Breast feeding after caesarean delivery on maternal request: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Caesarean delivery under maternal request (CDMR) is a major factor contributing to the rising global rates of caesarean section (CS) procedure. The choice of CDMR without medical indications could provide a sense of assured safety by avoiding the experiences and complications of vaginal birth, and the risks related to an emergency CS. However, it might adversely influence women's breast feeding patterns and produce a long-lasting impact on maternal and neonatal health. This study aims to systematically review the current evidence relating to the effects of intentions of performing CDMR on breast feeding. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A comprehensive literature search will be performed in three English-language electronic databases, major clinical study registries and other sources for original studies reporting the breast feeding outcomes after a planned CDMR or vaginal delivery. The three databases Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched via Ovid from inception to February 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), pseudo-RCTs, cohort studies and case-control studies on this topic will be included. Participants in the experimental or case group should meet the Robson criteria of classes 2B or 4B and have experienced planned CS undertaken for no maternal or foetal indication, whereas participants in the control group have undergone scheduled vaginal delivery. All kinds of breast feeding outcomes will be included. Meta-analyses will be attempted to provide an estimate of the pooled effect and will be stratified by different study designs. A qualitative description will be provided if quantitative synthesis proves to be fruitless. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is a secondary literature review that does not need ethical approval. No primary data will be collected from the participants. Findings of this study will be presented at scientific conferences and be published in scientific journals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020160303.

First-line antihypertensive treatment for severe hypertension in pregnancy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hydralazine, labetalol, and nifedipine are the recommended first-line treatments for severe hypertension in pregnancy. While all three are effective, there is a lack of sufficient evidence regarding their comparative safety and efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the comparative safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment options for severe hypertension in pregnancy. METHODS: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to May 31, 2018 was conducted. RCTs in pregnancy comparing a first-line antihypertensive agent to another first-line agent for the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. Screening, data abstraction, and quality assessment were done by two independent reviewers. To estimate relative effects from all available evidence, a Bayesian network meta-analysis with vague priors was conducted. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 1330 publications identified, 17 RCTs comprised of a total of 1591 women met our selection criteria. For successful treatment of severe hypertension, nifedipine was found to be superior to hydralazine (OR 4.13 [95% CrI 1.01-20.75]) but not labetalol (OR 3.43 [95% CrI 0.94-19.95]). This was not associated with an increased risk for caesarean delivery or maternal side effects. There was no significant difference between labetalol and hydralazine. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results of this systematic review and network meta-analysis, maternity care providers should feel comfortable initiating management of severe hypertension in pregnancy using oral nifedipine.

Exploring Canadian women's knowledge of and interest in mifepristone: results from a national qualitative study with abortion patients.

INTRODUCTION: Although Canada decriminalized abortion in 1988, significant disparities in access to services and an uneven geographic distribution of providers persists. Health Canada registered mifepristone, the gold standard of medication abortion, in July 2015. Our study explored Canadian women's knowledge of, interest in, and perspectives on mifepristone prior to registration. METHODS: From November 2012 through July 2015 we conducted in-depth interviews with 174 Anglophone and Francophone women from Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec about their abortion experiences and their opinions about medication abortion. We purposively recruited participants from different age cohorts and different regions within each study province to explore a range of perspectives. We analyzed these interviews for content and themes related to mifepristone using both deductive and inductive analytic techniques. RESULTS: The overwhelming majority of participants had no knowledge of mifepristone at the time of the interview. However, after providing a brief description of an evidence-based mifepristone/misoprostol regimen, more than half of the participants reported that they would have considered this method had it been available at the time of their abortion and most would have been comfortable receiving medication abortion care from a family physician or nurse practitioner. Most women supported the approval of mifepristone and felt Canadian women would benefit from having more options for early pregnancy termination. CONCLUSION: Although knowledge of mifepristone among recent abortion patients was low, considerable interest in medication abortion exists. Expanding awareness-raising efforts and supporting the approval of evidence-based regimens and provision of mifepristone appears warranted. IMPLICATIONS: The approval and introduction of mifepristone for early abortion in Canada promises to increase options and access. Creating tailored and culturally and contextually resonant messages about mifepristone is of high priority. Promoting evidence-based protocols and the inclusion of a full range of qualified professionals in service provision is also warranted.