Socioeconomic inequalities in the uptake of postpartum care at home across Dutch neighbourhoods.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum care focuses on prevention of health problems by performing medical check-ups and through enhancing maternal empowerment, the parent-infant interaction and knowledge about mother's own health and that of her newborn. We aimed to investigate whether there was significant clustering within neighbourhoods regarding the uptake of postpartum care and to what extent neighbourhood-level differences are explained by individual socio-demographic factors, pregnancy-related factors and neighbourhood-level determinants (i.e. deprivation and urbanization). METHODS: A nationwide population-based observational study was carried out using linked routinely collected healthcare data from appropriate-for-gestational-age weight live-born term singleton deliveries (2015-18) in the Netherlands. We performed two-level multivariable logistic regression analyses, using three different models. Model 1 contained no explanatory variables and was used to assess clustering of postpartum care uptake within neighbourhoods. In model 2, individual-level determinants were added one by one and in model 3, neighbourhood-level determinants were added. RESULTS: About 520 818 births were included. Multilevel modelling showed that 11% of the total variance in postpartum care uptake could be attributed to the neighbourhood of residence. Individual characteristics explained 38% of the neighbourhood variance, of which income and migration background were the most important contributors. An additional 6% of the variation could be explained by neighbourhood-level determinants. CONCLUSION: We found substantial neighbourhood differences in postpartum care uptake. These differences are influenced by a complex interplay between individual-level and neighbourhood-level determinants, highlighting the importance of addressing both individual and neighbourhood-level determinants to improve the uptake of postpartum care and therewith overall community health.

Impact of first-trimester anomaly scan on health-related quality of life and healthcare costs: a scoping review.

IMPORTANCE: The first-trimester anomaly scan (FTAS) has the potential to detect major congenital anomalies in an early stage of pregnancy. Due to this potential early detection, there is a trend to introduce FTAS in regular care. Data regarding the impact of FTAS on the patient's perspective are limited. OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the literature assessing the impact of the FTAS on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthcare costs. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Literature search was performed in Embase, PubMed, Medline Ovid, Cochrane Library database, Web-of-Science, and Google Scholar were searched. All studies that reported the performance of a nuchal translucency measurement with a basic fetal assessment HRQoL or healthcare costs of FTAS were included. Studies solely describing screening of chromosomal anomalies were excluded. Three authors independently screened the studies and extracted the data. Results were combined using descriptive analysis. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016045190. RESULTS: The search yielded 3242 articles and 16 were included. Thirteen articles (7045 pregnancies) examined the relationship between FTAS and HRQoL. Anxiety scores were raised temporarily before FTAS and returned to early pregnancy baseline following the absence of anomalies. Depression scores did not change significantly as a result of FTAS. Three articles studied healthcare costs. These studies, published before 2005, found a combination of FTAS and second-trimester anomaly scan (STAS) resulted in an increased amount of detected anomalies when compared to a STAS-only regimen. However, the combination would also be more costly. CONCLUSIONS: Women experience anxiety in anticipation of the FTAS result and following a reassuring FTAS result, anxiety returns to the baseline level. FTAS seems to be a reassuring experience. The included studies on costs showed the addition of FTAS is likely to increase the number of detected anomalies against an increase in healthcare costs per pregnancy.Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42016045190.

First-trimester 3D power Doppler imaging markers of utero-placental vascular development are associated with placental weight and diameter at birth: The Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Early utero-placental vascular development impacts placental development and function throughout pregnancy. We investigated whether impaired first-trimester utero-placental vascular development is associated with pathologic features of the postpartum placenta. METHODS: In this prospective observational study of 65 ongoing pregnancies, we obtained three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasounds of the placenta at 7, 9 and 11 weeks of gestation. We applied VOCAL software to measure placental volume (PV), virtual reality based segmentation to measure utero-placental vascular volume (uPVV) and applied a skeletonization algorithm to generate the utero-placental vascular skeleton (uPVS). Vascular morphology was quantified by assigning a morphologic characteristic to each voxel in the uPVS (i.e. end-, bifurcation-, crossing- or vessel point). Following delivery, placentas were measured and histologically examined according to the Amsterdam criteria to assess maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM). We used linear mixed models to estimate trajectories of PV, uPVV and uPVS development. Multivariable linear regression analysis with adjustments for confounders was used to evaluate associations between PV, uPVV and uPVS development and features of the postpartum placenta. RESULTS: We observed no associations between first-trimester PV development and measurements of the postpartum placenta. Increased first-trimester utero-placental vascular development, reflected by uPVV (ß = 0.25 [0.01; 0.48]), uPVS end points (ß = 0.25 [0.01; 0.48]), bifurcation points (ß = 0.22 [0.05; 0.37]), crossing points (ß = 0.29 [0.07; 0.52]) and vessel points (ß = 0.09 [0.02; 0.17]) was positively associated with the postpartum placental diameter. uPVV was positively associated with postpartum placental weight. No associations were found with MVM. DISCUSSION: Development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature is associated with postpartum placental size, whereas placental tissue development contributes to a lesser extent.

Arterial Health Markers in Relation to Behavior and Cognitive Outcomes at School Age.

BACKGROUND: Impaired arterial health is associated with a decline in cognitive function and psychopathology in adults. We hypothesized that these associations originate in early life. We examined the associations of blood pressure, common carotid artery intima media thickness, and carotid distensibility with behavior and cognitive outcomes during adolescence. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was embedded in the Dutch Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from early fetal life onwards. Blood pressure, carotid intima media thickness, and carotid distensibility were measured at the age of 10 years. At the age of 13 years, total, internalizing and externalizing problems and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms were measured using the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18), autistic traits were assessed by the Social Responsiveness Scale, and IQ was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition. A 1-SD score higher mean arterial pressure was associated with lower odds of internalizing problems (odds ratio [OR], 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.99]). However, this association was nonsignificant after correction for multiple testing. Carotid intima media thickness and carotid distensibility were not associated with behavior and cognitive outcomes at 13 years old. CONCLUSIONS: From our results, we cannot conclude that the associations of blood pressure, carotid intima media thickness, and carotid distensibility at age 10 years with behavior and cognitive outcomes are present in early adolescence. Further follow-up studies are needed to identify the critical ages for arterial health in relation to behavior and cognitive outcomes at older ages.

Alcohol exposure before and during pregnancy is associated with reduced fetal growth: the Safe Passage Study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a worldwide public health concern. While PAE is known to be associated with low birth weight, little is known about timing and quantity of PAE on fetal growth. This study investigated the association between periconceptional and prenatal alcohol exposure and longitudinal fetal growth, focusing on timing and quantity in a high exposure cohort. METHODS: The Safe Passage Study was a prospective cohort study, including 1698 pregnant women. Two-dimensional transabdominal ultrasound examinations were performed to measure fetal femur length, abdominal and head circumference, and biparietal diameter, at three time points during pregnancy. Estimated fetal weight and Z-scores of all parameters were calculated. Trimester-specific alcohol exposure was assessed using the Timeline Followback method. To investigate the associations of specific timing of PAE and fetal growth, two models were built. One with alcohol exposure as accumulative parameter over the course of pregnancy and one trimester specific model, in which PAE was separately analyzed. Linear mixed models adjusted for potential confounders were applied with repeated assessments of both alcohol exposure and fetal growth outcomes. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that periconceptional and prenatal alcohol exposure were associated with reduced fetal growth. Effect sizes are displayed as estimated differences (ED) in Z-score and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). When investigated as accumulative parameter, PAE was related to a smaller femur length (ED30; - 0.13 (95% CI; - 0.22; - 0.04), ED36; - 0.14 (95% CI; - 0.25; - 0.04)) and a smaller abdominal circumference (ED36; - 0.09 (95% CI; - 0.18; - 0.01)). Periconceptional alcohol exposure was associated with a smaller abdominal circumference (ED30; - 0.14 (95% CI; - 0.25; - 0.02), ED36; - 0.22 (95% CI; - 0.37; - 0.06)) and a smaller estimated fetal weight (ED36; - 0.22 (95% CI; - 0.38; - 0.05)). Second trimester alcohol exposure was associated with a smaller abdominal circumference (ED30; - 0.49 (95% CI; - 0.86; - 0.12), ED36; - 0.70 (95% CI; - 1.22; - 0.17)) and estimated fetal weight (ED30; - 0.54 (95% CI; - 0.94; - 0.14), ED36; - 0.69 (95% CI; - 1.25; - 0.14)). No additional association of binge drinking was found besides the already observed association of PAE and fetal growth. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that PAE negatively affects fetal growth, in particular when exposed during the periconception period or in second trimester. Our results indicate that potential negative consequences of PAE are detectable already before birth. Therefore, healthcare providers should actively address and discourage alcohol use during pregnancy.

Prenatal assessment of pulmonary vasculature development in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A literature review.

Pathophysiological studies have shown that pulmonary vascular development is impaired in fetuses with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), leading to a simplified vascular tree and increased vascular resistance. Multiple studies have described prenatal ultrasound parameters for the assessment of the pulmonary vasculature, but none of these parameters are used in daily clinical practice. We provide a comprehensive review of the literature published between January 1990 and February 2022 describing these parameters, and aim to explain the clinical relevance of these parameters from what is known from pathophysiological studies. Prenatal detection of a smaller diameter of the contralateral (i.e. contralateral to the diaphragmatic defect) first branch of the pulmonary artery (PA), higher pulsatility indices (PI), higher peak early diastolic reverse flow values, and a lower vascularization index seem of added value for the prediction of survival and, to a lesser extent, morbidity. Integration within the routine evaluation is complicated by the lack of uniformity of the methods used. To address the main components of the pathophysiological changes, we recommend future prenatal studies in CDH with a focus on PI values, PA diameters and pulmonary vascular branching.

Psychological distress during pregnancy and adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes: The role of socioeconomic status.

OBJECTIVE: To study the contribution of socioeconomic status (SES) to the prevalence of psychological distress during pregnancy, and to investigate the association between psychological distress and maternal and perinatal health among different SES groups. METHODS: This study was embedded in the Generation R study. Multiple self-reported questionnaires were used to measure psychological distress. Prevalence differences between SES groups were tested with the χ2 test. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between psychological distress and maternal and perinatal health outcomes. RESULTS: Women of low SES experience symptoms of psychopathology distress 4.5 times as often and symptoms of stress 2.5 times as often as women with of high SES. Women of low SES experiencing symptoms of psychopathology are at greater risk of delivering preterm. We also found associations between psychological distress and adverse perinatal health outcomes among women of middle and high SES. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that the associations between SES, psychological distress, and maternal and perinatal health are complex, but do exist. To provide a better understanding of these associations, it is important to include mental health information in the standard national data collection on pregnant women, as this allows population-based studies.

[Best possible start for child and parent]. / Kansrijke start voor kind en ouder.

The health of women during the periconception period and pregnancy is important for a healthy start of the child. All care providers can make a major contribution to this. In this learning article we provide answers to a number of questions that have been collected from the professional field about preconception care and care for vulnerable pregnant women. Our aim is to inform general practitioners and specialists who assist women with a (possible) desire to have children about proactive care in pregnancy, childbirth and child care. Included are concrete actions of the general practitioner when healthy women wish to become pregnant, which medical history and other characteristics of a pregnant woman negatively affects the health of her (unborn) child, and which signals in a first pregnancy predispose for problems after and in a subsequent pregnancy and what role can the GP play in this. Furthermore, we discuss signs of vulnerability in the consulting room, how transmural risk selection can be applied and we provide an overview of interventions applicable in primary care or where to refer to.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Portable, Handheld Point-of-Care Tests vs Laboratory-Based Bilirubin Quantification in Neonates: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Quantification of bilirubin in blood is essential for early diagnosis and timely treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Handheld point-of-care (POC) devices may overcome the current issues with conventional laboratory-based bilirubin (LBB) quantification. Objective: To systematically evaluate the reported diagnostic accuracy of POC devices compared with LBB quantification. Data Sources: A systematic literature search was conducted in 6 electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Google Scholar) up to December 5, 2022. Study Selection: Studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis if they had a prospective cohort, retrospective cohort, or cross-sectional design and reported on the comparison between POC device(s) and LBB quantification in neonates aged 0 to 28 days. Point-of-care devices needed the following characteristics: portable, handheld, and able to provide a result within 30 minutes. This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data extraction was performed by 2 independent reviewers into a prespecified, customized form. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Meta-analysis was performed of multiple Bland-Altman studies using the Tipton and Shuster method for the main outcome. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was mean difference and limits of agreement in bilirubin levels between POC device and LBB quantification. Secondary outcomes were (1) turnaround time (TAT), (2) blood volumes, and (3) percentage of failed quantifications. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria (9 cross-sectional studies and 1 prospective cohort study), representing 3122 neonates. Three studies were considered to have a high risk of bias. The Bilistick was evaluated as the index test in 8 studies and the BiliSpec in 2. A total of 3122 paired measurements showed a pooled mean difference in total bilirubin levels of -14 µmol/L, with pooled 95% CBs of -106 to 78 µmol/L. For the Bilistick, the pooled mean difference was -17 µmol/L (95% CBs, -114 to 80 µmol/L). Point-of-care devices were faster in returning results compared with LBB quantification, whereas blood volume needed was less. The Bilistick was more likely to have a failed quantification compared with LBB. Conclusions and Relevance: Despite the advantages that handheld POC devices offer, these findings suggest that the imprecision for measurement of neonatal bilirubin needs improvement to tailor neonatal jaundice management.

Impact of the EURO-PERISTAT Reports on obstetric management: a difference-in-regression-discontinuity analysis.

BACKGROUND: Population health monitoring, such as perinatal mortality and morbidity rankings published by the European Perinatal Health (EURO-PERISTAT) reports may influence obstetric care providers' decision-making and professional behaviour. We investigated short-term changes in the obstetric management of singleton term deliveries in the Netherlands following publication of the EURO-PERISTAT reports in 2003, 2008 and 2013. METHODS: We used a quasi-experimental difference-in-regression-discontinuity approach. National perinatal registry data (2001-15) was used to compare obstetric management at delivery in four time windows (1, 2, 3 and 5 months) surrounding publication of each EURO-PERISTAT report. RESULTS: The 2003 EURO-PERISTAT report was associated with higher relative risks (RRs) for an assisted vaginal delivery across all time windows [RR (95% CI): 1 month: 1.23 (1.05-1.45), 2 months: 1.15 (1.02-1.30), 3 months: 1.21 (1.09-1.33) and 5 months: 1.21 (1.11-1.31)]. The 2008 report was associated with lower RRs for an assisted vaginal delivery at the 3- and 5-month time windows [0.86 (0.77-0.96) and 0.88 (0.81-0.96)]. Publication of the 2013 report was associated with higher RRs for a planned caesarean section across all time windows [1 month: 1.23 (1.00-1.52), 2 months: 1.26 (1.09-1.45), 3 months: 1.26 (1.12-1.42) and 5 months: 1.19(1.09-1.31)] and lower RRs for an assisted vaginal delivery at the 2-, 3- and 5-month time windows [0.85 (0.73-0.98), 0.83 (0.74-0.94) and 0.88 (0.80-0.97)]. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that quasi-experimental study designs, such as the difference-in-regression-discontinuity approach, are useful to unravel the impact of population health monitoring on decision-making and professional behaviour of healthcare providers. A better understanding of the contribution of health monitoring to the behaviour of healthcare providers can help guide improvements within the (perinatal) healthcare chain.

Circulating maternal prorenin and oocyte and preimplantation embryo development: the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

STUDY QUESTION: Could circulating maternal prorenin serve as a proxy for oocyte and preimplantation embryo development, assessed by time-lapse parameters and clinical treatment outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER: High circulating maternal prorenin concentrations after ovarian stimulation associate with a larger oocyte area, faster cleavage divisions from the five-cell stage onwards and increased chance of successful implantation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: After ovarian stimulation, circulating prorenin (renin's precursor), is largely ovary-derived. Prorenin may contribute to ovarian angiotensin synthesis, which is relevant in reproduction given its role in follicular development and oocyte maturation. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Prospective observational cohort study including couples requiring fertility treatment from May 2017 as a subcohort of the ongoing Rotterdam Periconception Cohort conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Between May 2017 and July 2020, 309 couples with an indication for IVF treatment or ICSI were included. Resulting embryos (n = 1024) were submitted to time-lapse embryo culture. Time of fertilization (t0), pronuclear appearance (tPNa), and fading (tPNf) as well as the exact timing of reaching the two- to eight-cell stage (t2-t8), the start of blastulation (tSB), reaching the full (tB), and expanded blastocyst (tEB) were retrospectively recorded. Oocyte area was measured at t0, tPNa, and tPNf. Prorenin was determined at the day of embryo transfer. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: After adjustment for patient- and treatment-related factors, linear mixed modeling showed that higher prorenin concentrations associate with a larger oocyte area at tPNa (ß 64.45 µm2, 95% CI 3.26; 125.64, P = 0.04), and faster progression from five-cell stage onwards (e.g. ß8-cell -1.37 h, 95% CI -2.48; -0.26, P = 0.02). Prorenin associated positively with pre-transfer outcomes (e.g. ßfertilized oocytes 2.09, 95% CI 1.43; 2.75, P < 0.001) and implantation (odds ratio+ß-hCG-test: 1.79, 95% CI 1.06; 3.08, P = 0.03), but not with live birth. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This prospective observational study provides associations and therefore residual confounding cannot be excluded and causality has to be shown in intervention studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Theca cell-derived factors, such as prorenin, may help to clarify the underlying endocrine mechanism of oocyte maturation and embryo development, with a special focus on the (patho)physiological reproductive role of prorenin and the identification of factors influencing its secretion and activity, which is of great added value for improving embryo selection and predicting implantation and pregnancy outcomes. This will bring us to investigate which determinants of oocyte quality and embryo development should take center stage in developing preconception care strategies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was funded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and the Erasmus MC Medical Research Advisor Committee's 'Health Care Efficiency Research' program (OZBS72.16080). The authors have no competing interests to disclose. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Does Neighborhood Crime Mediate the Relationship Between Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Birth Outcomes? An Application of the Mediational G-Formula.

While the link between living in a low-socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhood and higher risk of adverse birth outcomes has been well established, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using the parametric g-formula, we assessed the role of neighborhood crime as a potential mediator of the relationship between neighborhood SES and birth outcomes using data on singleton births occurring in the Netherlands between 2010 and 2017 (n = 1,219,470). We estimated total and mediated effects of neighborhood SES on small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB) for 3 types of crime (violent crimes, crimes against property, and crimes against public order). The g-formula intervention settings corresponded to a hypothetical improvement in neighborhood SES. A hypothetical improvement in neighborhood SES resulted in a 6.6% (95% CI: 5.6, 7.5) reduction in the proportion of SGA birth, a 9.1% (95% CI: 7.6, 10.6) reduction in LBW, and a 5.8% (95% CI: 5.7, 6.2) decrease in PTB. Neighborhood crime jointly accounted for 28.1% and 8.6% of the total effects on SGA birth and LBW, respectively. For PTB, we found no evidence of mediation. The most relevant pathways were crimes against property and crimes against public order. The results indicate that neighborhood crime mediates a meaningful share of the relationship between neighborhood SES and birth outcomes.

Piloting a complex intervention to promote a tobacco and alcohol-free pregnancy: the Smoke and Alcohol Free with EHealth and Rewards (SAFER) pregnancy study.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy increase the risk of adverse health outcomes for mother and child. Interventions to address smoking and drinking before and during pregnancy have the potential to reduce early-life health inequalities. In the Smoke and Alcohol Free with EHealth and Rewards (SAFER) pilot study we aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of a complex intervention supporting women in smoking and alcohol cessation before and during pregnancy. METHODS: From February 2019 till March 2021, we piloted the SAFER pregnancy intervention among pregnant women and women planning pregnancy in South-West Netherlands in an uncontrolled before-after study. Participants were supported in smoking and alcohol cessation via up to six group sessions and an online platform. In addition, biochemically validated cessation was rewarded with incentives (i.e. shopping vouchers) amounting up to 185 euros. We aimed to include 66 women. The primary outcome was smoking and/or alcohol cessation at 34-38 weeks of gestation (if pregnant) or after six group sessions (if not pregnant). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Focus group interviews among those involved in the study were conducted at the end of the study to explore their experiences. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-nine women who smoked were included; no women who consumed alcohol were referred to the study. Unemployment (51%), financial problems (36%) and a smoking partner (72%) were common. Thirteen women (33%) dropped out, often due to other problems impeding smoking cessation or 'being too busy' to participate in the group sessions. Eleven women (28%) had quit smoking at the study's endpoint. The personal and positive approach was highly valued and biochemical validation was felt to be helpful. CONCLUSION: The SAFER pregnancy intervention seems appropriate for women in need of extra support for smoking cessation before and during pregnancy. Its impact on alcohol cessation could not be studied due to recruitment issues. Recruitment and prevention of early dropout need attention in further development of this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register: NL7493. Date registered: 04/02/2019.

Perinatal mortality and neonatal and maternal outcome per gestational week in term pregnancies: A registry-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Human pregnancy is considered term from 37+0/7 to 41+6/7 weeks. Within this range, both maternal, fetal and neonatal risks may vary considerably. This study investigates how gestational age per week is related to the components of perinatal mortality and parameters of adverse neonatal and maternal outcome at term. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A registry-based study was made of all singleton term pregnancies in the Netherlands from January 2014 to December 2017. Stillbirth and early neonatal mortality, as components of perinatal mortality, were defined as primary outcomes; adverse neonatal and maternal events as secondary outcomes. Neonatal adverse outcomes included birth trauma, 5-minute Apgar score ≤3, asphyxia, respiratory insufficiency, neonatal intensive care unit admission and composite neonatal outcome. Maternal adverse outcomes included instrumental vaginal birth, emergency cesarean section, obstetric anal sphincter injury, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and composite maternal outcome. The primary outcomes were evaluated by comparing weekly prospective risks of stillbirth and neonatal death using a fetuses-at-risk approach. Secondly, odds ratios (OR) for perinatal mortality, adverse neonatal and maternal outcome using a births-based approach were compared for each gestational week with all births occurring after that week. RESULTS: Data of 581 443 births were analyzed. At 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42 weeks, the respective weekly prospective risks of stillbirth were 0.015%, 0.022%, 0.031%, 0.036%, 0.069% and 0.081%; the respective weekly prospective risks of early neonatal death were 0.051%, 0.047%, 0.032%, 0.031%, 0.039% and 0.035%. The OR for adverse neonatal outcomes were the lowest at 39 and 40 weeks. The OR for adverse maternal outcomes, including operative birth, continuously increased with each gestational week. CONCLUSIONS: The prospective risk of early neonatal death for babies born at 39 weeks is lower than the risk of stillbirth in pregnancies continuing beyond 39+6/7 weeks. Birth at 39 weeks was associated with the best combined neonatal and maternal outcome, fewer operative births and fewer maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes compared with pregnancies continuing beyond 39 weeks. This information with appropriate perspectives should be included when counseling term pregnant women.

Early Maternal Caregiving Capacities in Highly Vulnerable, Multi-Problem Families.

Caregiving capacities may be an important link between multi-problem circumstances and adverse child development. This study aims to assess caregiving capacities and their correlations in highly vulnerable, multi-problem families in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Caregiving capacity (overall, emotional and instrumental) was prospectively assessed in 83 highly vulnerable women using video-observations of daily caregiving tasks, six week postpartum. Supporting data were collected at three time points: at inclusion, six weeks after inclusion and six weeks postpartum, and these included psychological symptoms, self-sufficiency, problematic life domains, home environment, income, depression, anxiety and stress. Pregnancy- and delivery-related information was collected from obstetric care professionals. Maternal caregiving scores averaged below adequate quality. Mothers living in an unsafe home environment (B = 0.62) and mothers with more problematic life domains (≤3 domains, B = 0.32) showed significantly higher instrumental caregiving capacities. Other variables were not related to caregiving capacities. Caregiving capacity in this highly vulnerable population was below adequate quality. However, in most cases there was no significant association between caregiving and the variables related to vulnerability. This means that a potential association between vulnerability and caregiving capacities might be driven by the interaction between several problems, rather than the type or number of problems.

Better assessment of neonatal jaundice at home (BEAT Jaundice @home): protocol for a prospective, multicentre diagnostic study.

INTRODUCTION: Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia can place a neonate at risk for acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus spectrum disorder. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent these deleterious sequelae. Currently, screening by visual inspection followed by laboratory-based bilirubin (LBB) quantification is used to identify hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates cared for at home in the Netherlands. However, the reliability of visual inspection is limited. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of universal transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening as compared with visual inspection to: (1) increase the detection of hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment, and (2) reduce the need for heel pricks to quantify bilirubin levels. In parallel, we will evaluate a smartphone app (Picterus), and a point-of-care device for quantifying total bilirubin (Bilistick) as compared with LBB. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will undertake a multicentre prospective cohort study in nine midwifery practices across the Netherlands. Neonates born at a gestational age of 35 weeks or more are eligible if they: (1) are at home at any time between days 2 and 8 of life; (2) have their first midwife visit prior to postnatal day 6 and (3) did not previously receive phototherapy. TcB and the Picterus app will be used after visual inspection. When LBB is deemed necessary based on visual inspection and/or TcB reading, Bilistick will be used in parallel. The coprimary endpoints of the study are: (1) hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment; (2) the number of heel pricks performed to quantify LBB. We aim to include 2310 neonates in a 2-year period. Using a decision tree model, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethical Committee of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Netherlands (MEC-2020-0618). Parents will provide written informed consent. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Dutch Trial Register (NL9545).

Creating a sense of urgency and provoking action - An example on the use of heat maps to address perinatal health inequalities.

Health outcomes of mothers and their (unborn) children in the perinatal period, i.e., during pregnancy and shortly after birth, can vary by geographical location. This is often due to differences in exposure to medical and social risk factors. Policies aimed at reducing inequalities in perinatal health can provide significant long-term health benefits, especially for (unborn) children. However, a lack of insight into regional perinatal health inequalities means that perinatal health is not always a priority in policy formulation. Novel methods should be used to draw attention to these inequalities, spark interdisciplinary debate and encourage collaborative initiatives. In this commentary, we propose that the development of heat maps that visualize perinatal health outcomes, and risk factors for those outcomes, could be a valuable tool in doing this. Heat maps are a data visualization technique that uses color variations to emphasize value differences between areas. Visualizing health inequalities could potentially create a sense of urgency among (local) stakeholders to initiate polices aimed at improving perinatal health. We illustrate the targeted use of heat maps with an example from the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Large perinatal health inequalities between neighborhoods were visualized in heat maps by a team from the Erasmus Medical Center to bring these inequalities to the attention of the municipality of Rotterdam. Local collaborative initiatives were set up to reduce perinatal health inequalities. These local initiatives formed the foundation for later national policies, including proposals to online implement heat maps regarding perinatal health topics, that are still ongoing today.

Prenatal exposure to trans fatty acids and head growth in fetal life and childhood: triangulating confounder-adjustment and instrumental variable approaches.

Dietary trans fatty acids (TFAs) are primarily industrially produced and remain abundant in processed food, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although TFAs are a cause of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, little is known about exposure to TFAs in relation to brain development. We aimed to investigate the effect of maternal TFA concentration during pregnancy on offspring head growth in utero and during childhood. In a prospective population-based study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with 6900 mother-child dyads, maternal plasma TFA concentration was assessed using gas chromatography in mid-gestation. Offspring head circumference (HC) was measured in the second and third trimesters using ultrasonography; childhood brain morphology was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging at age 10 years. We performed regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle confounders and instrumental variable (IV) analyses. Our IV analysis leveraged a national policy change that led to a substantial reduction in TFA and occurred mid-recruitment. After adjusting for covariates, maternal TFA concentration during pregnancy was inversely related to fetal HC in the third trimester (mean difference per 1% wt:wt increase: - 0.33, 95% CI - 0.51, - 0.15, cm) and to fetal HC growth from the second to the third trimester (- 0.04, 95% CI - 0.06, - 0.02, cm/week). Consistent findings were obtained with IV analyses, strengthening a causal interpretation. Association between prenatal TFA exposure and HC in the second trimester or global brain volume at age 10 years was inconclusive. Our findings are of important public health relevance as TFA levels in food remain high in many countries.

Assessment of first-trimester utero-placental vascular morphology by 3D power Doppler ultrasound image analysis using a skeletonization algorithm: the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

STUDY QUESTION: Can three-dimensional (3D) Power Doppler (PD) ultrasound and a skeletonization algorithm be used to assess first-trimester development of the utero-placental vascular morphology? SUMMARY ANSWER: The application of 3D PD ultrasonography and a skeletonization algorithm facilitates morphologic assessment of utero-placental vascular development in the first trimester and reveals less advanced vascular morphologic development in pregnancies with placenta-related complications than in pregnancies without placenta-related complications. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Suboptimal development of the utero-placental vasculature is one of the main contributors to the periconceptional origin of placenta-related complications. The nature and attribution of aberrant vascular structure and branching patterns remain unclear, as validated markers monitoring first-trimester utero-placental vascular morphologic development are lacking. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In this prospective observational cohort, 214 ongoing pregnancies were included before 10 weeks gestational age (GA) at a tertiary hospital between January 2017 and July 2018, as a subcohort of the ongoing Rotterdam Periconception Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: By combining 3D PD ultrasonography and virtual reality, utero-placental vascular volume (uPVV) measurements were obtained at 7, 9 and 11 weeks GA. A skeletonization algorithm was applied to the uPVV measurements to generate the utero-placental vascular skeleton (uPVS), a network-like structure containing morphologic characteristics of the vasculature. Quantification of vascular morphology was performed by assigning a morphologic characteristic to each voxel in the uPVS (end-, vessel-, bifurcation- or crossing-point) and calculating total vascular network length. A Mann-Whitney U test was performed to investigate differences in morphologic development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature between pregnancies with and without placenta-related complications. Linear mixed models were used to estimate trajectories of the morphologic characteristics in the first trimester. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: All morphologic characteristics of the utero-placental vasculature increased significantly in the first trimester (P < 0.005). In pregnancies with placenta-related complications (n = 54), utero-placental vascular branching was significantly less advanced at 9 weeks GA (vessel points P = 0.040, bifurcation points P = 0.050, crossing points P = 0.020, total network length P = 0.023). Morphologic growth trajectories remained similar after adjustment for parity, conception mode, foetal sex and occurrence of placenta-related complications. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The tertiary setting of this prospective observational study provides high internal, but possibly limited external, validity. Extrapolation of the study's findings should therefore be addressed with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The uPVS enables assessment of morphologic development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature. Further investigation of this innovative methodology needs to determine its added value for the assessment of (patho-) physiological utero-placental vascular development. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was funded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There are no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Registered at the Dutch Trial Register (NTR6854).

[Unintended pregnancy with complex problems: how can we prevent this?] / Onbedoelde zwangerschap bij complexe problematiek.

General practitioners (GP's) are confronted with patients with complex psychosocial problems that run the risk of having unintended and unwanted pregnancies. This raises two questions: 1) to what extend do GP's have the right to enter the private sphere of patients in order to discuss whether they should have children? And 2) how can such a conversation be successful? Based on a case, in this contribution we argue that GP's can play an important role in sustaining the autonomy of patients with complex problems and we provide suggestions on how to start a conversation about this topic. The contribution ends by sketching how GP's can get support in situations like this by a governmental national program Nu Niet Zwanger (Not Pregnant Now), that supports health care professionals in sustaining the autonomy of vulnerable groups in choices around pregnancy and contraception.