Maternity Records (maternity + record)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Specific IgE to allergens in cord blood is associated with maternal immunity to Toxoplasma gondii and rubella virus

ALLERGY, Issue 11 2008
M. J. Ege
Background:, Various studies have found reduced prevalences of atopic sensitization and atopic diseases in children previously exposed to infections or living conditions with a high microbial burden, such as the farming environment. Objective:, We sought to determine the relationships of cord blood immunoglobulin E (IgE) with maternal health conditions before and during pregnancy. Methods:, Pregnant women living in rural areas in five European countries were recruited in the third trimester of pregnancy. Information on maternal health during pregnancy was collected from maternity records and by questionnaires (n = 497). Specific IgE for inhalant and food allergens was assessed in cord blood and peripheral blood samples of the mothers. Results:, Inverse associations of cord blood IgE to seasonal allergens with positive maternal records for Toxoplasma gondii (adjusted odds ratio = 0.37 [0.17,0.81]) and rubella virus (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35 [0.13,0.96]) were found. The previously described effect of prenatal farm exposure on IgE to seasonal allergens was partly confounded by a positive maternal record for T. gondii. The number of maternal siblings, maternal contact to cats during pregnancy or during her first year of life, predicted a positive maternal record for T. gondii. Conclusions:, Maternal immunity to T. gondii and rubella may impact on atopic sensitization in the fetus. A positive T. gondii record explained the previously identified effect of prenatal farm exposure on IgE to seasonal allergens only to a minor extent. [source]


Uptake of prenatal screening for chromosomal anomalies: impact of test results in a previous pregnancy

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 13 2002
Kevin Spencer
Abstract Aim To assess whether the uptake of prenatal screening for trisomy 21 in a subsequent pregnancy is influenced by being classified in the ,increased risk' or ,not at increased risk' group in the first pregnancy. Setting District General Hospital Maternity Unit. Methods Amongst a group of women attending for maternity care at this hospital, the maternity records were examined to find women having at least two pregnancies. Any prenatal screening record for each pregnancy was retrieved from the prenatal screening database. Prenatal screening for trisomy 21 was by a combination of maternal serum ,-fetoprotein (AFP) and free ,-human chorionic gonadotrophin (,-hCG) in the second trimester and by maternal serum free ,-hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness in the first trimester. Women were stratified according to their trisomy 21 risk into an ,increased risk' group (1: <250 in the second trimester and 1: <300 in the first trimester) or ,not at increased risk' group based on their first pregnancy. In a second pregnancy, the records were examined to see if the mother accepted prenatal screening in the second pregnancy. The rate of acceptance of screening in a subsequent pregnancy, depending on whether ,at increased risk' or ,not at increased risk' in the first pregnancy, was examined using chi square tests. Results In the second trimester study, 4601 women were identified with two pregnancies during the study period. Of these, 4559 women had prenatal screening in a subsequent pregnancy. Initially, 273 women were identified in the high-risk group, and of these 252 (92.3%) elected to have prenatal screening in a subsequent pregnancy. This compared with 4307 of 4328 (99.5%) women in the low-risk group. In the first trimester study, 1077 women were identified with two pregnancies during the study period. Of these, 1072 had prenatal screening in a subsequent pregnancy. Initially, 60 women were identified in the high-risk group, and of these 56 (93.3%) elected to have prenatal screening in a subsequent pregnancy. This compared with 1016 of 1017 (99.9%) in the low-risk group. Statistically, there was no difference between the rate of declining prenatal screening in a second pregnancy amongst those in the high-risk group in a first pregnancy or those in the low-risk group (p = 0.429 for second trimester screening and p = 0.794 for first trimester screening). Similarly, no difference could be demonstrated between rates when screening in the first or second trimester (p = 0.961) for those in the high-risk group. Conclusion Despite the understandable anxiety associated with being identified in the high-risk group (as a false positive finding) in a previous pregnancy, this did not seem to deter women from accepting prenatal screening in a subsequent pregnancy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


The relationship between dietary supplement use in late pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cohort study in British women

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
NA Alwan
Please cite this paper as: Alwan N, Greenwood D, Simpson N, McArdle H, Cade J. The relationship between dietary supplement use in late pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cohort study in British women. BJOG 2010;117:821,829. Objective, To examine the relationship between dietary supplement use during pregnancy and birth outcomes. Design, A prospective birth cohort. Setting, Leeds, UK. Sample, One thousand two hundred and seventy-four pregnant women aged 18,45 years. Methods, Dietary supplement intake was ascertained using three questionnaires for the first, second and third trimesters. Dietary intake was reported in a 24-hour dietary recall administered by a research midwife at 8,12 weeks of gestation. Information on delivery details and antenatal pregnancy complications was obtained from the hospital maternity records. Main outcome measures, Birthweight, birth centile and preterm birth. Results, Reported dietary supplement use declined from 82% of women in the first trimester of pregnancy to 22% in the second trimester and 33% in the third trimester. Folic acid was the most commonly reported supplement taken. Taking any type of daily supplement during any trimester was not significantly associated with size at birth taking into account known relevant confounders. Women taking multivitamin-mineral supplements in the third trimester were more likely to experience preterm birth (adjusted OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.2, 9.6, P = 0.02). Conclusions, Regular multivitamin,mineral supplement use during pregnancy, in a developed country setting, is not associated with size at birth. However, it appears to be associated with preterm birth if taken daily in the third trimester. The mechanism for this is unclear and our study's findings need confirming by other cohorts and/or trials in developed countries. [source]


Are influences during pregnancy associated with wheezing phenotypes during the first decade of life?

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2005
Ramesh J Kurukulaaratchy
Abstract Aim: Recently, attention has focused on possible early life origins for asthma. We sought to identify whether factors present during pregnancy were associated with development of childhood wheezing phenotypes. Methods: A whole population birth cohort (n=1456) on the Isle of Wight, UK, was followed through to age 10 y. Where possible, information regarding environmental exposures and events during pregnancy was obtained from the maternity records (n=1238). Children were seen at ages 1, 2, 4 and 10 y, and wheezing symptoms were used to define wheezing phenotypes in the first decade (n=1034). Results: Risk of early-onsetpersistent wheeze (onset in the first 4 y, still present at age 10) was increased by environmental tobacco smoke exposure in pregnancy (OR=2.44; 95% CI: 1.37,4.34) plus maternal asthma (3.57; 1.84,6.94), but reduced by cat ownership (0.30; 0.13,0.62). Early transient wheeze (onset in the first 4 y, but not present at age 10) was increased by environmental tobacco smoke exposure (1.58; 1.02,2.45), male gender (1.68; 1.09,2.60) and low birthweight (3.65; 1.27,10.52). No environmental factors in pregnancy were associated with late-onset persistent wheeze (onset after age 4 y, still present at 10 y). Conclusion: In addition to genetics, maternal exposures during pregnancy show association with childhood and especially early-life wheezing phenotypes. [source]