A cost-effectiveness analysis of using umbilical cord blood pH for the diagnosis and management of neonatal asphyxia in term high-risk pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using umbilical cord blood pH (UC-pH) in combination with APGAR score for neonatal asphyxia, in terms of high-risk pregnancies, compared to using the APGAR score only. Neonatal outcomes and the proportions of patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were evaluated. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness ambispective analysis study was carried out, comparing (i) UC-pH combined with APGAR score and (ii) APGAR score only in 399 term pregnancies with a high risk for neonatal asphyxia. Costs included implementation, medical, and admission costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated. The proportions of patients admitted to the NICU were evaluated. RESULTS: UC-pH combined with APGAR score demonstrated a cost-effective outcome (3990.64 USD vs 5545.11 USD) and an ICER shown as saving 103.66 USD compared to the APGAR score alone. The need for NICU admission was less in the umbilical cord blood collection group (18 vs 33 cases). CONCLUSION: A combination of UC-pH with APGAR score assessment for neonatal asphyxia in a high-risk term pregnancy can effectively reduce costs and requirement for NICU admission.

Direct cord blood LAMP colorimetric phenol red assay for detecting α0-thalassemia (SEA deletion); the validation and post-natal screening in Thailand.

Post-natal or newborn screening for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies is useful for genetic counseling and managing thalassemia in children. We characterized thalassemia genotypes in newborns from the eastern part of Thailand. The results demonstrated a high heterogeneity of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies with seventeen genotypes. We focused on α0- thalassemia (Southeast Asian [SEA] deletion) in this study. We developed and validated the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) colorimetric assay for detecting α0- thalassemia (SEA deletion) using simple direct cord blood sampling compared to genomic DNA. A total of 160 cord blood samples were evaluated with the LAMP assay. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP colorimetric assay for α0-thalassemia (SEA deletion) using direct cord blood showed 100% (6/6 x 100) and 98.05% (151/154 x 100) whereas, genomic DNA showed 100% (6/6 x 100) and 100% (154/154 x 100), respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated other simple screening tools for α0-thalassemia with %Hb Bart's, MCV, and MCH values and found that these parameters were not diagnostic in our samples. The direct cord blood with colorimetric LAMP assay is simple, rapid, and does not require a post-LAMP step compared to conventional PCR. These techniques could be applied in post-natal or large population screening for α0-thalassemia (SEA deletion). Finally, this could support early prevention of complications, early management, genetic counseling for α-thalassemia disease in children, or a long-term prevention and control program of severe thalassemia in Thailand.

Student Competency for Midtrimester Obstetrics Scan upon Completion of the Master's Degree in Medical Sonography.

Objectives: To evaluate the competency of medical sonographer students who have completed training to estimate the gestational age (GA) and perform fetal biometric measurements compared to obstetricians. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study at the end of the medical sonographer students' practice sessions. In total, 80 midtrimester (18-28 weeks) pregnant women were recruited, and an ultrasound was performed according to the International Society of Sonography in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) guideline. Estimated GA calculated from fetal biometric measurements was compared between medical sonographer students and qualified obstetricians. Subsequently, images were randomly evaluated by maternal-fetal medicine specialists to assess the measurement performance. Results: There was no significant difference in the estimated GA between the medical sonographer students and obstetricians (mean difference, 0.01 ± 2.92 day, p = 0.89). However, there was a significant difference in the measurement of the head circumference (HC) and abdominal circumference (AC) (p < 0.001). The overall image quality of the fetal head, abdomen, and femur was considered a good to excellent score (77.5%-80%). There was a perfect and nearly perfect agreement regarding the presence of the placenta previa, adequacy of amniotic fluid, and position of the placenta (k = 0.9-1.0). Conclusions: The medical sonographer students demonstrated competency in GA estimation by fetal biometry measurement similar to obstetricians. However, the quality of the acquired images, according to the ISUOG recommendation, needs improvement, and this should be emphasized in the sonography course curriculum. The results suggest that medical sonographers can relieve obstetricians' workload for ultrasound screening in midtrimester pregnancies.

Effect of Herbal Compresses for Maternal Breast Engorgement at Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Maternal breast engorgement is one of the most common problems in the postpartum period. There are several alternative treatments, but there have not been any randomized controlled trial studies about the effects of herbal compresses for breast engorgement. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to investigate the effects of herbal compresses for maternal breast engorgement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The postpartum mothers who had breast engorgement were randomly assigned to herbal or hot compress treatments. The breast engorgement pain scores were assessed by visual analog scales pre- and post-treatment. The pain reduction scales of the herbal compress treatments were analyzed and compared with the hot compress treatments. The adverse effects of each treatment were recorded and collected after 24 hours from treatments. RESULTS: The data from 500 postpartum mothers with breast engorgement were available for analyses, 250 from the herbal compress group and 250 from the hot compress group. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar except baseline breast engorgement pain score (herbal compress group higher than hot compress group). There were statistically significant mean differences of breast engorgement pain before and after treatment between the herbal and hot compress groups. No serious complications were found after treatment from herbal compresses. CONCLUSION: Among the postpartum mothers who had breast engorgement, the herbal compresses could decrease breast engorgement pain. The pain reduction after herbal compresses was found to be greater than with the hot compresses.

Survey on knowledge, attitude, acceptance and related factors among pregnant women in Thailand regarding antenatal thalassaemia screening.

Thalassaemia is a common haematologic health condition in Southeast Asian countries (SEA) including Thailand. Reducing the birth of new thalassaemia cases is an effective method to control disease. The background level of knowledge and attitude of pregnant women on the disease influences their decision to perform antenatal screening. Unfortunately, the information about pregnant women's knowledge and attitude on antenatal thalassaemia screening in a developing country such as Thailand is lacking. We therefore conducted this cross-sectional study to examine patients' knowledge and to evaluate the factors which influence the patient's knowledge and attitude on antenatal thalassaemia screening. 1006 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at the Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand were enrolled. We found that women's knowledge on antenatal thalassaemia screening is low. A maternal age of ≥35 years was associated with a higher level of knowledge. A higher level of education and multigravidity, a family history of thalassaemia and a positive level of attitude were found more likely to have higher scores for knowledge. A higher level of education and level of knowledge score were also more likely to have a positive attitude score, but multigravidity negatively affected the attitude score. Effective counselling should be monitored among women with a lower levels of education, those with no family history of thalassaemia, and in primigravidas. Lastly, a concurrent Down syndrome screening or foetal sex determination may be useful incentives to encourage the decision to undergo screening. Impact statement What is already known about this subject? Screening for the paternal and maternal thalassaemia carrier status is important for reducing the incidence of severely thalassaemia-affected children. Poorer education and receiving genetic counselling for the first time were the predictive factors for the low post-counselling knowledge in genetic counselling before second trimester genetic amniocentesis. What do the results of this study add? Pregnant women's knowledge of antenatal thalassaemia screening was low. We found that pregnant women aged ≥35 years had a higher level of knowledge. Women with a higher level of education, multigravidity, the presence of a family history of thalassaemia and a positive attitude were more likely to have higher scores for knowledge. A higher level of education and level of knowledge score were also more likely to have a positive attitude score but multigravidity negatively affected the attitude score. The encouraging factors, such as an adjunctive Down syndrome screening or foetal structural screening or foetal sex determination may be useful as the incentive tools. What are the implications of these finding for clinical practice and/or further research? The awareness of a possible incorrect understanding is important for the antenatal counselling in the developing countries. Intensive monitoring of effective counselling using a post-counselling test should be scheduled. The methods of effective counselling for antenatal thalassaemia in developing countries should be evaluated.

Comparison of Breastfeeding Outcomes Between Using the Laid-Back and Side-Lying Breastfeeding Positions in Mothers Delivering by Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The breastfeeding position routinely used following a cesarean section is the side-lying position. However, there have been few studies about the effect of breastfeeding positions, including laid-back position on breastfeeding outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To compare the breastfeeding outcomes between using laid-back and side-lying breastfeeding positions in mothers delivering by cesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The postpartum mothers delivering by cesarean section who delivered term newborns were randomly assigned to learn the use of a laid-back or side-lying breastfeeding position. The breastfeeding outcomes were assessed by LATCH scores at the second day postpartum and exclusive breastfeeding rates during the 6-week postpartum period. The mother's satisfaction of each breastfeeding position was collected before discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: The data from 152 postpartum mothers delivering by cesarean section were available for analysis, 76 from the laid-back position group and 76 from side-lying position group. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. There were no statistically significant differences of the breastfeeding outcomes, LATCH scores at the second day postpartum and the exclusive breastfeeding rates during the 6-week postpartum period. But the mothers had expressed more satisfaction from the side-lying than the laid-back position. CONCLUSIONS: Among the mothers who delivered by cesarean section, the use of the laid-back breastfeeding position had not shown different breastfeeding outcomes from the side-lying breastfeeding position. It might be an alternative breastfeeding position, which can be taught for mothers delivering by cesarean section along with the side-lying position.

The Effect of Ginger on Breast Milk Volume in the Early Postpartum Period: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: In Thailand, ginger is a popular natural galactagogue among breastfeeding women. However, there has never been evidence to support the effectiveness of ginger in increasing the breast milk volume. OBJECTIVES: To compare breast milk volume on the third and seventh day postpartum between lactating mothers who receive 500 mg dried ginger capsules twice daily with those receiving placebo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial was conducted. Women who deliver a term baby were randomly assigned to receive dried ginger or placebo for 7 days postpartum. Breast milk volume was measured on third day postpartum using test weight method for a period of 24 hours and on seventh day postpartum using 1 hour milk production. We also compared the third day serum prolactin level between the two groups. RESULTS: Data from 63 women were available for analysis, 30 from the ginger group and 33 from the placebo group. The two groups were similar regarding baseline characteristics. Women in the ginger group have higher milk volume than the placebo group (191.0 ± 71.2 mL/day versus 135.0 ± 61.5 mL/day, p < 0.01). However, the seventh day milk volume in the ginger group does not differ from the placebo group (80.0 ± 58.5 mL versus 112.1 ± 91.6 mL, p = 0.24). The mean serum prolactin levels were similar in both groups (321.5 ± 131.8 ng/L in the ginger group, and 331.4 ± 100.7 ng/L in the placebo group, p = 0.74). No side effect was reported in this study. CONCLUSION: Ginger is a promising natural galactagogue to improve breast milk volume in the immediate postpartum period without any notable side effect.