ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters between pregnant women with asthma and healthy pregnant women. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 pregnant women diagnosed with asthma and 61 healthy pregnant women. Fetal pulmonary artery Doppler parameters and the fetal main pulmonary artery acceleration time/ejection time (PATET) ratio were compared between the study and control groups. Thereafter, the study group was divided into two subgroups as non-severe and severe asthma. PATET ratio was compared between the subgroups. RESULTS: The fetal main pulmonary artery acceleration time was 25â¯ms in pregnant women with asthma and 33â¯ms in the healthy group, indicating a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). The acceleration time/ejection time ratio was statistically lower in the asthma group (0.185 vs. 0.240, p<0.001). The acceleration time/ejection time ratio was 0.172 in patients with severe asthma and 0.195â¯ms in the non-severe study group (p=0.156). In the maternal asthma group, the PATET ratio of those who went to the NICU due to respiratory distress was also 0.188, and the PATET ratio of those who went to the NICU for other reasons was 0.269 (p=0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal pulmonary artery acceleration time and PATET decreased statistically in pregnant women with severe or non-severe asthma. Maternal asthma is associated with changes in pulmonary Doppler parameters in the fetus.
Subject(s)
Asthma , Pulmonary Artery , Ultrasonography, Prenatal , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Pulmonary Artery/diagnostic imaging , Pulmonary Artery/physiopathology , Asthma/physiopathology , Asthma/diagnostic imaging , Asthma/complications , Case-Control Studies , Ultrasonography, Prenatal/methods , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prospective Studies , Pregnancy Complications/physiopathology , Pregnancy Complications/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the initation time of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding rates, and complementary feeding practices during the first six months of life among mothers who gave birth in a baby-friendly hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 350 mothers. Demographic characteristics, obstetric history and information about breastfeeding initiation were collected at the hospital. Information about factors affecting breastfeeding duration and feeding practices of the infants were obtained at the end of six months. RESULTS: Some 97.4% of the mothers initiated breastfeeding, 60.1% within the first hour. Exclusive breastfeeding was maintained for six months in 38.9%. Low education levels of mother/father, random breastfeeding, rare breastfeeding at night, nipple problems, bottle/pacifier use, and lack of social support were found associated with early cessation. Planned pregnancy [odds ratio (OR=2.02)] and vaginal delivery (OR=0.3) were found as the most important factors in early initiation, whereas antepartum breastfeeding education (OR=7.17) was the most important factor for exclusive breastfeeding duration in the logistic analysis. More than half (61.1%) of the infants were partially/bottle fed for six months; the most common reason was the belief that breast milk was insufficient. CONCLUSION: Efforts to encourage mothers and society to breastfeed exclusively should be made as part of a primary public health strategy to prevent early cessation of breastfeeding.
