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Objective Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between OSA and preeclampsia. Methods Between 30 and 39 weeks gestation, objective sleep apnea were evaluated in 38 normal pregnant and 40 preeclamptic women. Preeclampsia was defined by having a blood pressure (BP) > 140/90 mmHg on two occasions after the 20th week of pregnancy with excess protein in the urine (> 300 mg in 24 h) or 30 mg persistent proteinuria (+ 1 in dipsticks) in random samples. Objective sleep apnea was evaluated using an overnight in-hospital sleep evaluation using the SOMNOwatch plus Respiratory Screener. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5, and further grouped into severity categories: mild (5-14.9), moderate (15-29.9), and severe (≥ 30). Results Mean AHI was 33.3 ± 12.1 in preeclamptic women and was 23.8 ± 15.8 in normal pregnant women (p = 0.008). There was significant difference in prevalence of OSA severity (none, mild, moderate, or severe) between groups. Out of 33 preeclamptic women, 11 women had moderate and 22 women had severe OSA. Whereas, among 33 normal pregnant women, 8, 13, and10 women had mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. Two normal pregnant women had no OSA (AHI Conclusion Our study suggests women are susceptible to developing OSA during pregnancy that is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia.

Introduction Prenatal exposure to maternal anxiety and inappropriate levels of glucocorticoids may influence intrauterine growth and affect later health outcomes. We examined the relationship between maternal anxiety, maternal serum, and fetal cord blood cortisol. Methods Eighty-four pregnant women with gestational age above 37 weeks admitted for elective caesarian section were studied. The Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to assess maternal anxiety. Maternal blood was sampled immediately before caesarean section. Cord blood sample was taken immediately after birth. Multiple regression analysis was performed. Results Maternal trait anxiety score, maternal serum cortisol, and neonatal weight were associated with the fetal cord blood cortisol (r = 0.21, P = 0.04). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between maternal trait anxiety and fetal cord blood cortisol (r = 0.21, P = 0.03). Conclusions These data suggested that high maternal trait anxiety increases fetus cord blood cortisol and may regulate fetal growth.

Background: Placenta previa (P.P) is a rare pregnancy complication where a placenta particularly or completely covers the internal cervical os thereby preventing normal vaginal delivery. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between repeated cesarean deliveries and sub- sequent development of placenta previa. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was held in Imam Reza Hospital Kermanshah-Iran during 2008-2011. This study included all pregnant women with repeated cesarean sections while nullipara and patients with placenta previa without previous surgery were excluded. Diagnosis was made on ultrasound and at surgery. Results: among 2696 Women, 98 cases had P.P (3.63%). The mean age was 30 years, 76.5% (75 cases) had gravidity 2 and 3 and 87.8% (86 cases) had parity 1 - 3. Anterior location of placenta was 44.9% while posterior was 55.1%. 48% were complete P.P, 32.7% low lying P.P, 13.3% marginal P.P, and 6% Partial P.P. 26.5% of patients had history of abortion. 55.1% of patients had male fetus. There was an increase in frequency of placenta previa with just one previous C-section (74.5%). Fre- quency of accreta P.P 32% (n = 7), increta (14.3%, n = 3) and percreta 28% (n = 6). Among those who underwent emergency hysterectomy (21 cases) 23.8% cases had no abnormal placentation. 30.6% of newborns had birth weight < 2500 g. Conclusion: we concluded that patients with history of one pervious cesarean delivery had more Placenta previa and need to hysterectomy were more than those with history of 2 and 3 previous cesarean delivery. The most common type of abnormal placentation was accreta, percreta and increta respectively. *

Objective: Manual removal of placenta is performed in 1–3% of cases, and although it is a well-established and relatively safe procedure, it is not without complications. We carried out this study to determine whether intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection reduces the need for manual removal of placenta and shortens the third stage of labor, in comparison with placebo. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 178 women with singleton pregnancy and normal delivery were studied in 1 year. Immediately after fetus delivery, oxytocin infusion (20 IU/L) was started in both groups. Moreover, 10 IU oxytocin and 1 mL normal saline were injected into the umbilical vein of women in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The duration of third-stage labor, need for manual delivery of placenta, and drug side effects were evaluated in both groups. With regard to the mean level of hemoglobin before and after delivery, the two groups were compared using the Levene test and independent t test, and other qualitative variables of the two groups were compared using the χ2 test. Results: The women who received intraumbilical vein oxytocin had a shorter third stage of labor as compared with the placebo group (4.24 ± 3.27 min vs. 10.66 ± 7.41) (p

Introduction Thyroid function is known to be affected during pregnancy. Risk of depression is particularly high for women during the prenatal period. Objective Various investigators have attempted to establish a link between thyroid function and post partum depression. While the pathogenesis of postpartum mood disturbances remains unclear. Aims This study aimed to investigate whether thyroid function differs in women with postpartum depression compared to a control group. Methods In this case-control study, Forty eight patients suffering from postpartum depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition totally revised (DSM-IV-TR), and 65 normal controls underwent diagnostic evaluation using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Then the Persian version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed by the participants. Finally, their thyroid functions were assessed. Data analyses were done using the SPSS program 13. Results No statistically significant differences were observed between thyroid function tests and postpartum depression. According to multiple regression analysis with stepwise method, subjects with lower serum TSH, T3RU and T3 levels tended to have higher EPDS scores (P-value=0.008). Conclusion The present study reports that those women with postpartum depression had a no greater prevalence of thyroid dysfunction than the control subjects. It seems that thyroid dysfunction should be considered in women with postpartum depression individually, but the role of thyroid as an important cause of this condition is not yet established. This suggests that future studies should concentrate on this concept in postpartum depression.