Self-Reported Medication Use Across Racial and Rural or Urban Subgroups of People Who Are Pregnant in the United States: Decentralized App-Based Cohort Study

BackgroundMaternal health outcomes have been underresearched due to people who are pregnant being underrepresented or excluded from studies based on their status as a vulnerable study population. Based on the available evidence, Black people who are pregnant have dramatically higher maternal morbidity and mortality rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups. However, insights into prenatal care—including the use of medications, immunizations, and prenatal vitamins—are not well understood for pregnant populations, particularly those that are underrepresented in biomedical research. Medication use has been particularly understudied in people who are pregnant; even though it has been shown that up to 95% of people who are pregnant take at least 1 or more medications. Understanding gaps in use could help identify ways to reduce maternal disparities and optimize maternal health outcomes. ObjectiveWe aimed to characterize and compare the use of prenatal vitamins, immunizations, and commonly used over-the-counter and prescription medications among people who are pregnant, those self-identifying as Black versus non-Black, and those living in rural versus urban regions in the United States. MethodsWe conducted a prospective, decentralized study of 4130 pregnant study participants who answered survey questionnaires using a mobile research app that was only available on iOS (Apple Inc) devices. All people who were pregnant, living in the United States, and comfortable with reading and writing in English were eligible. The study was conducted in a decentralized fashion with the use of a research app to facilitate enrollment using an eConsent and self-reported data collection. ResultsWithin the study population, the use of prenatal vitamins, antiemetics, antidepressants, and pain medication varied significantly among different subpopulations underrepresented in biomedical research. Black participants reported significantly lower frequencies of prenatal vitamin use compared to non-Black participants (P<.001). The frequency of participants who were currently receiving treatment for anxiety and depression was also lower among Black and rural groups compared to their non-Black and urban counterparts, respectively. There was significantly lower use of antidepressants (P=.002) and antiemetics (P=.02) among Black compared to non-Black participants. While prenatal vitamin use was lower among participants in rural areas, the difference between rural and urban groups did not reach statistical significance (P=.08). There were no significant differences in vaccine uptake for influenza or tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (TDaP) across race, ethnicity, rural, or urban status. ConclusionsA prospective, decentralized app-based study demonstrated significantly lower use of prenatal vitamins, antiemetics, and antidepressants among Black pregnant participants. Additionally, significantly fewer Black and rural participants reported receiving treatment for anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Future research dedicated to identifying the root mechanisms of these differences can help improve maternal health outcomes, specifically for diverse communities

Acceptability of Bedside Resuscitation With Intact Umbilical Cord to Clinicians and Patients’ Families in the United States

BackgroundWhile delayed umbilical cord clamping in preterm infants has shown to improve long-term neurological outcomes, infants who are thought to need resuscitation do not receive delayed cord clamping even though they may benefit the most. A mobile resuscitation platform allows infants to be resuscitated at the mother’s bedside with the cord intact. The newborn is supplied with placental blood during the resuscitation in view of the mother. The objective of the study is to assess the usability and acceptability of mobile resuscitation platform, LifeStart trolley, among the infants’ parents and perinatal providers.MethodsA resuscitation platform was present during every delivery that required advanced neonatal providers for high-risk deliveries. Perinatal providers and parents of the infants were given a questionnaire shortly after the delivery.Results60 neonatal subjects were placed on the trolley. The majority of deliveries were high risk for meconium-stained amniotic fluid (43%), and non-reassuring fetal heart rate (45%). About 50% of neonatal providers felt that there were some concerns regarding access to the baby. No parents were uncomfortable with the bedside neonatal interventions, and most parents perceived that communication was improved because of the proximity to the care team.ConclusionBedside resuscitation with umbilical cord intact through the use of a mobile resuscitation trolley is feasible, safe, and effective, but about half of the perinatal providers expressed concerns. Logistical issues such as improved space management and/or delivery setup should be considered in centers planning to perform neonatal resuscitation with an intact cord

Persistent Notochord in a Fetus with COL2A1 Mutation

Multiple anomalies including micromelia, poor mineralization of the vertebrae, and a persistent notochord were identified on second trimester ultrasound in a fetus with a COL2A1 mutation. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of a persistent notochord associated with a COL2A1 mutation in humans. In this case report, we describe ultrasound and postmortem findings and review the pathogenesis associated with a persistent notochord

Preterm premature rupture of membranes ≥ 32 weeks\u27 gestation: impact of revised practice guidelines.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the perinatal impact of the 2007 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Practice Bulletin on preterm premature membrane rupture. STUDY DESIGN: Perinatal outcomes were compared in women who had experienced preterm membrane rupture in the 3 years before the 2007 Practice Bulletin to similar women who experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes in the 3 years after the issue and implementation of the guideline. RESULTS: After adjustment for gestational age at membrane rupture and steroids, composite severe morbidity (death, respiratory distress syndrome, assisted ventilation for ≥ 6 hours, sepsis, pneumonia, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, or necrotizing enterocolitis) was similar by group. Infants in the after group experienced less pneumonia and sepsis, similar respiratory morbidity, but more labor inductions and postpartum hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The new guideline significantly decreases severe neonatal infections but is associated with more frequent labor induction and postpartum hemorrhage

Association of Umbilical Cord Milking vs Delayed Umbilical Cord Clamping With Death or Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage Among Preterm Infants.

Importance: Umbilical cord milking as an alternative to delayed umbilical cord clamping may provide equivalent benefits to preterm infants, but without delaying resuscitation. Objective: To determine whether the rates of death or severe intraventricular hemorrhage differ among preterm infants receiving placental transfusion with umbilical cord milking vs delayed umbilical cord clamping. Design, Setting, and Participants: Noninferiority randomized clinical trial of preterm infants (born at 23-31 weeks\u27 gestation) from 9 university and private medical centers in 4 countries were recruited and enrolled between June 2017 and September 2018. Planned enrollment was 750 per group. However, a safety signal comprising an imbalance in the number of severe intraventricular hemorrhage events by study group was observed at the first interim analysis; enrollment was stopped based on recommendations from the data and safety monitoring board. The planned noninferiority analysis could not be conducted and a post hoc comparison was performed instead. Final date of follow-up was December 2018. Interventions: Participants were randomized to umbilical cord milking (n = 236) or delayed umbilical cord clamping (n = 238). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of death or severe intraventricular hemorrhage to determine noninferiority of umbilical cord milking with a 1% noninferiority margin. Results: Among 540 infants randomized, 474 (88%) were enrolled and completed the trial (mean gestational age of 28 weeks; 46% female). Twelve percent (29/236) of the umbilical cord milking group died or developed severe intraventricular hemorrhage compared with 8% (20/238) of the delayed umbilical cord clamping group (risk difference, 4% [95% CI, -2% to 9%]; P = .16). Although there was no statistically significant difference in death, severe intraventricular hemorrhage was statistically significantly higher in the umbilical cord milking group than in the delayed umbilical cord clamping group (8% [20/236] vs 3% [8/238], respectively; risk difference, 5% [95% CI, 1% to 9%]; P = .02). The test for interaction between gestational age strata and treatment group was significant for severe intraventricular hemorrhage only (P = .003); among infants born at 23 to 27 weeks\u27 gestation, severe intraventricular hemorrhage was statistically significantly higher with umbilical cord milking than with delayed umbilical cord clamping (22% [20/93] vs 6% [5/89], respectively; risk difference, 16% [95% CI, 6% to 26%]; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance: In this post hoc analysis of a prematurely terminated randomized clinical trial of umbilical cord milking vs delayed umbilical cord clamping among preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks\u27 gestation, there was no statistically significant difference in the rate of a composite outcome of death or severe intraventricular hemorrhage, but there was a statistically significantly higher rate of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in the umbilical cord milking group. The early study termination and resulting post hoc nature of the analyses preclude definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03019367