Osteogenesis Imperfecta type 1: like mother, like daughter - Challenges in the perinatal management.

A third gravida with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type 1, in her 20s, was referred from the Medical Genetics department at 12+ weeks with a prenatal diagnosis of OI type 1 in this fetus for further management. She was wheelchair-bound and keen to continue this pregnancy. She had medical termination in her two previous pregnancies for OI in the fetuses. Ultrasound at 12+ weeks revealed a short-bent femur with sparing of the long bones of the upper limb. Serial ultrasound revealed progressive affliction of the long bones with falling growth profile and polyhydramnios. She was delivered at 36 weeks by caesarean for breech in labour under regional anaesthesia.A multidisciplinary approach, patient determination, and good partner support helped in the successful management of this pregnancy.The neonate had blue sclera, dentigerous imperfecta, bowing of the femur and relatively spared upper limbs. Growth was on the third centile. The mother says she brings the girl for follow-up every 3-6 months to give injection zoledronate. The mother confirms her girl can stand with support, crawl, and speak two-syllable words. Her daughter had to undergo femur corrective osteotomy rush nailing and hip spice application for a closed fracture of the left femur.

The disaster liaison for pediatric and perinatal medicine: A new system in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, children, newborns, and pregnant or postpartum women are vulnerable to disasters and emergency situations, and providing support to this population is of great concern. Japan is located in a disaster-prone area, so disaster response and risk reduction strategies are important priorities. METHODS: We introduce a system called the Disaster Liaison for Pediatric and Perinatal Medicine (DLPPM). This was created with a specific focus on perinatal children and pregnant women in Japan. We report the details of its activities, discuss its challenges, and draw on lessons learned for the further development of perinatal support systems, particularly for children. RESULTS: The lessons learned from the activities of the DLPPM include the following: (1) establish a support system for emergency specialists beyond those with pediatric and perinatal specialties; (2) mitigate the risk of indirect damage caused by primary disasters; and (3) establish a networking function linked to existing pediatric and perinatal medicine facilities. CONCLUSIONS: By establishing similar systems, we believe that it will be feasible to address pediatric and perinatal care needs in disaster response contexts in other countries and regions around the world.

Artificial intelligence in perinatal mental health research: A scoping review.

The intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and perinatal mental health research presents promising avenues, yet uncovers significant challenges for innovation. This review explicitly focuses on this multidisciplinary field and undertakes a comprehensive exploration of existing research therein. Through a scoping review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, we searched relevant literature spanning a decade (2013-2023) and selected fourteen studies for our analysis. We first provide an overview of the main AI techniques and their development, including traditional methods across different categories, as well as recent emerging methods in the field. Then, through our analysis of the literature, we summarize the predominant AI and ML techniques adopted and their applications in perinatal mental health studies, such as identifying risk factors, predicting perinatal mental health disorders, voice assistants, and Q&A chatbots. We also discuss existing limitations and potential challenges that hinder AI technologies from improving perinatal mental health outcomes, and suggest several promising directions for future research to meet real needs in the field and facilitate the translation of research into clinical settings.

The performance of the practices associated with the occurrence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage in the very premature infants: data analysis from the Chinese neonatal network.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (sIVH) was high in the very preterm infants (VPIs) in China. The management strategies significantly contributed to the occurrence of sIVH in VPIs. However, the status of the perinatal strategies associated with sIVH for VPIs was rarely described across the multiple neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in China. We aim to investigate the characteristics of the perinatal strategies associated with sIVH for VPIs across the multiple NICUs in China. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort of Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) dataset, enrolling infants born at 24+0-31+6 from 2019 to 2021. Eleven perinatal practices performed within the first 3 days of life were investigated including antenatal corticosteroids use, antenatal magnesium sulphate therapy, intubation at birth, placental transfusion, need for advanced resuscitation, initial inhaled gas of 100% FiO2 in delivery room, initial invasive respiratory support, surfactant and caffeine administration, early enteral feeding, and inotropes use. The performances of these practices across the multiple NICUs were investigated using the standard deviations of differences between expected probabilities and observations. The occurrence of sIVH were compared among the NICUs. RESULTS: A total of 24,226 infants from 55 NICUs with a mean (SD) gestational age of 29.5 (1.76) and mean (SD) birthweight of 1.31(0.32) were included. sIVH was detected in 5.1% of VPIs. The rate of the antenatal corticosteroids, MgSO4 therapy, and caffeine was 80.0%, 56.4%, and 31.5%, respectively. We observed significant relationships between sIVH and intubation at birth (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.75) and initial invasive respiratory support (AOR 2.47, 95% CI 2.15 to 2.83). The lower occurrence of sIVH (4.8%) was observed corresponding with the highest utility of standard antenatal care, the lowest utility of invasive practices, and early enteral feeding administration. CONCLUSIONS: The current evidence-based practices were not performed in each VPI as expected among the studied Chinese NICUs. The higher utility of the invasive practices could be related to the occurrence of sIVH.

Growing together: Optimization of care through quality improvement for the mother/infant dyad affected by perinatal opioid use.

The care of the dyad affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) requires a multi-disciplinary approach that can be challenging for institutions to develop and maintain. However, over the years, many institutions have developed quality improvement (QI) initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for the mother, baby, and family. Over time, QI efforts targeting OUD in the perinatal period have evolved from focusing separately on the mother and baby to efforts addressing care of the dyad and family during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Here, we review recent and impactful QI initiatives that serve as examples of work improving outcomes for this population. Further, we advocate that this work be done through a racial equity lens, given ongoing inequities in the care of particularly non-white populations with substance use disorders. Through QI frameworks, even small interventions can result in meaningful changes to the care of babies and families and improved outcomes.

Grasping the meaning of perinatal palliative care for the multiprofessional team.

OBJECTIVE: To grasp the meaning of perinatal palliative care for the multidisciplinary team. METHODS: This is a qualitative study guided by content analysis. The study included 56 health professionals working in maternal and child units of a public university hospital. A semi-structured interview was conducted, which was recorded and subsequently fully transcribed. The collection took place from June 2018 to May 2019. Data were entered and exported to Atlas ti: The Qualitative Date Analysis & Research Software, version 23.1.1.0. RESULTS: Four thematic categories emerged from the data analysis: palliative care and eligible public in the view of professionals; communication between family and team in decision-making; assistance in palliative care; humanized care. CONCLUSIONS: The professionals think of palliative care in Perinatology in a similar way and perceive the difficulties of communication with the family and decision-making. They agree that it is necessary to provide greater support to the family, and to provide comfort measures, either for the non-viable fetus or for the baby eligible for palliative care.

Patient navigation for perinatal substance use disorder treatment: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Substance use during the perinatal period (i.e., pregnancy through the first year postpartum) can pose significant maternal and infant health risks. However, access to lifesaving medications and standard care remains low for perinatal persons who use substances. This lack of substance use disorder treatment access stems from fragmented services, stigma, and social determinants of health-related barriers that could be addressed using patient navigators. This systematic review describes patient navigation models of care for perinatal people who use substances and associated outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a structured search of peer-reviewed, US-focused, English- or Spanish-language articles from 2000 to 2023 focused on 1) patient navigation, 2) prenatal and postpartum care, and 3) substance use treatment programs using PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases. RESULTS: After meeting eligibility criteria, 17 studies were included in this review. The majority (n=8) described outpatient patient navigation programs, with notable hospital (n=4) and residential (n=3) programs. Patient navigation was associated with reduced maternal substance use, increased receipt of services, and improved maternal and neonatal health. Findings were mixed for engagement in substance use disorder treatment and child custody outcomes. Programs that co-located care, engaged patients across the perinatal period, and worked to build trust and communication with family members and service providers were particularly successful. CONCLUSION: Patient navigation may be a promising strategy for improving maternal and infant health outcomes among perinatal persons who use substances. More experimental research is needed to test the effect of patient navigation programs for perinatal persons who use substances compared to other models of care.

Healthcare practitioners' experiences and perspectives of music in perinatal care in Ireland: An exploratory survey.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence shows that music can promote the wellbeing of women and infants in the perinatal period. Ireland's National Maternity Strategy (2016-2026) suggests a holistic approach to woman's healthcare needs and music interventions are ideally placed as a non-pharmacological and cost-effective intervention to improve the quality of care offered to women and infants. This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore the healthcare practitioners' personal and professional experiences of using music therapeutically and its impact and barriers in practice. The survey also investigated practitioners' knowledge and attitudes towards the use of music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care. METHODS: A novel online survey was developed and distributed through healthcare practitioners' electronic mailing lists, social media, Perinatal Mental Health staff App, and posters at the regional maternity hospital during 26th June and 26th October 2020. Survey items included demographics, personal and professional use of music, and perspectives on music intervention in perinatal care. RESULTS: Forty-six healthcare practitioners from across 11 professions were recruited and 42 were included in this study. 98 % of perinatal practitioners used music intentionally to support their wellbeing and 75 % referred to using music in their work. While 90 % found music beneficial in their practice, 15 % reported some negative effect. Around two-thirds of the respondents were familiar with the evidence on music and perinatal wellbeing and 95 % thought there was not enough guidance. 40 % considered music therapy an evidence-based practice and 81 % saw a role for music therapy in standard maternity service in Ireland. The qualitative feedback on how music was used personally and professionally, its' reported benefits, negative effects, and barriers are discussed. DISCUSSION: This study offers insights into how healthcare practitioners viewed and applied music in perinatal practice. The findings indicate high interest and positive experiences in using music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care which highlights the need for more evidence and guidance.

Professional approach to the care of women who have suffered a perinatal loss.

To understand the experience, training, and needs of midwives in their approach to perinatal grief. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire with 26 questions related to institutional management and individual clinical practices in the care of a perinatal loss was developed by a team of midwives from the Hospital "La Mancha-Centro" of Alcazar de San Juan (Ciudad Real). Strobe checklist was followed. A total of 267 midwives participated. A total of 92.1% (246) of the centers had specific protocols for action, but each professional applied their own criteria. The presence of a perinatal psychology team was nonexistent according to 88% (235) of those surveyed. Regarding their training and professional experience, 16.5% (44) of the midwives had never received training. Only 4.1% (11) of the midwives felt very prepared to care for women with a perinatal loss. Among the factors associated with greater application of recommended practices in the face of perinatal death by midwives were being a woman, having prior training on care during perinatal death, and a greater perception of preparation (p < 0.05). The perception of lack of preparation on the part of midwives in the accompaniment of these families was high.

Quality improvement and outcomes for neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: obstetrics and neonatal perspectives.

Despite significant improvement in perinatal care and research, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains a global healthcare challenge. From both published research and reports of QI initiatives, we have identified a number of distinct opportunities that can serve as targets of quality improvement (QI) initiatives focused on reducing HIE. Specifically, (i) implementation of perinatal interventions to anticipate and timely manage high-risk deliveries; (ii) enhancement of team training and communication; (iii) optimization of early HIE diagnosis and management in referring centers and during transport; (iv) standardization of the approach when managing neonates with HIE during therapeutic hypothermia; (v) and establishment of protocols for family integration and follow-up, have been identified as important in successful QI initiatives. We also provide a framework and examples of tools that can be used to support QI work and discuss some of the perceived challenges and future opportunities for QI targeting HIE.

Improving parental mental health in the perinatal period: A review and analysis of quality improvement initiatives.

Parental mental health is an essential sixth vital sign that, when taken into consideration, allows clinicians to improve clinical outcomes for both parents and infants. Although standards exist for screening, referral, and treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), they are not reliably done in practice, and even when addressed, interventions are often minimal in scope. Quality improvement methodology can accelerate the implementation of interventions to address PMADs, but hurdles exist, and systems are not well designed, particularly in pediatric inpatient facilities. In this article, we review the effect of PMADs on parents and their infants and identify quality improvement interventions that can increase screening and referral to treatment of parents experiencing PMADs.

A perinatal social nutrition approach to improve breastfeeding in a culturally diverse group of low-income women.

Alima, Perinatal Social Nutrition Centre, is an established community organization that adopts a perinatal social nutrition approach to provide multidimensional support to women living in vulnerable conditions, particularly those with a precarious migratory status. This study aims to (i) determine which maternal characteristics, pregnancy-related variables, and structural features of the Alima intervention are associated with breastfeeding; and (ii) examine whether the association between attending breastfeeding workshops and breastfeeding characteristics differ according to maternal factors. The Alima digital database was used to analyze data from women who received the perinatal intervention between 2013 and 2020. Infant feeding data were retrieved at 2 weeks postpartum (T0, n = 2925), 2 months postpartum (T2, n = 1475), and 4 months postpartum (T4, n = 890). Logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds of overall and exclusive breastfeeding depending on sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy-related variables, and features of the intervention. The prevalence of overall and exclusive breastfeeding was, respectively, 96.1% and 60.7% at T0; 93.0% and 58.5% at T2; 83.0% and 48.4% at T4. Higher education, previous breastfeeding experience, and recent immigration were associated with a higher likelihood of breastfeeding at each time point. Breastfeeding workshop attendance was associated with a greater likelihood of overall and exclusive breastfeeding at T2 and T4, with a stronger effect among women aged 35 or less, those with lower education, and those with excessive gestational weight gain. In conclusion, the Alima intervention is associated with positive breastfeeding outcomes, especially among vulnerable women living with precarious migratory status in Canada.

Naloxone access in perinatal substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Risk of fatal drug overdose is higher in pregnant and postpartum people with substance use disorder (SUD) than for nonpregnant women of reproductive age. It is recommended that naloxone is prescribed for pregnancies complicated by opioid or stimulant use disorder. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the rates of naloxone coprescribing with buprenorphine in a perinatal SUD (PSUD) specialty clinic and identify opportunities for pharmacist-led interventions to improve communication and documentation surrounding naloxone access to achieve a rate of 100% coprescribing of naloxone with buprenorphine. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: A clinical pharmacist practitioner is embedded on the Project CARA (Care that Advocates Respect/Resilience/Recovery for All) team, which provides outpatient SUD care integrated with perinatal care in Western North Carolina. PRACTICE INNOVATION: The clinical pharmacist practitioner assessed baseline rates of naloxone coprescribing with medications for opioid use disorder. Interventions to improve rates of coprescribing include provider education, electronic health record (EHR) documentation templates, and direct patient outreach. EVALUATION METHODS: Baseline rates of naloxone coprescribing were assessed and then re-evaluated after different interventions to measure pharmacist impact. RESULTS: Each intervention improved rates of naloxone coprescribing in a PSUD clinic. EHR documentation templates had the largest impact on baseline efforts, although the long-term benefits derived from these efforts have not yet been demonstrated. Substantial time investment from the pharmacist was required to address patients' barriers to obtaining naloxone after their visits. CONCLUSION: Further process improvement should address barriers to naloxone access for both patients and providers. This may include proactive identification of patients in need of naloxone and a "meds-to-beds" pilot to assist patients in navigating logistical challenges.

Continuity of Clinician Type and Intrapartum Experiences During the Perinatal Period in California.

INTRODUCTION: Continuity of care with an individual clinician is associated with increased satisfaction and better outcomes. Continuity of clinician type (ie, obstetrician-gynecologist or midwife) may also impact care experiences; however, it is unknown how common it is to experience discontinuity of clinician type and what its implications are for the birth experience. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with having a different clinician type for prenatal care than for birth and to compare intrapartum experiences by continuity of clinician type. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, data were from the 2017 Listening to Mothers in California survey. The analytic sample was limited to individuals with vaginal births who had midwifery or obstetrician-gynecologist prenatal care (N = 1384). Bivariate and multivariate analysis examined characteristics of individuals by continuity of clinician type. We then examined associations of clinician type continuity with intrapartum care experiences. RESULTS: Overall, 74.4% of individuals had the same type of clinician for prenatal care and birth. Of individuals with midwifery prenatal care, 45.1% had a different birth clinician type, whereas 23.5% of individuals who had obstetrician-gynecologist prenatal care had a different birth clinician type. Continuity of clinician type was positively associated with having had a choice of perinatal care clinician. There were no statistically significant associations between clinician type continuity and intrapartum care experiences. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest individuals with midwifery prenatal care frequently have a different type of clinician attend their birth, even among those with vaginal births. Further research should examine the impact of multiple dimensions of continuity of care on perinatal care quality.

"MAMA's is like a second mom:" Client and Staff Experiences in a Comprehensive Social Risk Care Management Program Within a Perinatal Medical Home.

INTRODUCTION: Addressing persistent racial inequities in preterm birth requires innovative health care approaches. The Los Angeles County Maternity Assessment and Management Access Service Synergy Neighborhood program (MAMA's) is a perinatal medical home program designed to alleviate the impacts of chronic stress by addressing social determinants of health. It reduced odds of preterm birth rates in Black participants, yet it is unclear which program components most contributed to this reduction. This study seeks to understand the experiences of staff and clients within the MAMA's program to identify what factors decrease stress, how the program addresses racism and the challenges and opportunities of optimizing health during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: 21 staff and 34 clients completed semi-structured interviews from November 2020-December 2021. Separate interview guides for staff and clients explored experiences within the program, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how racism affects clients. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Analysis used a phenomenologic framework. Coding was performed using grounded theory to identify themes. RESULTS: Analysis revealed six key themes: Stressors clients face, barriers for undocumented, Latina, and Spanish-speaking clients, exceptional care, emotional support, naming and responding to racism and discrimination, and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION: Staff and clients work together to address social needs in order to address chronic stress and racism in their lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews revealed relationship building is a cornerstone of the program's success and plays a significant role in alleviating chronic stress in this population.

Women's experiences with using patient-reported outcome and experience measures in routine perinatal care in the Netherlands: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: To gain insight into the experiences of women with completing and discussing patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and patient-reported experience measures (PREM), and tailoring their care based on their outcomes. DESIGN: A mixed-methods prospective cohort study. SETTING: Seven obstetric care networks in the Netherlands that implemented a set of patient-centred outcome measures for pregnancy and childbirth (PCB set), published by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement. PARTICIPANTS: All women, receiving the PROM and PREM questionnaires as part of their routine perinatal care, received an invitation for a survey (n=460) and an interview (n=16). The results of the survey were analysed using descriptive statistics; thematic inductive content analysis was applied on the data from open text answers and the interviews. RESULTS: More than half of the survey participants (n=255) felt the need to discuss the outcomes of PROM and PREM with their care professionals. The time spent on completing questionnaires and the comprehensiveness of the questions was scored 'good' by most of the survey participants. From the interviews, four main themes were identified: content of the PROM and PREM questionnaires, application of these outcomes in perinatal care, discussing PREM and data capture tool. Important facilitators included awareness of health status, receiving personalised care based on their outcomes and the relevance of discussing PREM 6 months post partum. Barriers were found in insufficient information about the goal of PROM and PREM for individual care, technical problems in data capture tools and discrepancy between the questionnaire topics and the care pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that women found the PCB set an acceptable and useful instrument for symptom detection and personalised care up until 6 months post partum. This patient evaluation of the PCB set has several implications for practice regarding the questionnaire content, role of care professionals and congruity with care pathways.

Midwives' and Other Perinatal Health Workers' Perceptions of the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify how perinatal health workers, especially midwives, explained US Black maternal mortality and morbidity and what ameliorative measures they suggested across categories of primary social determinants, health care access, and provider practices. METHODS: Using a mixed closed-ended and open-ended researcher-designed exploratory survey, 227 perinatal health workers responded to a series of questions probing views of causation and strategies for improvement. The closed-ended responses were summarized. Open-ended responses were analyzed using basic categorical and thematic coding. RESULTS: Perinatal health workers' responses prominently identified racism as a cause of Black maternal morbidity and mortality, and their recommendations ranged across levels of social determination of health. DISCUSSION: Results suggest that the views of perinatal health workers, the majority of whom were midwives, are complex and correspond to the problems and solutions identified in the research literature. Midwives and other perinatal health workers are well positioned to help center health equity in perinatal care, through both clinical practice and policy advocacy.