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Introduction: There has been increased use of both induction of labor (IOL) and cesarean section for women with term pregnancies in many high‐income countries, and a trend toward birth at earlier gestational ages. Existing evidence regarding the association between IOL and cesarean section for term pregnancies is mixed and conflicting, and little evidence is available on the differential effect at each week of gestation, stratified by parity. Material and methods: To explore the association between IOL and primary cesarean section for singleton cephalic pregnancies at term, compared with two definitions of expectant management (first: at or beyond the week of gestation at birth following IOL; and secondary: only beyond the week of gestation at birth following IOL), we performed analyses of population‐based historical cohort data on women who gave birth in one Australian state (Queensland), between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2018. Women who gave birth before 37+0 or after 41+6 weeks of gestation, had stillbirths, no‐labor, multiple births (twins or triplets), non‐cephalic presentation at birth, a previous cesarean section, or missing data on included variables were excluded. Four sub‐datasets were created for each week at birth (37–40). Unadjusted relative risk, adjusted relative risk using modified Poisson regression, and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated in each sub‐dataset. Analyses were stratified by parity (nulliparas vs. parous women with a previous vaginal birth). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by limiting to women with low‐risk pregnancies. Results: A total of 239 094 women were included in the analysis, 36.7% of whom gave birth following IOL. The likelihood of primary cesarean section following IOL in a Queensland population‐based cohort was significantly higher at 38 and 39 weeks, compared with expectant management up to 41+6 weeks, for both nulliparas and paras with singleton cephalic pregnancies, regardless of risk status of pregnancy and definition of expectant management. No significant difference was found for nulliparas at 37 and 40 weeks; and for paras at 40 weeks. Conclusions: Future studies are suggested to investigate further the association between IOL and other maternal and neonatal outcomes at each week of gestation in different maternal populations, before making any recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lack of social support during pregnancy is associated with psychosocial vulnerability. The Single Item Measure of Social Supports (SIMSS) is included in a core outcome set to facilitate case-adjustment based on social support. Validity of the SIMSS has not been evaluated in childbearing women. We aimed to evaluate the construct validity of the SIMSS during pregnancy. Secondary aim was to evaluate an alternative short-measure of social support.Methods: Recruited women (n = 309) attending antenatal care were invited to complete the SIMSS, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Antenatal Risk Questionnaire (ANRQ), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Convergent validity of SIMSS with MSPSS and hypothesis testing for psychosocial risk and depressive symptoms were conducted.Results: Correlations were moderate between the SIMSS and MSPSS (rs = .35), but weak between the SIMSS and EPDS (rs = -.18); and SIMSS and ANRQ (rs = -.22). In contrast, correlations were moderate between the MSPSS and EPDS (rs = -.39) and ANRQ (rs = -.45). A shortened 3-item version of the MSPSS showed good psychometric properties and internal consistency reliability (a = .86).Limitations: Findings relate to one Australian birthing sample during pregnancy. Replication of this study in larger, diverse maternity populations, including postpartum is recommended.Conclusions: The SIMSS is a poor measure of social support during pregnancy with poor predictive ability to detect maternal vulnerability including depression and psychosocial risk. A revised 3-item version of the MSPSS was found to be a valid and reliable measure of social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To describe the health service utilisation and birth outcomes of pregnant women with moderate to super-extreme obesity. Background: Maternal obesity is increasingly recognised as a key risk factor for adverse outcomes for both women and their babies. Little is known about the service utilisation and perinatal outcomes of women with obesity beyond a body mass index of 40. Method: Women with a self-reported pre-pregnancy BMI of 40 or more, who had received care and birthed a baby at the study site between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010. Clinical audit was used to identify the health service utilisation and birth outcomes of these women. Results: 153 women had a BMI of 40 or more. Women saw 6 different health professionals during pregnancy (1–16). Most of their visits were with a medical practitioner, often with limited experience, and almost all women only saw a midwife once at their booking visit (n =150, 98.0%). While the majority of women experienced a normal pregnancy, free from any complications, almost half the women in this study experienced a caesarean section (n =74, 48.4%). Conclusion: Clinical audit has been useful in providing additional information which suggests current maternity care provision is not meeting the needs of this group of women. The model of antenatal care provision may be a mediating factor in the birth outcomes experienced by obese women. The development of effective, targeted antenatal care, designed to meet the needs of these women is recommended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To evaluate a framework to facilitate standardised reporting of perinatal incontinence. An exploratory, prospective, observational cohort study. One Australian tertiary maternity referral centre. Data from 309 pregnant women collected between August 2017 and January 2019. A framework was developed using consensus-based terminology and definitions, measures and data-collection time-points. The ICIQ-UI SF and the Wexner Scale were administered during pregnancy (<27 and 36-weeks) and postpartum (6- and 26-weeks). Incidence, trajectory and group differences for urinary incontinence subcategories were evaluated. Stress urinary incontinence was the largest contributor of urinary incontinence during pregnancy (39.2%) followed by mixed (11.3%) and urgency incontinence (7.4%). Factors associated with incontinence subcategories during pregnancy were multiparity (stress: RR 1.74), co-existing anal incontinence (mixed: RR 3.51) and early pregnancy urinary incontinence (stress: RR 2.79; mixed: RR 2.85). Factors postpartum included primiparity (urgency), vaginal birth (stress), induction of labour (stress: RR 2.99; urgency: RR 0.2), waterbirth (urgency: RR 2.66), coexisting anal incontinence (urgency: RR 3.55) and late pregnancy urinary incontinence (mixed: RR 3.97). Low numbers of women with anal incontinence prohibited subcategory analysis. Findings offer preliminary support for the effectiveness of the framework for the measurement and reporting of urinary incontinence in childbearing women. Future research is needed to evaluate the framework in larger and more diverse maternity populations. A framework for standardised measurement and reporting of perinatal incontinence will facilitate improved synthesis of research findings with the potential to improve the quality of evidence-based clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]