Martina Badell

Treatment Options for Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting, common symptoms during pregnancy, often are regarded as an unpleasant but normal part of pregnancy during the first and early second trimesters. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) occurs in approximately 75–80% of pregnant women. The exact etiology and pathogenesis of NVP are poorly understood and are most likely multifactorial. Some theories for the etiology of NVP are psychological predisposition, evolutionary adaptation, hormonal stimuli, and Helicobacter pylori infection. Treatment ranges from dietary and lifestyle changes to vitamins, antiemetics, and hospitalization for intravenous therapy. Treatment generally begins with nonpharmacologic interventions; if symptoms do not improve, drug therapy is added. Although NVP has been associated with a positive pregnancy outcome, the symptoms can significantly affect a womans life, both personally and professionally. Given the substantial health care costs, as well as indirect costs, and the potential decrease in quality of life due to NVP, providers need to acknowledge the impact of NVP and provide appropriate treatment.

Intrapartum epidural analgesia and maternal temperature regulation.

OBJECTIVE: To examine maternal temperature changes after epidural analgesia. METHODS: A prospective cohort of nulliparas at term was monitored with hourly maternal tympanic temperatures after epidural analgesia (n=99). Temperature response after epidural analgesia was examined in the group as a whole. Subsequently, mean maternal temperature curves were compared between women who remained afebrile throughout labor (n=77) and women who developed intrapartum fever with body temperature greater than 100.4ºF (n=22). Baseline maternal characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: Women who later developed intrapartum fever had a higher mean temperature within 1 hour after epidural analgesia. In contrast, women who remained afebrile had no increase in core temperature. During the first 4 hours after epidural analgesia initiation, women who later develop intrapartum fever have an increase in mean tympanic temperature of 0.33ºF per hour. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia is not associated with increased temperature in the majority of women. Hyperthermia is an abnormal response confined to a minority subset, which occurs immediately after exposure. Our findings do not support a universal perturbation of maternal thermoregulation after epidural analgesia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Reproductive Healthcare Needs and Desires in a Cohort of HIV-Positive Women

Background. The aim of this study was to determine current contraceptive use, contraceptive desires and knowledge, future fertility desires, and sterilization regret in a cohort of HIV-positive women. Study Design. 127 HIV-positive women receiving care at an urban infectious disease clinic completed a survey addressing their contraceptive and reproductive histories as well as their future contraceptive and fertility desires. Results. The most common forms of contraception used were sterilization (44.4%) and condoms (41.3%). Less than 1% used a long-term reversible method of contraception (LARC) despite these being the methods that best fit their desired attributes of a contraceptive method. Overall, 29.4% desired future fertility. Only 50.6% of those sexually active had spoken with a provider within the last year regarding their contraceptive plans. There was a high degree of sterilization regret (36.4%), and 18.2% of sterilized women desired future fertility. Multivariate analysis found women in a monogamous relationship had a statistically increased rate of regret compared to women who were not sexually active (OR 13.8, 95% CI 1.6–119, P = 0.17). Conclusion. Given the diversity in contraceptive and fertility desires, coupled with a higher rate of sterilization regret than is seen in the general population, integration of comprehensive family planning services into HIV care via increased contraceptive education and access is imperative.

Pregnancy intentions among women living with HIV in the United States.

Background:The number of HIV-infected women giving birth in the United States is increasing. Research on pregnancy planning in HIV-infected women is limited. Methods:Between January 1 and December 30, 2012, pregnant women with a known HIV diagnosis before conception at 12 US urban medical centers completed a survey including the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) scale. We assessed predictors of LMUP category (unplanned/ambivalent versus planned pregnancy) using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Results:Overall, 172 women met inclusion criteria and completed a survey. Based on self-report using the LMUP scale, 23% women had an unplanned pregnancy, 58% were ambivalent, and 19% reported a planned pregnancy. Women were at lower risk for an unplanned or ambivalent pregnancy if they had previously given birth since their HIV diagnosis [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47 to 0.94, P = 0.02], had seen a medical provider in the year before the index pregnancy (aRR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.77, P < 0.01), or had a patient-initiated discussion of pregnancy intentions in the year before the index pregnancy (aRR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.77, P < 0.01). Unplanned or ambivalent pregnancy was not associated with age, race/ethnicity, or educational level. Conclusions:In this multisite US cohort, patient-initiated pregnancy counseling and being engaged in medical care before pregnancy were associated with a decreased probability of unplanned or ambivalent pregnancy. Interventions that promote healthcare engagement among HIV-infected women and integrate contraception and preconception counseling into routine HIV care may decrease the risk of unplanned pregnancy among HIV-infected women in the United States.

Thirty Years Later: Pregnancies in Females Perinatally Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1

The first cases of mother to child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were described more than two decades ago and since then several thousands more have been reported in western countries. In the early 1980s the majority of perinatally acquired HIV children did not survive beyond childhood. However combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) for perinatally HIV-acquired children has prolonged their survival and in the past 2 decades, many have reached adulthood. As the perinatally HIV-infected females become sexually active, they are in turn at risk for pregnancy and of transmitting HIV infection to their children. A considerable proportion of this population appears to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse leading to teenage pregnancies, STDs, and abnormal cervical cytology despite frequent contact with HIV health care providers and clinics. Currently there is a paucity of data regarding pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in HIV perinatally infected women. As increasing number of pregnancies will occur among this population we must continue to monitor and focus on their reproductive health issues to improve perinatal and long-term maternal outcomes. This paper will summarize our current knowledge about reproductive health issues and identify areas for future inquiry.

Risks Associated With Smallpox Vaccination in Pregnancy A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the maternal and fetal risks of smallpox vaccination during pregnancy. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Global Health, ClinicalTrials.gov, and CINHAL from inception to September 2014. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We included published articles containing primary data regarding smallpox vaccination during pregnancy that reported maternal or fetal outcomes (spontaneous abortion, congenital defect, stillbirth, preterm birth, or fetal vaccinia). TABULATIONS, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The primary search yielded 887 articles. After hand-searching, 37 articles were included: 18 articles with fetal outcome data and 19 case reports of fetal vaccinia. Outcomes of smallpox vaccination in 12,201 pregnant women were included. Smallpox vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (pooled relative risk [RR] 1.03, confidence interval [CI] 0.76–1.41), stillbirth (pooled RR 1.03, CI 0.75–1.40), or preterm birth (pooled RR 0.84, CI 0.62–1.15). When vaccination in any trimester was considered, smallpox vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of congenital defects (pooled RR 1.25, CI 0.99–1.56); however, first-trimester exposure was associated with an increased risk of congenital defects (2.4% compared with 1.5%, pooled RR 1.34, CI 1.02–1.77). No cases of fetal vaccinia were reported in the studies examining fetal outcomes; 21 cases of fetal vaccinia were identified in the literature, of which three neonates survived. CONCLUSION: The overall risk associated with maternal smallpox vaccination appears low. No association between smallpox vaccination and spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, or stillbirth was identified. First-trimester vaccination was associated with a small increase in congenital defects, but the effect size was small and based on limited data. Fetal vaccinia appears to be a rare consequence of maternal smallpox vaccination but is associated with a high rate of fetal loss.

Comparison of pregnancies between perinatally and sexually HIV-infected women: an observational study at an urban hospital.

As perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) women reach reproductive age, there is an increasing number who become pregnant. This is a retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected women who delivered from June 2007 to July 2012 at our institution. Maternal demographics, HIV characteristics, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared. 20 PHIV and 80 SHIV pregnancies were reviewed. The groups had similar CD4+ counts, prevalence of AIDS, and use of antiretrovirals (ARV) at initiation of obstetrical care. PHIV women were significantly more likely to be younger, have a detectable viral load (35% versus 74%, P < 0.01), and have HIV-genotype resistance (40% versus 12%, P < 0.01) than the SHIV women. The median gestational age at delivery (38 weeks) and rates of obstetrical and neonatal complications were similar between the groups. While the overall rate of cesarean delivery (CD) was similar, the rates for CD due to HIV were higher in the PHIV group (64% versus 22%, P < 0.01). There was one case (5.3%) of mother-to-child transmission in the PHIV group versus two cases (2.6%) in the SHIV group. In our population, PHIV pregnant women have a higher rate of HIV-genotype resistance and higher rate of detectable viral load leading to a higher rate of CD secondary to HIV.

Serial Head and Brain Imaging of 17 Fetuses With Confirmed Zika Virus Infection in Colombia, South America

OBJECTIVE To evaluate fetal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings among a series of pregnant women with confirmed Zika virus infection to evaluate the signs of congenital Zika syndrome with respect to timing of infection. METHODS We conducted a retrospective case series of pregnant women referred to two perinatal clinics in Barranquilla and Ibagué, Colombia, who had findings consistent with congenital Zika syndrome and Zika virus infection confirmed in maternal, fetal, or neonatal samples. Serial ultrasound measurements, fetal magnetic resonance imaging results, laboratory results, and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS We describe 17 cases of confirmed prenatal maternal Zika virus infection with adverse fetal outcomes. Among the 14 symptomatic women, the median gestational age for maternal Zika virus symptoms was 10 weeks (range 7-14 weeks of gestation). The median time between Zika virus symptom onset and microcephaly (head circumference less than 3 standard deviations below the mean) was 18 weeks (range 15-24 weeks). The earliest fetal head circumference measurement consistent with microcephaly diagnosis was at 24 weeks of gestation. The earliest sign of congenital Zika syndrome was talipes equinovarus, which in two patients was noted first at 19 weeks of gestation. Common findings on fetal magnetic resonance imaging were microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, polymicrogyria, and calcifications. CONCLUSION Our analysis suggests a period of at least 15 weeks between maternal Zika virus infection in pregnancy and development of microcephaly and highlights the importance of serial and detailed neuroimaging.

Botulism During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review

Background Maternal and fetal outcomes associated with botulism and botulinum antitoxin use during pregnancy and the postpartum period have not been systematically reviewed. Methods We searched Global Health, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, and Medline databases from inception to May 2015 for studies published on botulism or botulinum antitoxin use during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Botulism Surveillance database. Our search identified 4517 citations. Results Sixteen cases of botulism during pregnancy (11 in the third trimester) and 1 case during the postpartum period were identified. Ten cases were associated with confirmed or likely foodborne exposure; 2 cases were attributed to wound contamination related to heroin use, and the source of 5 cases was unknown. Eleven women with botulism had progressive neurologic deterioration and respiratory failure, requiring intensive care unit admission. Four women had adverse outcomes, including 2 deaths and 2 women who remained in a persistent vegetative state. No neonatal losses or cases of congenital botulism were reported. Among the 12 cases that reported neonatal data, 6 neonates were born preterm. No adverse maternal or neonatal events were identified as associated with botulinum antitoxin therapy among 11 patients who received it. Conclusions Our review of 17 cases of botulism in pregnant/postpartum women found that more than half required ventilator support, 2 women died, and 6 infants were born prematurely. A high level of clinical suspicion is key for early diagnosis and treatment of botulism. Care of pregnant women or new mothers with botulism can include preparation for possible intubation.

Super obesity in pregnancy: difficulties in clinical management

As the obesity pandemic continues in the United States, obesity in pregnancy has become an area of interest. Many studies focus on women with body mass index (BMI) ⩾30 kg m−2. Unfortunately, the prevalence of patients with BMI ⩾50 kg m−2 is rapidly increasing, and there are few studies specifically looking at pregnant women in this extreme category. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the challenges faced and review the literature available to help guide obstetricians who might encounter such patients.