups. The first group included 30 animals with a physiological course of the postpartum period. The second group was formed of 30 cows with subinvolution of the uterus. According to this goal, the dynamics of total protein, albumin, alpha-, beta- and gammaglobulins in the blood of cows with physiological course of pregnancy and prone to the development of subinvolution of the uterus from the first to 9 months of pregnancy. It was found that in clinically healthy cows the onset of pregnancy is characterized by a high (0.89) albumin-globulin ratio, which in the fourth month of pregnancy decreases to 0.78, in the fifth or sixth months increases to 0.85, followed by a decrease to 0.78 before childbirth. In cows prone to uterine subinvolution, a significant difference in albumin content was found in the first month of pregnancy (47.07 ± 1.21 vs. 41.02 ± 1.26 %). In the third to fifth months of pregnancy, there was an increase in the proportion of albumin in the protein to 44.62 ± 0.88 % and a new decrease in the seventh to ninth months to 41.96 ± 0.3 %. In the first month of pregnancy, the albumin-globulin ratio was 0.7, with a tendency to increase in the fifth to sixth months of pregnancy to 0.8, and decrease to 0.72 before calving. Analyzing the dynamics of alpha-globulins in clinically healthy cows, we noted two peaks of decrease in their percentage - in the third month of pregnancy (from 16.02 ± 0.08 to 15.14 ± 0.06 %) and in the fifth month , 96 ± 0.48 %) and a consistent increase in the seventh to ninth months of pregnancy (up to 17.22 ± 0.13 %). And in cows prone to the development of uterine subinvolution, with a slightly higher percentage at the beginning of pregnancy (16.02 ± 0.08 to 17.08 ± 0.05 %), we did not notice significant changes in the percentage of this globulin, except for a significant increase in seventh to ninth month of pregnancy (up to 18.01 ± 0.24 – 19.01 ± 0.32 %). It is proposed to use the albumin-globulin ratio at 6, 7, 8, 9 months of gestation as a prognostic factor in the detection of cows prone to uterine subinvolution.

A case of a medical miscarriage undertaken at the 23rd week of pregnancy due to fetal death and abrupt retroflection of the uterus

Mrs. T., 28 years old, the wife of an excise official, first turned to me for advice in mid-October 1890, at the end of the sixth month of pregnancy, on the occasion of the termination of fetal movements from mid-September and "dropping the whole abdomen down."

Periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Periodontal diseases are considered not only to affect tooth-supporting tissues but also to have a cause-and-effect relationship with various systemic diseases and conditions, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mechanistic studies provide strong evidence that periodontal pathogens can translocate from infected periodontium to the feto-placental unit and initiate a metastatic infection. However, the extent and mechanisms by which metastatic inflammation and injury contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes still remain unclear. The presence of oral bacteria in the placenta of women with term gestation further complicates our understanding of the biology behind the role of periodontal pathogens in pregnancy outcomes. Epidemiological studies demonstrate many methodological inconsistencies and flaws that render comparisons difficult and conclusions insecure. Therefore, despite the fact that a number of prospective studies show a positive association between periodontal diseases and various adverse pregnancy outcomes, the evidence behind it is still weak. Future well-designed explanatory studies are necessary to verify this relationship and, if present, determine its magnitude. The majority of high-quality randomized controlled trials reveal that nonsurgical periodontal therapy during the second trimester of gestation does not improve pregnancy outcomes. From a biological standpoint, this can be partially explained by the fact that therapy rendered at the fourth to sixth months of pregnancy is too late to prevent placental colonization by periodontal pathogens and consequently incapable of affecting pathogen-induced injury at the feto-placental unit. Thus, interventions during the preconception period may be more meaningful. With the increase in our understanding on the potential association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, it is clear that dental practitioners should provide periodontal treatment to pregnant women that is safe for both the mother and the unborn child. Although there is not enough evidence that the anti-infective therapy alters pregnancy outcomes, it improves health-promoting behavior and periodontal condition, which in turn advance general health and risk factor control.

Seroprevalence of Chronic Viral Hepatitis B in School Children Aged Less Than 10 Years in the Region of Southern Cameroon

Introduction: Chronic viral hepatitis remain a public health problem worldwide. Being the seventh leading cause of the deaths, it accounts for 1.4 million deaths annually, with 47% related to hepatitis B and 48% to hepatitis C. In Cameroon, screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is mandatory by the sixth month of pregnancy. This study aimed at evaluating the carriage rate of HBsAg among pupils in the south region, 10 years after the introduction of the pentavalent vaccine in the expanded immunization programme. Material and methods: This study was conducted in schools in Ebolowa (and its neighborhoods), south of Cameroon, during the five months period from November 1st 2015 to March 17th 2016. Eight schools were randomly selected. All children less than 10 years old were enrolled in our study. Children not meeting our selection criteria, or whose data forms were appropriately filled were excluded. Sampling was done by a laboratory technician of the Ebolowa regional hospital and transferred to the laboratory of the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital for analysis. Data was analyzed using the Epi info software. Results: A total of 471 pupils met our selection criteria with a male to female ration of 0.94 (243 females against 228 males). Five children were HBsAg positive, giving an overall prevalence of 1.06%. Among the 471 pupils, only 166 were appropriately vaccinated as per the extended immunization programme, yielding 35.24% coverage. Conclusion: Despite the low immunization coverage rate, there is a positive impact on the prevalence of hepatitis B among children. Everything being equal, improving the immunization coverage as per the EPI will certainly yield lower rates of infection among children, and thus in the long run, within the general population.

Hemodynamic changes in arterial flow velocities throughout the first six months of pregnancy in buffalo heifers by Doppler ultrasonography

Objective: To assess blood flow parameters as well as Doppler indices at the first six months of pregnancy in buffalo heifers. Methods: A total of 15 healthy, cycling, buffalo heifers were examined twice per month. Examination of Doppler ultrasonography started from the first month till the sixth months of pregnancy. All animals were subjected to transrectal Doppler ultrasonography to assess ovarian and uterine blood flow. Resistance index, pulsatility index, peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and blood flow rate were measured of both ipsilateral and contralateral to the fetus side. Results: The resistance index was positively correlated with the pulsatility index (r=0.62, P Conclusions: This study provides reference data of the hemodynamic changes in both ovarian and uterine arteries that could be a valuable tool to evaluate all hemodynamic changes in the developing placenta/fetus. Transrectal Doppler ultrasonography proves to be a useful non-invasive method to assess utero-ovarian blood flow during pregnancy.

Benzodiazepine Intoxication in a Neonate by Maternal Use in Pregnancy

The abuse of benzodiazepines by pregnant women can cause intoxication in the neonate. Benzodiazepines can diffuse readily across the placenta to the fetus because of their high lipid solubility. After the sixth month of pregnancy, the loss of the cytotrophoblasts from the placenta further facilitates the transport of benzodiazepines across the placenta. They may persist for at least a week in pharmacologically active concentrations after administration of high dosages to the mother. We report about a floppy, drowsy and pulmonary impaired newborn delivered in the 36th week of gestation. The mother was a regular user of clorazepate, a long-acting benzodiazepine during pregnancy.

How becoming a mother shapes implicit and explicit responses to infant cues.

This study (a) investigates effects of the transition to motherhood on implicit and explicit responses to infant cues; (b) assesses influences of prior parenting and delivery experiences on implicit and explicit responses to infant cues; and (c) investigates relations between implicit and explicit responses to infant cues and parenting beliefs. A total of 45 pregnant women were followed from the sixth month of pregnancy to the third month after the childbirth and were administered a Single Category Implicit Association Test, a semantic differential scale, the Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection scale, and the Parental Style Questionnaire. The transition to motherhood influenced explicit not implicit responses; only implicit responses were shaped by prior parenting experiences and mode of delivery; and parenting beliefs were related in independent and different ways to implicit and explicit evaluations. These findings indicate that implicit responses are valid and meaningful indices of maternal responsiveness to infants.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): A Fatal Aftermath of Measles Infection

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive form of encephalitis without a cure. This case report pertains to a primigravida diagnosed with SSPE in her fifth month of pregnancy. She has been married for two years. During her sixth month of pregnancy, she developed signs of SSPE such as behavioral and personality changes, social detachment, reduced involvement in household work which progressed to mutism, altered sensorium, involuntary movement of right half of face and myoclonic jerks involving right upper and lower limbs, in spite of that, she delivered a baby boy who within a month died due to diarrhea. The patient had several episodes of seizures which subsided with antiepileptic and antiviral drugs initially but on March 3, 2018 she again had myoclonic episodes of seizures, from which she did not recover. EEG findings showed periodic episodes of high-amplitude delta-frequency activity associated with the involuntary movements, superimposed on relatively normal background activity and elevated levels of gamma globulin and measles antibody in serum and cerebrospinal fluid was suggestive of SSPE. During pregnancy, marked by physiological immunosuppression, there is a greater chance of SSPE outbreak which requires constant care, follow up and observing initial manifestations of SSPE to delay the course of disease with symptomatic medications or treatment when the inflammatory changes are, possibly, still reversible. The long-term outlook for people with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is poor. Since the condition is always fatal, the only way to prevent SSPE is to get the measles vaccination

Maternal–foetal attachment independently predicts the quality of maternal–infant bonding and post-partum psychopathology

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of maternal antenatal attachment and post-partum psychopathology, maternal–infant bonding, while checking for antenatal psychopathology, for lifetime psychiatric diagnosis and for the known risk factors for peripartum depression.Methods: One hundred and six women recruited at the first month of pregnancy (T0) were evaluated with the structured interview for DSM-IV TR (SCID-I) to assess the presence of lifetime psychiatric diagnosis and with the Perinatal Depression Predictor Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). At the sixth month of pregnancy (T1) and at the first month post-partum (T2), all patients were evaluated with the PDPI-R, the EPDS, the STAI, at T1, with the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), and at T2 with the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS).Results: Multivariate regression analyses showed that maternal–foetal attachment was the variable most significantly associated with postnatal symptoms of depression and anxiety and with quality of maternal-infant attachment. The logistic regression analyses showed that antenatal attachment may predict postnatal depressive and anxiety symptoms (respectively, OR: 0.83 – IC [0.74 − 0.95], p = .005, OR: 0.88 – IC [0.79 − 0.98], p = .02), and the quality of maternal postnatal attachment (OR: 1.17 – IC [1.08 − 1.27], p < .001), also after taking into account the known risk factors for perinatal depression, the sociodemographic variables and lifetime psychiatric diagnosis.Conclusion: The quality of maternal–foetal bonding may independently predict the quality of maternal–infant attachment and post-partum depressive and anxiety symptoms. A comprehensive assessment of maternal risk factors for perinatal psychopathology during pregnancy should include the evaluation of antenatal attachment that could be modifiable by specific interventions promoting the quality of maternal bonding.

Parental Relationship with Twins from Pregnancy to 3 Months: The Relation Among Parenting Stress, Infant Temperament, and Well-Being.

Objective: The transition to parenthood, from pregnancy to postpartum period, is a critical process, particularly for couples expecting twins. There is very little literature regarding the links between anxiety, depression, dyadic adjustment, parental stress, and infant temperament spanning from pregnancy to postpartum. This study has two aims: first, to examine whether mothers’ and fathers’ anxiety, depression, and dyadic adjustment, assessed at the sixth month of pregnancy and 3 months postpartum, are associated with infants’ negative affectivity (NA) and parenting stress; second, to examine whether there is any difference between fathers’ and mothers’ levels of parenting stress and perception of the twins’ temperament, as well as to evaluate, separately for mothers and fathers, whether the levels of parenting stress and perception of child temperament differ for each twin.Method: The study participants were 58 parents (29 couples) and their healthy 58 twin babies (51.7% boys, 48.3% girls). Mothers’ ages ranged from 30 to 44 years, (MAge = 36.3 years, SD = 3.2 years), and fathers’ ages ranged from 32 to 52 years, (MAge = 38.2 years, SD = 4.4 years). The parents, during the pregnancy period and 3 months after delivery, filled out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Three months after delivery they also filled out the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire Revised.Results: The analyses showed a significant correlation between parental anxiety/depression symptoms and infants’ NA and parenting stress (in both mothers and fathers). Moreover, compared to fathers, mothers reported higher scores on specific dimensions of the infants’ NA, [t(28) = -2.62 and p < 0.05; t(28) = 2.09 and p < 0.05], and parenting stress, [t(28) = 2.19 and p < 0.05; t(28) = 2.23 and p < 0.05], but only for Twin 2. Finally, the results showed that mothers’ perceptions of child temperament vary between two twins, [e.g., distress to limitations: t(28) = 2.08 and p < 0.05].Discussion: This study highlights the peculiarity of twin parenthood during the fourth trimester. In particular, the differences between twins’ mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions are relevant from a clinical perspective and for perinatal professionals. It would be interesting to study the long-term impact of mothers’ and fathers’ differing perceptions of their twins.

Sleep disordered breathing in pregnancy.

Key pointsSleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common and the severity increases as pregnancy progresses.Frequent snoring, older age and high pre-pregnancy body mass index (>25 kg⋅m−2) could be reliable indicators for SDB in early pregnancy.SDB screening tools, including questionnaires, used in the nonpregnant population have poor predictive ability in pregnancy.Accumulating evidence suggests that SDB during pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously because several studies failed to adjust for potential maternal confounders and have other study limitations.There are no pregnancy-specific practice guidelines for SDB treatment. Many clinicians and practices follow recommendations for the treatment in the general population. Women with pre-existing SDB might need to be reassessed, particularly after the sixth month of pregnancy, because symptoms can worsen with nasal congestion and weight gain.Educational aimsTo highlight the prevalence and severity of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in the pregnant population.To inform readers about risk factors for SDB in pregnancy.To explore the impact of SDB on adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, and biological pathways for associated adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.To introduce current management options for SDB in pregnancy, including medical and behavioural approaches.Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is very common during pregnancy, and is most likely explained by hormonal, physiological and physical changes. Maternal obesity, one of the major risk factors for SDB, together with physiological changes in pregnancy may predispose women to develop SDB. SDB has been associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Thus, early identification, diagnosis and treatment of SDB are important in pregnancy. This article reviews the pregnancy-related changes affecting the severity of SDB, the epidemiology and the risk factors of SDB in pregnancy, the association of SDB with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and screening and management options specific for this population.