[relationship between maternal perception of decreased fetal movements and rate of fetal complications during delivery]

The maternal perception of fetal movements at term has been used as an evaluative test of fetalwellbeing since the last 30 years, but there are different reports about its value. The aim of this study wasevaluation of decreased fetal movement and relation to situation of fetus in uterus. It is significant that weunderstand the relationship between decreased fetal movement and increased fetal distress, heart decelerationand meconium.This study was carried out from 2000-2001 in Kerman Bahonar hospital. The method was a casecontrol one with 100 cases and 100 controls. Cases and controls were selected from pregnant women enteringactive phase of labor or induction of labor for causes other than perception of decreased fetal movements. Fetalheart rate was monitored in both groups during labor phase and also, color of amniotic fluid and meconiumduring rupture of membrane was recorded. Type of delivery, Apgar scores at minute 1 and 5, mortality andmorbidity were compared in both groups. In this study, amniotic fluid volume was a significant variable that waspaid special attention.After analysis, there was a significant relationship between decreased fetal movement and manyvariables, for example, gravidity, deceleration of fetal heart, 1[st] and 5[th] minutes apgar score, fetal mortality,type of delivery, amniotic fluid volume and meconium staining.We can conclude that decreased fetal movement is a significant factor in evaluation of fetal wellbeing in near-term ante partum cases

Evaluation of tetanus vacination status of pregnant mothers referring to delivery wards, Yazd

Tetanus is a serious infectious disease and the most common cause of neonatal mortality in developing countries. Although neonatal tetanus [NT] can be prevented by immunization of expectant mothers, good hygiene and asepsis during delivery, total eradication of organism is not possible. The cross-sectional study was done on 480 pregnant women after delivery. Data was collected by a questionnaire and analysed using SPSS windows software program. Prenatal immunization rate [complete and partial] was 65/2% and 34/8%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the vaccination status and age, education of mother, parity and length of time between pregnancy and previous pregnancy. The reasons reported by non immunized mothers [not receiving the two dose vaccine] included complete tetanus vaccination coverage before pregnancy, lack of awareness about the needs for vaccination, improper counseling by persons responsible for antenatal care, e.t.c. Considering the results of the study, it is proposed that a complete history of the pregnant woman recorded at the first antenatal visit should be the basis of counseling and education of the woman and prenatal care staff should be also be fully educated

Prevention of pregnancy-induced hypertension by low dose aspirin

One hundred and twelve pregnant women with three risk factors for pre-eclampsia [primigravidity, twin pregnancy and history of previous preeclampsia] were screened with the roll-over test, at 28th to 30th weeks of gestation. Forty women with positive roll-over test [increase of more than 15mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure] were treated either with a daily dose of aspirin [21 women] or placebo [19 women] during the third trimester of pregnancy, up to one week before delivery. Only two patients [9.5%] in the aspirin-treated group developed pregnancy-induced hypertension, versus 7 patients [37%] in the placebo group: P<0.01. None of the control group with negative roll-over test developed hypertension. We conclude that low dose aspirin [100mg/day], taken in the third trimester of pregnancy by women with positive roll-over test, will significantly reduce pregnancy-induced hypertension