[Breastfeeding Rates and Duration in Germany - A Systematic Review]. / Stillhäufigkeit und Stilldauer in Deutschland ­ eine systematische Übersicht.

Aim: 20 years after establishment of the National Breastfeeding Committee, the present work, based on published data on breastfeeding, is aimed at providing insight into the development of breastfeeding behaviour in Germany. Methods: To identify relevant publications, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science using the search terms "breast feeding" or "breastfeeding" in combination with "Germany". The publication period was limited to the period 1995-2014. Results: A total of 35 studies with data on breastfeeding for the birth cohorts of 1990-2012 were identified. Most of the data had been collected in regional or local surveys, often retrospectively. About 60% of the studies had been conducted with the primary aim of collecting data on breastfeeding or infant nutrition. Over the past 2 decades, breastfeeding rates were always relatively high at the beginning (72-97%). However, they declined significantly within the first 2 months, and by the age of 6 months, only about 50% of infants were still breastfed. Conclusion: Breastfeeding support and early assistance should be offered to a greater extent in order to achieve sustainable improvement of breastfeeding frequency and duration in Germany. Regarding the quality of data collected on breastfeeding, it seems crucial to implement standardised approaches to monitor breastfeeding in Germany.

Redesigning German Maternity Records: Results from a Pilot study.

PURPOSE: The German maternity record (GMR, "Mutterpass") is the most important document for pregnant women and their health care providers during antenatal care. While the serological and ultrasound sections have been updated regularly, the document's catalogue of pre-existing factors has remained unaltered since 1986. We investigated whether a health-focused revision of the GMR would serve the needs of pregnant women and their care providers. METHODS: A revised version of the Mutterpass was developed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, focusing on health and salutogenesis. The new document highlights the uncomplicated pregnancy, and gives pregnant women the opportunity to make their own notes and to choose an appropriate place of birth after consultation with the doctor or midwife. These changes were developed within the requirements of the latest version of the German maternity guidelines (GMG) mandatory during the revision process. To test for user-friendliness and acceptance, 23 persons--8 consultants, 7 midwives and 8 pregnant women--were asked to evaluate the revised GMR. Comments could be entered in the GMR itself and in an electronic survey. Notes in the GMR (n=296 comments) were assigned to one of 7 categories (e. g. general comments, structural aspects) by 2 reviewers. After 6 weeks one of the reviewers repeated her evaluation. RESULTS: 20 of the 23 persons approached wrote comments in the document, 19 participated in the electronic survey. Consultants and midwives predominantly stated that they would prefer to work with the revised GMR (92%). Pregnant women appreciated the space for their own notes (83%). Most respondents (90%) had a good general impression. Inter-observer agreement was kappa=0.43, intra-observer agreement kappa=0.55. CONCLUSIONS: This health-focused version of the German maternity record is a first step towards optimising maternity records in Germany. Future investigations should consider revisions going beyond the content of the mandatory guidelines.

[Prenatal care in Germany]. / Schwangerenvorsorge in Deutschland.

Prenatal care in Germany is based on a nationwide standardized program of care for pregnant women. Besides support and health counseling, it comprises prevention or early detection of diseases or unfavorable circumstances with risks for mother and child. Prenatal care is regulated by law and structured by directives and standard procedures in maternity guidelines (Mutterschafts-Richtlinien). This includes information and counseling of future mothers on offers of psychosocial and medical assistance in normal pregnancies as well as in unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. Further aspects are clinical examinations and risk determinations for genetic variations or direct genetic analysis. During pregnancy, medical history, clinical examination, and blood testing are part of the sophisticated program, which includes at least three standardized sonographic examinations at 10, 20, and 30 weeks of gestation. The maternity passport allows a pregnant woman to carry the most relevant information on her pregnancy and her personal risks with her. For 45 years now, women in Germany are used to carrying their Mutterpass. Societal changes have influenced the central goals of maternity care: In the beginning, the mortality of mother and child had to be reduced. Today, maternal morbidity and impaired development of the child are the center of interest, with expansion to familial satisfaction. The reduction in the mortality and morbidity of both the mother and the child during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum can be attributed to prenatal care. Thus, investment in a program of nationwide structured prenatal care seems to be worthwhile-despite the lack of evidence concerning its effectiveness.

S3-Guidelines for the Treatment of Inflammatory Breast Disease during the Lactation Period: AWMF Guidelines, Registry No. 015/071 (short version) AWMF Leitlinien-Register Nr. 015/071 (Kurzfassung).

Breastfeeding is widely acknowledged to be the best and most complete form of nutrition for healthy infants born at term and is associated with numerous benefits in terms of infants' health, growth, immunity and development. However, breastfeeding problems often result in early weaning. Standardized treatment recommendations for breastfeeding-related diseases are necessary to optimize the care offered to breastfeeding women. Evidence and consensus based guidelines for the treatment of puerperal mastitis, sore nipples, engorgement and blocked ducts were developed on the initiative of the National Breastfeeding Committee. These guidelines were developed in accordance with the criteria set up by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF), the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany. The recommendations were drawn up by an interdisciplinary group of experts and were based on a systematic search and evaluation of the literature but also took clinical experience into account. Additionally good clinical practice (GCP) in terms of expert opinion was formulated in cases where scientific investigations could not be performed or were not aimed for. This article presents a summary of the recommendations of the S3-guidelines.

German national consensus recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle in pregnancy by the 'Healthy Start - Young Family Network'.

Diet and physical activity before and during pregnancy affect short- and long-term health of mother and child. The energy needs at the end of pregnancy increase only by about 10% compared to nonpregnant women. An excessive energy intake is undesirable since maternal overweight and excessive weight gain can increase the risks for a high birth weight and later child overweight and diabetes. Maternal weight at the beginning of pregnancy is especially important for pregnancy outcome and child health. Women should strive to achieve normal weight already before pregnancy. Regular physical activity can contribute to a healthy weight and to the health of pregnant women. The need for certain nutrients increases more than energy requirements. Before and during pregnancy, foods with a high content of essential nutrients should be preferentially selected. Supplements should include folic acid and iodine, iron (in case of suboptimal iron stores), the ω-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (in case of infrequent consumption of ocean fish) and vitamin D (in case of decreased sun exposure and decreased endogenous vitamin D synthesis). Pregnant women should not smoke and not stay in rooms where others smoke or have smoked before (passive smoking). Alcohol consumption should be avoided, since alcohol can harm unborn children.

[Nutrition in pregnancy - Practice recommendations of the Network "Healthy Start - Young Family Network"]. / Ernährung in der Schwangerschaft - Teil 1.

Nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle in pregnancy influence maternal and child health. The "Healthy start - Young Family Network" supported by the German Government with the national action plan IN FORM developed recommendations on nutrition in pregnancy. Energy needs increase by only ≈10 % by the end of pregnancy whereas micronutrient needs increase much more. Normal weight should preferably be achieved before pregnancy. Dietary recommendations follow those for the general population. Folic acid supplements (400 µg/day) should be started before pregnancy and continue for at least the first trimester. Iodine rich foods and salt and an iodine supplement (100-150 µg/day) are recommended. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids should be provided with ≥ 1 weekly portion of oily sea fish, or a DHA-supplement if regular fish consumption is avoided. Vitamin D supplementation is advisable unless there is regular exposure to sunlight. Health care professions should lead parents to health-promoting lifestyles. Subjects of part 2 of the article are practice recommendations on nutrition in pregnancy, especially vegetarian diets, recommendations on micronutrient supplementation, risk reduction of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and physical activity in pregnancy.

[Nutrition in pregnancy - Practice recommendations of the Network "Healthy Start - Young Family Network"]. / Ernährung in der Schwangerschaft - Teil 2. Handlungsempfehlungen des Netzwerks "Gesund ins Leben - Netzwerk Junge Familie".

Nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle in pregnancy influence maternal and child health. The "Healthy start - Young Family Network" supported by the German Government with the national action plan IN FORM developed recommendations on nutrition in pregnancy. Folic acid supplements (400 µg/day) should be started before pregnancy and continue for at least the first trimester. Iodine rich foods and salt and an iodine supplement (100-150 µg/day) are recommended. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids should be provided with ≥ 1 weekly portion of oily sea fish, or a DHA-supplement if regular fish consumption is avoided. Vitamin D supplementation is advisable unless there is regular exposure to sunlight. Iron supplements should be used based on medical history and blood testing. Vegetarian diets with nutritional supplements can provide adequate nutrition, but counselling is recommended. In contrast, a vegan diet is inadequate and requires additional micronutrient supplementation. For risk reduction of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, raw animal foods, soft cheeses and packed fresh salads should be avoided; fresh fruit, vegetables and salad should be washed well and consumed promptly. Pregnant women should remain physically active and perform sports with moderate intensity. They should avoid alcohol, active and passive smoking. Up to 3 daily cups of coffee are considered harmless, but energy drinks should be avoided. Childhood allergy is not reduced by avoiding certain foods in pregnancy whereas oily sea fish is recommended. Health care professions should lead parents to health-promoting lifestyles. Subjects of part 1 of the article are practice recommendations on nutrition, on energy needs, micronutrient needs and body weight/weight gain in pregnancy.

Career and Family - Are They Compatible?: Results of a Survey of Male and Female Gynaecologists in Germany.

Purpose: Nowadays, most gynaecologists are female and the compatibility of job-related career and family life is an upcoming issue. The working group "Gender and Career" of the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) designed a survey to reflect the present situation with a focus on the compatibility of career and family. Material and Methods: A web-based 74-item survey was filled out by members of the DGGG. In total, there were 1037 replies, 75 % female (n = 775) and 25 % male (n = 261) gynaecologists. Results: 62 % of the female and 80 % of the male respondents had already finished their doctoral theses and 2 % female and 13 % male had finished their PhD. Mean number of children was 1.06 (SD 1.08) in female and 1.68 (SD 1.34) in male gynaecologists. The majority of females desired day care for their children, but only 5 to 13 % of employers offer any day care. 88 % of the female and 72 % of the male physicians think that job-related career and family are not compatible. Conclusion: The majority of female gynaecologists wished to have professional child care, but most employers or other institutions do not offer this. This might be one of the reasons why career and family appear incompatible.

Differences in the implications of maternal lipids on fetal metabolism and growth between gestational diabetes mellitus and control pregnancies.

AIMS: To evaluate the potential contribution of maternal glucose and lipids to fetal metabolic variables and growth in pregnancies with normal glucose tolerance in comparison with pregnancies with well-controlled gestational diabetes previously reported by us. METHODS: In 190 pregnancies with normal oral glucose tolerance tests (controls), insulin, glucose and lipid components were determined in maternal and arterial cord blood serum. Birthweight and neonatal fat mass were obtained after delivery. Values were adjusted for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, Caesarean section and gestational age. Measurements were compared with those of gestational diabetes previously reported. RESULTS: Maternal serum glucose, triacylglycerol, free fatty acid and cholesterol levels did not differ between control pregnancies and those with gestational diabetes, whereas insulin, homeostasis model assessment and glycerol values were significantly lower in the former (2.6 vs. 5.6 µmol/l and 176 vs. 193 µmol/l, respectively). In contrast, cord blood glucose and free fatty acids were significantly lower in control pregnancies than in those with gestational diabetes (3.9 vs. 4.4 mmol/l and 80.7 vs. 137 µmol/l, respectively); the same was valid for insulin (0.03 vs. 0.05 nmol/l) and homeostasis model assessment (1.0 vs. 1.87). In control pregnancies, maternal serum glucose, free fatty acids and glycerol correlated with those in cord blood, but not with neonatal weight and fat mass, as seen for free fatty acids in those with gestational diabetes. The negative correlation between cord blood triacylglycerols and neonatal weight or fat mass previously reported in gestational diabetes could not be confirmed in control pregnancies, where all fetal lipids showed a positive correlation to neonatal anthropometrics. CONCLUSION: In normal pregnancies, in contrast to those with gestational diabetes, maternal lipids do not influence neonatal weight. Similar levels of maternal lipids in pregnancies with gestational diabetes and control pregnancies, but higher free fatty acids in the cord blood of those with gestational diabetes, indicate their enhanced placental transport and/or enhanced lipolysis as a result of decreased fetal insulin responsiveness.

Al13H-: hydrogen atom site selectivity and the shell model.

Using a combination of anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we explored the influence of the shell model on H atom site selectivity in Al(13)H(-). Photoelectron spectra revealed that Al(13)H(-) has two anionic isomers and for both of them provided vertical detachment energies (VDEs). Theoretical calculations found that the structures of these anionic isomers differ by the position of the hydrogen atom. In one, the hydrogen atom is radially bonded, while in the other, hydrogen caps a triangular face. VDEs for both anionic isomers as well as other energetic relationships were also calculated. Comparison of the measured versus calculated VDE values permitted the structure of each isomer to be confirmed and correlated with its observed photoelectron spectrum. Shell model, electron-counting considerations correctly predicted the relative stabilities of the anionic isomers and identified the stable structure of neutral Al(13)H.

Breakdown of K selection in 178Hf.

Coulomb activation of the four quasiparticle Kpi=16+ 178Hf isomer (t1/2=31 y) has led to the measurement of a set of Elamda matrix elements coupling the isomer band to the ground band. The present data combined with earlier 178 Hf Coulomb excitation data have probed the components in the wave functions and revealed the onset and saturation of K mixing in low-K bands, whereas the mixing is negligible in the high-K bands. The implications can be applied to other quadrupole-deformed nuclei.

[Birthplace free-standing birth center -- perinatal data in comparison with clinic deliveries in Bavaria and Berlin]. / Geburtsort Geburtshaus -- Perinataldaten im Vergleich zu Klinikentbindungen in Bayern und Berlin.

QUESTION: The purpose of this investigation is to find any differences between important maternal and infantile perinatal data from a clinic and a birth center group. Is the perinatal and/or maternal mortality in the birth center group higher? What influence do different socioeconomic factors have on the clinic group? PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have carried out a retrospective comparison of the obstetric parameters from all birth center deliveries in the states Berlin and Bavaria for the years 1999 and 2000 (n = 3,060) and the perinatal data investigations of selected clinical groups of both states (n = 55,875). RESULTS: Objective parameters in both groups regarding week of potation at delivery, parity, age of pregnant women, infantile measures, primi- and multiparae and Apgar scales were comparable. There are significant differences in the delivery mode (spontaneous deliveries: birth centers > clinics; operative deliveries: birth centers < clinics), in blood loss over 1,000 ml (birth centers > clinics), in the episiotomy and perineal tear rate (birth centers < clinics), in the infantile transfer rate to a neonatology unit (birth centers < clinics) and in the frequency of necessary neonatological measures in the neonate (birth centers > clinics). The perinatal and maternal mortality in the groups were similar. Within the clinical group the socioeconomic status and a background of immigration had no significant influence on the perinatal data. CONCLUSION: The retrospective data show that the more "invasive" clinical obstetrics leads to a similar postnatal condition of the neonates in comparison to the birth house group. Further comparative studies over several years are necessary to make statements about the occurrence of rare risks and maternal mortality in the free-standing birth center groups.

[Extraclinical obstetrics in the GDR? Medicohistorical notes]. / Ausserklinische Geburtshilfe in der DDR? Medizinhistorische Anmerkungen.

In 1946 the share of clinic deliveries in the Soviet occupation zone amounted to 27 %, 1970 the given share of clinic deliveries in the GDR come to 99 %. From the beginning of the seventies home deliveries were not listed any more in the official statistics. After that neither the home obstetrics nor the family orientated clinical obstetrics took a larger space in the scientific discussions in the specialist public of the GDR. The following will show the development of the extraclinical obstetrics on the territory of the GDR as well as describe and discuss its medical and social context from the end of the forties until 1989. Usually in the (critical) reflections of the revival of home resp. extraclinical obstetrics in the eighties and nineties only the development in the "old" Federal Republic is taken into consideration. A description of the medicohistorical development in the former GDR in order to complete the all-German way of looking at this phenomenon was still due until now.

Evidence for a new type of shears mechanism in 106Cd.

Lifetimes of states in the lowest lying positive parity band in 106Cd have been measured using the Doppler shift attenuation method. The deduced B(E2) transition rates show a marked decrease with increasing spin. Cranking and semiclassical model calculations suggest that the structure has the character of a shears-type band resulting from the coupling of g(9/2) proton holes to aligned pairs of h(11/2) and g(7/2) neutron particles. This is the first clear evidence for the phenomenon of "antimagnetic" rotation in nuclei.