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Background Australia experienced a low prevalence of COVID-19 in 2020 compared to many other countries. However, maternity care has been impacted with hospital policy driven changes in practice. Little qualitative research has investigated maternity clinicians’ perception of the impact of COVID-19 in a high-migrant population. Aim To investigate maternity clinicians’ perceptions of patient experience, service delivery and personal experience in a high-migrant population. Methods We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 14 maternity care clinicians in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Interviews were conducted from November to December 2020. A reflexive thematic approach was used for data analysis. Findings A key theme in the data was ‘COVID-19 related travel restrictions result in loss of valued family support for migrant families’. However, partners were often ‘stepping-up’ into the role of missing overseas relatives. The main theme in clinical care was a shift in healthcare delivery away from optimising patient care to a focus on preservation and safety of health staff. Discussion Clinicians were of the view migrant women were deeply affected by the loss of traditional support. However, the benefit may be the potential for greater gender equity and bonding opportunities for partners. Conflict with professional beneficence principles and values may result in bending rules when a disconnect exists between relaxed community health orders and restrictive hospital protocols during different phases of a pandemic. Conclusion This research adds to the literature that migrant women require individualised culturally safe care because of the ongoing impact of loss of support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IntroductionGestational diabetes (GDM) contributes substantially to the population burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), with a high long-term risk of developing T2DM. This study will assess whether a structured lifestyle modification programme for women immediately after a GDM pregnancy, delivered via customised text messages and further individualised using data from activity monitors, improves T2DM risk factors, namely weight, physical activity (PA) and diet.Methods and analysisThis multicentre randomised controlled trial will recruit 180 women with GDM attending Westmead, Campbelltown or Blacktown hospital services in Western Sydney. They will be randomised (1:1) on delivery to usual care with activity monitor (active control) or usual care plus activity monitor and customised education, motivation and support delivered via text messaging (intervention). The intervention will be customised based on breastfeeding status, and messages including their step count achievements to encourage PA. Messages on PA and healthy eating will encourage good lifestyle habits. The primary outcome of the study is healthy lifestyle composed of weight, dietary and PA outcomes, to be evaluated at 6 months. The secondary objectives include the primary objective components, body mass index, breastfeeding duration and frequency, postnatal depression, utilisation of the activity monitor, adherence to obtaining an oral glucose tolerance test post partum and the incidence of dysglycaemia at 12 months. Relative risks and their 95% CIs will be presented for the primary objective and the appropriate regression analysis, adjusting for the baseline outcome results, will be done for each outcome.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been received from the Western Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (2019/ETH13240). All patients will provide written informed consent. Study results will be disseminated via the usual channels including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberACTRN12620000615987; Pre-results.

Aims To investigate whether the detection of metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly known as non–alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), in early–to–mid pregnancy is associated with the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted on singleton pregnant women enrolled from a multiethnic obstetrics service in Sydney, Australia. A FibroScan ® was performed between 10–24 weeks to assess for hepatic steatosis in women with at least one risk factor for developing GDM, as per the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) Guidelines 2014. A controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score ≥233.5 dB/m was indicative of MAFLD, with severity graded as mild (Grade S1: CAP 233.5–267 dB/m), moderate (Grade S2: CAP 268–301 dB/m) and severe (Grade S3: CAP ≥302 dB/m). A liver stiffness measure (LSM) score ≥7. 0 kPa was indicative of hepatic fibrosis. Women were advised to fast for at least 2 hours prior to their FibroScan ® . GDM was determined by the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) 2010 criteria, with a 75–gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) performed between 24–28 weeks gestation. The cohort were separated by GDM status and categorical variables were compared with Pearson's chi–squared test or Fisher's exact test, and continuous variables with independent t-test or Mann–Whitney U test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of GDM, reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Three–hundred and twenty–eight women were eligible for inclusion in our study. Of these, 135 (41.2%) had FibroScan ® –detected MAFLD, where 85 (25.9%) had Grade S1, 39 (11.9%) had Grade S2 and 11 (3.4%) had Grade S3. None of the women had hepatic fibrosis. Over 97% of women were fasting for at least 2 hours prior to their FibroScan ® . GDM was diagnosed in 87 (26.5%) women. A significantly higher rate of GDM were identified in women with MAFLD compared to those without (36.3% vs. 19.7%, p Conclusions The detection of MAFLD via FibroScan ® in early–to–mid pregnancy was an independent risk factor for the development of GDM. FibroScan ® is a quick and safe measure to help screen for MAFLD and may further aid in the risk stratification of women at–risk of developing GDM. Presentation: No date and time listed

ObjectiveTo compare birth outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with background obstetric population, stratified by models of care.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingA tertiary referral centre in Sydney, Australia.ParticipantsAll births 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2020. Births MethodsData were obtained from electronic medical records. Women were classified according to GDM status and last clinic attended prior to delivery. Model of care included attendance at dedicated GDM obstetric clinics, and routine antenatal care.Main outcome measuresHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), pre-term birth (PTB), induction of labour (IOL), operative delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age, postpartum haemorrhage, obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS), neonatal hypoglycaemia, neonatal hypothermia, neonatal respiratory distress, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.ResultsThe GDM rate was 16.3%, with 34.0% of women managed in dedicated GDM clinics. Women with GDM had higher rates of several adverse outcomes. Only women with GDM attending non-dedicated clinics had increased odds of HDP (adjusted OR (adj OR) 1.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.0), PTB (adj OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0), OASIS (adj OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0), similar odds of induction (adj OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.1) compared with non-GDM women. There were increased odds of NICU admission (adj OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8) similar to women attending high-risk GDM clinics.ConclusionsWomen with GDM receiving care in lower risk clinics had similar or higher rates of adverse outcomes. Pathways of care need to be similar in all women with GDM.

BackgroundMaternal obesity may increase offspring risk of cardiovascular disease. We assessed the impact of maternal obesity on cardiac structure and function in newborns as a marker of fetal cardiac growth.MethodsNeonates born to mothers of healthy weight (body mass index (BMI) 20–25 kg/m2, n=56) and to mothers who were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2, n=31) underwent 25-minute continuous ECG recording and non-sedated, free-breathing cardiac MRI within 72 hours of birth.ResultsMean (SD) heart rate during sleep was higher in infants born to mothers who were versus were not obese (123 (12.6) vs 114 (9.8) beats/min, p=0.002). Heart rate variability during sleep was lower in infants born to mothers who were versus were not obese (SD of normal-to-normal R-R interval 34.6 (16.8) vs 43.9 (16.5) ms, p=0.05). Similar heart rate changes were seen during wakefulness. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (2.35 (0.14) vs 2.54 (0.29) mL/kg, p=0.03) and stroke volume (1.50 (0.09) vs 1.60 (0.14), p=0.04) were decreased in infants born to mothers who were versus were not obese. There were no differences in left ventricular end-systolic volume, ejection fraction, output or myocardial mass between the groups.ConclusionMaternal obesity was associated with increased heart rate, decreased heart rate variability and decreased left ventricular volumes in newborns. If persistent, these changes may provide a causal mechanism for the increased cardiovascular risk in adult offspring of mothers with obesity. In turn, modifying antenatal and perinatal maternal health may have the potential to optimise long-term cardiovascular health in offspring.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has been associated with the development of gestational diabetes (GDM). We sought to determine whether abnormal liver enzyme levels and indices of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in an entire pregnant population are associated with GDM development. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult women (≥18 years) who delivered at 2 teaching hospitals in Sydney Australia from January 2016 to December 2017. Liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB) and bilirubin (BIL)) obtained 12 months pre-gravid, or during pregnancy but prior to GDM screening, were extracted from the hospital pathology database and linked with oral glucose tolerance test results. The Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI) were calculated. Univariate analysis was undertaken to determine the association between deranged liver enzymes, FIB-4, HSI and GDM. Multiple logistic regression, with adjustment for age, ethnicity, pre-gravid body mass index (BMI), parity, prior GDM and family history of diabetes, was conducted to determine if any of these were independent predictors of GDM. Results: Over 2 years, 1429 women had liver enzymes collected. As per IADPSG (2010) criteria, 255 had diagnosed GDM, of which 82 (32.2%) were obese (BMI >30kg/m2), 243 (82.4%) were multiparous, and 223 (87.5%) had prior GDM. Elevated GGT (>35IU/L, p=0.006) and HSI (p=0.005) were associated with development of GDM, whilst low ALB (110IU/L), ALT (>35IU/L), AST (>35IU/L), BIL (>19umol/L) and FIB-4 were not. On adjustment for confounders, elevated GGT (AOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.32-3.8, p=0.88) and HSI (AOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.26-1.3, p=0.21) were not independent predictors of GDM. Conclusions: Our results indicate deranged liver enzymes or clinical indices of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were not associated with GDM. Disclosure T. Y. L. Chai: None. D. Pasupathy: None. J. George: None. N. Cheung: None.

IntroductionThe aim of the cervical ripening at home or in-hospital—prospective cohort study and process evaluation (CHOICE) study is to compare home versus in-hospital cervical ripening to determine whether home cervical ripening is safe (for the primary outcome of neonatal unit (NNU) admission), acceptable to women and cost-effective from the perspective of both women and the National Health Service (NHS).Methods and analysisWe will perform a prospective multicentre observational cohort study with an internal pilot phase. We will obtain data from electronic health records from at least 14 maternity units offering only in-hospital cervical ripening and 12 offering dinoprostone home cervical ripening. We will also conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis and a mixed methods study to evaluate processes and women/partner experiences. Our primary sample size is 8533 women with singleton pregnancies undergoing induction of labour (IOL) at 39+0 weeks’ gestation or more. To achieve this and contextualise our findings, we will collect data relating to a cohort of approximately 41 000 women undergoing IOL after 37 weeks. We will use mixed effects logistic regression for the non-inferiority comparison of NNU admission and propensity score matched adjustment to control for treatment indication bias. The economic analysis will be undertaken from the perspective of the NHS and Personal Social Services (PSS) and the pregnant woman. It will include a within-study cost-effectiveness analysis and a lifetime cost–utility analysis to account for any long-term impacts of the cervical ripening strategies. Outcomes will be reported as incremental cost per NNU admission avoided and incremental cost per quality adjusted life year gained.Research ethics approval and disseminationCHOICE has been funded and approved by the National Institute of Healthcare Research Health Technology and Assessment, and the results will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberISRCTN32652461.

The health benefits of breastfeeding are well recognised, but breastfeeding rates worldwide remain suboptimal. Breastfeeding outcomes have yet to be explored among women who give birth to macrosomic (birthweight ≥4000 g) infants, a cohort for whom the benefits of breastfeeding may be particularly valuable, offering protection against later-life morbidity associated with macrosomia. This longitudinal prospective cohort study aimed to identify whether women who give birth to macrosomic infants are at greater risk of breastfeeding non-initiation or exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) cessation. A total of 328 women in their third trimester were recruited from hospital and community settings and followed to 4 months post-partum. Women gave birth to 104 macrosomic and 224 non-macrosomic (

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal outcomes in an Australian high migrant and low COVID-19 prevalent population to identify if COVID-19 driven health service changes and societal influences impact obstetric and perinatal outcomes.DesignRetrospective cohort study with pre COVID-19 period 1 January 2018–31 January 2020, and first year of global COVID-19 period 1 February 2020–31 January 2021. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for confounders including age, area-level socioeconomic status, gestation, parity, ethnicity and body mass index.SettingObstetric population attending three public hospitals including a major tertiary referral centre in Western Sydney, Australia.ParticipantsWomen who delivered with singleton pregnancies over 20 weeks gestation. Ethnically diverse women, 66% overseas born. There were 34 103 births in the district that met inclusion criteria: before COVID-19 n=23 722, during COVID-19 n=10 381.Main outcome measuresInduction of labour, caesarean section delivery, iatrogenic and spontaneous preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), composite neonatal adverse outcome and full breastfeeding at hospital discharge.ResultsDuring the first year of COVID-19, there was no change for induction of labour (adjusted OR, aOR 0.97; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.02, p=0.26) and a 25% increase in caesarean section births (aOR 1.25; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.32, pConclusionDespite a low prevalence of COVID-19, both positive and adverse obstetric outcomes were observed that may be related to changes in service delivery and interaction with healthcare providers. Further research is suggested to understand the drivers for these changes.

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with increasingly recognised associations with gestational diabetes (GDM), including within the antenatal period.To assess the relationship between MAFLD in pregnancy and development of GDM.Fifty pregnant women were enrolled before 24 weeks gestation from a multiethnic obstetrics service in Sydney, Australia. Two FibroScan® assessments were performed, one prior to 24 weeks and one after 30 weeks gestation, to assess hepatic steatosis and stiffness. A control attenuated parameter (CAP) score ≥ 233.5 dB/m signified MAFLD. GDM was determined by an antenatal 75-g oral glucose tolerance testing.Six (12%) women had evidence of FibroScan®-detected MAFLD in early pregnancy, while none had abnormal hepatic stiffness. Sixteen (32%) women developed GDM. No significant difference was observed in GDM rates (50% vs 29.5%; P = 0.37) between those with MAFLD in early pregnancy and those without. At the second scan (completed by 34 women), those who developed GDM had a lower observed mean increase in CAP scores (11.1 ± 23.3 dB/m vs -14.9 ± 26.0 dB/m; P = 0.004) and lower maternal weight gain (0.6 ± 0.2 kg/week vs 0.4 ± 0.2 kg/week; P = 0.04).There was no statistically significant association between FibroScan®-detected MAFLD in early pregnancy and subsequent development of GDM in this pilot study. Maternal weight gain may be associated with changes in the CAP scores, which reflect steatosis, during pregnancy.

Background Waterbirth is widely available in English maternity settings for women who are not at increased risk of complications during labour. Immersion in water during labour is associated with a number of maternal benefits. However for birth in water the situation is less clear, with conclusive evidence on safety lacking and little known about the characteristics of women who give birth in water. This retrospective cohort study uses electronic data routinely collected in the course of maternity care in England in 2015–16 to describe the proportion of births recorded as having occurred in water, the characteristics of women who experienced waterbirth and the odds of key maternal and neonatal complications associated with giving birth in water. Methods Data were obtained from three population level electronic datasets linked together for the purposes of a national audit of maternity care. The study cohort included women who had no risk factors requiring them to give birth in an obstetric unit according to national guidelines. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine maternal (postpartum haemorrhage of 1500mls or more, obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI)) and neonatal (Apgar score less than 7, neonatal unit admission) outcomes associated with waterbirth. Results 46,088 low and intermediate risk singleton term spontaneous vaginal births in 35 NHS Trusts in England were included in the analysis cohort. Of these 6264 (13.6%) were recorded as having occurred in water. Waterbirth was more likely in older women up to the age of 40 (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) for age group 35–39 1.27, 95% confidence interval (1.15,1.41)) and less common in women under 25 (adjOR 18–24 0.76 (0.70, 0.82)), those of higher parity (parity ≥3 adjOR 0.56 (0.47,0.66)) or who were obese (BMI 30–34.9 adjOR 0.77 (0.70,0.85)). Waterbirth was also less likely in black (adjOR 0.42 (0.36, 0.51)) and Asian (adjOR 0.26 (0.23,0.30)) women and in those from areas of increased socioeconomic deprivation (most affluent versus least affluent areas adjOR 0.47 (0.43, 0.52)). There was no association between delivery in water and low Apgar score (adjOR 0.95 (0.66,1.36)) or incidence of OASI (adjOR 1.00 (0.86,1.16)). There was an association between waterbirth and reduced incidence of postpartum haemorrhage (adjOR 0.68 (0.51,0.90)) and neonatal unit admission (adjOR 0.65 (0.53,0.78)). Conclusions In this large observational cohort study, there was no association between waterbirth and specific adverse outcomes for either the mother or the baby. There was evidence that white women from higher socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to be recorded as giving birth in water. Maternity services should focus on ensuring equitable access to waterbirth.

Background The use of electronic patient records for assessing outcomes in clinical trials is a methodological strategy intended to drive faster and more cost-efficient acquisition of results. The aim of this manuscript was to outline the data collection and management considerations of a maternity and perinatal clinical trial using data from electronic patient records, exemplifying the DESiGN Trial as a case study. Methods The DESiGN Trial is a cluster randomised control trial assessing the effect of a complex intervention versus standard care for identifying small for gestational age foetuses. Data on maternal/perinatal characteristics and outcomes including infants admitted to neonatal care, parameters from foetal ultrasound and details of hospital activity for health-economic evaluation were collected at two time points from four types of electronic patient records held in 22 different electronic record systems at the 13 research clusters. Data were pseudonymised on site using a bespoke Microsoft Excel macro and securely transferred to the central data store. Data quality checks were undertaken. Rules for data harmonisation of the raw data were developed and a data dictionary produced, along with rules and assumptions for data linkage of the datasets. The dictionary included descriptions of the rationale and assumptions for data harmonisation and quality checks. Results Data were collected on 182,052 babies from 178,350 pregnancies in 165,397 unique women. Data availability and completeness varied across research sites; each of eight variables which were key to calculation of the primary outcome were completely missing in median 3 (range 1–4) clusters at the time of the first data download. This improved by the second data download following clarification of instructions to the research sites (each of the eight key variables were completely missing in median 1 (range 0–1) cluster at the second time point). Common data management challenges were harmonising a single variable from multiple sources and categorising free-text data, solutions were developed for this trial. Conclusions Conduct of clinical trials which use electronic patient records for the assessment of outcomes can be time and cost-effective but still requires appropriate time and resources to maximise data quality. A difficulty for pregnancy and perinatal research in the UK is the wide variety of different systems used to collect patient data across maternity units. In this manuscript, we describe how we managed this and provide a detailed data dictionary covering the harmonisation of variable names and values that will be helpful for other researchers working with these data. Trial registration Primary registry and trial identifying number: ISRCTN 67698474. Registered on 02/11/16.

Objective To determine the association between ethnic group and likelihood of admission to intensive care in pregnancy and the postnatal period. Design Cohort study. Setting Maternity and intensive care units in England and Wales. Population or sample A total of 631 851 women who had a record of a registerable birth between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 in a database used for national audit. Methods Logistic regression analyses of linked maternity and intensive care records, with multiple imputation to account for missing data. Main outcome measures Admission to intensive care in pregnancy or postnatal period to 6 weeks after birth. Results In all, 2.24 per 1000 maternities were associated with intensive care admission. Black women were more than twice as likely as women from other ethnic groups to be admitted (odds ratio [OR] 2.21, 95% CI 1.82-2.68). This association was only partially explained by demographic, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors (adjusted OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.37-2.09). A higher proportion of intensive care admissions in Black women were for obstetric haemorrhage than in women from other ethnic groups. Conclusions Black women have an increased risk of intensive care admission that cannot be explained by demographic, health, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors. Clinical and policy intervention should focus on the early identification and management of severe illness, particularly obstetric haemorrhage, in Black women, in order to reduce inequalities in intensive care admission. Tweetable abstract Black women are almost twice as likely as White women to be admitted to intensive care during pregnancy and the postpartum period; this risk remains after accounting for demographic, health, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors.

Additional file 3. Data variables included in the multiple imputation model. Table of variables explaining the level at which they were imputed and the intended purpose (e.g. characteristics, outcomes).

Additional file 1. STROBE checklist

Additional file 2: Appendix Table 1. Rate of specific antenatal complications in women with early pregnancy complicating factors, stratified by BMI group

Additional file 4: Appendix Table 3. Characteristics associated with uncomplicated pregnancy in women who are overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m) but no other early pregnancy complicating factors

ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to summarise the current evidence on the costing of resource use within UK maternity care, in order to facilitate the estimation of incremental resource and cost impacts potentially attributable to maternity care interventions.MethodsA systematic review of economic evaluations was conducted by searching Medline, the Health Management Information Consortium, the National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluations Database, CINAHL and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for economic evaluations within UK maternity care, published between January 2010 and August 2019 in the English language. Unit costs for healthcare activities provided to women within the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period were inflated to 2018–2019 prices. Assessment of study quality was performed using the Quality of Health Economic Analyses checklist.ResultsOf 5084 titles or full texts screened, 37 papers were included in the final review (27 primary research articles, 7 review articles and 3 economic evaluations from NICE guidelines). Of the 27 primary research articles, 21 were scored as high quality, 3 as medium quality and 3 were low quality. Variation was noted in cost estimates for healthcare activities throughout the maternity care pathway: for midwife-led outpatient appointment, the range was £27.34–£146.25 (mean £81.78), emergency caesarean section, range was £1056.44–£4982.21 (mean £3508.93) and postnatal admission, range was £103.00–£870.10 per day (mean £469.55).ConclusionsWide variation exists in costs applied to maternity healthcare activities, resulting in challenges in attributing cost to maternity activities. The level of variation in cost calculations is likely to reflect the uncertainty within the system and must be dealt with by conducting sensitivity analyses. Nationally agreed prices for granular unit costs are needed to standardise cost-effectiveness evaluations of new interventions within maternity care, to be used either for research purposes or decisions regarding national intervention uptake.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019145309.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Breastfeeding is protective against the development of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. There are no data regarding the effect of breastfeeding on the development of recurrent gestational diabetes.Investigate the relationship of previous breastfeeding duration and intensity with the recurrence of gestational diabetes, and second pregnancy glucose tolerance test results.We conducted a questionnaire-based pilot cohort study, enrolling 210 women during a subsequent second pregnancy, after a gestational diabetes-affected first pregnancy. Models for length and intensity of breastfeeding as predictors of the oral glucose tolerance test and for diagnosis of gestational diabetes in second pregnancy were fitted and then adjusted for possible confounders.Recurrent gestational diabetes rate in the study cohort was 70% (n = 146). In a fully adjusted model high intensity breastfeeding was associated with a lower 2-hour glucose level on the oral glucose tolerance test (by 0.66 mmol/L, 95% CI [0.15-1.17]; p = 0.01) and breastfeeding greater than six months with a lower 1-hour glucose on the oral glucose tolerance test (by 0.67 mmol/L, 95% CI [0.16-1.19]; p = 0.01), compared to women who breastfed less intensively or for a shorter duration respectively. There was an 18% reduction in the risk of gestational diabetes if a woman breastfed for more than six months (RR 0.82, 95% CI [0.69-0.98]; p = 0.03). The association was attenuated in the fully adjusted model (RR 0.89, 95% CI [0.78-1.02]; p = 0.09).We found the risk of recurrent gestational diabetes was reduced by both increased duration and intensity of breastfeeding. Antenatal lactation education should be embedded into care pathways for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes, the most common medical disorder in pregnancy, is defined as glucose intolerance resulting in hyperglycaemia that begins or is first diagnosed in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes is associated with increased pregnancy complications and long-term metabolic risks for the woman and the offspring. However, the current diagnostic and management strategies recommended by national and international guidelines are mainly focused on short-term risks during pregnancy and delivery, except the Carpenter-Coustan criteria, which were based on the risk of future incidence of type 2 diabetes post-gestational diabetes. In this Personal View, first, we summarise the evidence for long-term risk in women with gestational diabetes and their offspring. Second, we suggest that a shift is needed in the thinking about gestational diabetes; moving from the perception of a short-term condition that confers increased risks of large babies to a potentially modifiable long-term condition that contributes to the growing burden of childhood obesity and cardiometabolic disorders in women and the future generation. Third, we propose how the current clinical practice might be improved. Finally, we outline and justify priorities for future research.

Aims To further explore the relationship between non–alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by determining the prevalence of GDM in women diagnosed with NAFLD antepartum. Methods Electronic databases were searched using specific keywords. Original studies of adult women reporting NAFLD (confirmed on imaging) and GDM (confirmed via oral glucose tolerance test) prevalence were included. Studies involving women with pre-gestational pre-diabetes, type 1/type 2 diabetes, chronic liver disease/cirrhosis unrelated to NAFLD were excluded. The prevalence of GDM occurring in women with NAFLD was calculated along with pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the random effects model. Results Seven studies (total 2299 participants) were included. The prevalence of GDM in women with NAFLD was 26.0% (95% CI 20.9–31.7%, I2 = 48%, τ2 = 0.06). The odds of having GDM were 2.9 times higher in pregnant women diagnosed with NAFLD compared with non-NAFLD women, although a high degree of heterogeneity existed (unadjusted OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0–8.4, I2 = 81%, τ2 = 0.83, p Conclusion Our study provides further insight into the prevalence of GDM in pregnant women diagnosed with NAFLD. There is a current lack of well-conducted studies examining this complex association between NAFLD and GDM.

ObjectiveTo describe the accuracy of coding of ethnicity in National Health Service (NHS) administrative hospital records compared with self-declared records in maternity booking systems, and to assess the potential impact of misclassification bias.DesignSecondary analysis of data from records of women giving birth in England (2015–2017).SettingNHS Trusts in England participating in a national audit programme.Participants1 237 213 women who gave birth between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2017.Primary and secondary outcome measures(1) Proportion of women with complete ethnicity; (2) agreement on coded ethnicity between maternity (maternity information systems (MIS)) and administrative hospital (Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)) records; (3) rates of caesarean section and obstetric anal sphincter injury by ethnic group in MIS and HES.Results91.3% of women had complete information regarding ethnicity in HES. Overall agreement between data sets was 90.4% (κ=0.83); 94.4% when collapsed into aggregate groups of white/South Asian/black/mixed/other (κ=0.86). Most disagreement was seen in women coded as mixed in either data set. Rates of obstetrical events and complications by ethnicity were similar regardless of data set used, with the most differences seen in women coded as mixed.ConclusionsLevels of accuracy in ethnicity coding in administrative hospital records support the use of ethnicity collapsed into groups (white/South Asian/black/mixed/other), but findings for mixed and other groups, and more granular classifications, should be treated with caution. Robustness of results of analyses for associations with ethnicity can be improved by using additional primary data sources.

Pregnancy can alter a woman’s weight gain trajectory across the life course and contribute to the development of obesity through retention of weight gained during pregnancy. This study aimed to identify modifiable determinants associated with postpartum weight retention (PPWR, calculated by the difference in pre-pregnancy and 6 month postpartum weight) in 667 women with obesity from the UPBEAT study. We examined the relationship between PPWR and reported glycaemic load, energy intake, and smoking status in pregnancy, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG), mode of delivery, self-reported postpartum physical activity (low, moderate, and high), and mode of infant feeding (breast, formula, and mixed). At the 6 month visit, 48% (n = 320) of women were at or above pre-pregnancy weight. Overall, PPWR was negative (−0.06 kg (−42.0, 40.4)). Breastfeeding for ≥4 months, moderate or high levels of physical activity, and GWG ≤9 kg were associated with negative PPWR. These three determinants were combined to provide a modifiable factor score (range 0–3), for each added variable, a further reduction in PPWR of 3.0 kg (95% confidence interval 3.76, 2.25) occurred compared to women with no modifiable factors. This study identified three additive determinants of PPWR loss. These provide modifiable targets during pregnancy and the postnatal period to enable women with obesity to return to their pre-pregnancy weight.

Context Offspring exposed in utero to maternal obesity have an increased risk of later obesity; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Objective To assess the effect of an antenatal lifestyle intervention in obese women on the offspring’s cord blood metabolic profile and to examine associations of the cord blood metabolic profile with maternal clinical characteristics and offspring anthropometry at birth and age 6 months. Design Randomized controlled trial and cohort study. Setting The UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial. Participants Three hundred forty-four mother-offspring pairs. Intervention Antenatal behavioral lifestyle (diet and physical activity) intervention. Main Outcome Measures Targeted cord blood metabolic profile, including candidate hormone and metabolomic analyses. Results The lifestyle intervention was not associated with change in the cord blood metabolic profile. Higher maternal glycemia, specifically fasting glucose at 28 weeks gestation, had a linear association with higher cord blood concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) 16.1 (β = 0.65; 95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.10) and 18.1 (0.52; 0.02 to 0.80), independent of the lifestyle intervention. A principal component of cord blood phosphatidylcholines and LPCs was associated with infant z scores of birth weight (0.04; 0.02 to 0.07) and weight at age 6 months (0.05; 0.00 to 0.10). Cord blood insulin growth factor (IGF)-1 and adiponectin concentrations were positively associated with infant weight z score at birth and at 6 months. Conclusions Concentrations of LPCs and IGF-1 in cord blood are related to infant weight. These findings support the hypothesis that susceptibility to childhood obesity may be programmed in utero, but further investigation is required to establish whether these associations are causally related.

Cardiovascular events (CVEs) are prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and it is the young women who are disproportionately at risk. The risk factors for accelerated cardiovascular disease remain unclear, with multiple studies producing conflicting results. In this paper, we aim to address both traditional and SLE-specific risk factors postulated to drive the accelerated vascular disease in this cohort. We also discuss the more recent hypothesis that adverse pregnancy outcomes in the form of maternal–placental syndrome and resultant preterm delivery could potentially contribute to the CVEs seen in young women with SLE who have fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The pathophysiology of how placental-mediated vascular insufficiency and hypoxia (with the secretion of placenta-like growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-tyrosine-like kinase-1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng) and other placental factors) work synergistically to damage the vascular endothelium is discussed. Adverse pregnancy outcomes ultimately are a small contributing factor to the complex pathophysiological process of cardiovascular disease in patients with SLE. Future collaborative studies between cardiologists, obstetricians, obstetric physicians and rheumatologists may pave the way for a better understanding of a likely multifactorial aetiological process.

SUMMARYBackground Haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) occurs when maternal IgG alloantibodies to fetal red blood cell antigens cross the placenta, causing haemolysis in the fetus and/or neonate. After delivery, the main concern is hyperbilirubinaemia, which can cause neurological damage. Objectives To summarise our current management and outcome data to inform health-care professionals counselling women whose pregnancies are at risk of HDFN and to compare these data with relevant studies. Methods This is a retrospective descriptive study of all high-risk pregnancies at risk of HDFN at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTFT) Maternity Unit over a 7-year period. We defined high-risk pregnancies as those in whom anti-D, anti-c, anti-K or high (>32 or doubling strength) titres of all other antibodies were identified. Results A total of 130 pregnancies in 112 women were followed up. A single alloantibody was found in 93 pregnancies (71.5%) and multiple alloantibodies in 37 pregnancies (28.5%). Anti-D was most commonly encountered (n = 48, 36.9%), followed by anti-c (n = 31, 23.8%) and anti-E (n = 15, 11.5%). In 65 of 130 pregnancies (50%), antibody concentrations triggered scans to screen for fetal anaemia. Of 130 pregnancies, 6 (4.6%) required intrauterine transfusions, and 31 of 130 (26%) neonates required post-natal intervention. Overall, morbidity was 0.1% and mortality 0.002%. Conclusions This study demonstrates that morbidity and mortality caused by HDFN is minimal. These results are reassuring for women at risk of HDFN as even severely affected cases are successfully managed in most instances. Further studies are needed to identify predictors of disease severity.

Current management guidelines of diabetes within pregnancy do not differentiate between the underlying physiological dysfunctions that lead to dysglycaemia and provide generic guidance. Specific forms of diabetes in pregnancy require targeted treatment. Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), caused by single gene mutations, is the most common identifiable variant and presents a significant challenge if the mutation is possessed by mother and not inherited by the fetus. Greater awareness of MODY and its subtypes will allow earlier detection and a better prognosis. Although genetic testing is rare, analysis by clinical phenotyping can provide a sensitive and cost effective solution.

Objectives:Randomised controlled trials are required to address causality in the reported associations between maternal influences and offspring adiposity. The aim of this study was to determine whether an antenatal lifestyle intervention, associated with improvements in maternal diet and reduced gestational weight gain (GWG) in obese pregnant women leads to a reduction in infant adiposity and sustained improvements in maternal lifestyle behaviours at 6 months postpartum.Subjects and methods:We conducted a planned postnatal follow-up of a randomised controlled trial (UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT)) of a complex behavioural intervention targeting maternal diet (glycaemic load (GL) and saturated fat intake) and physical activity in 1555 obese pregnant women. The main outcome measure was infant adiposity, assessed by subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses. Maternal diet and physical activity, indices of the familial lifestyle environment, were assessed by questionnaire.Results:A total of 698 (45.9%) infants (342 intervention and 356 standard antenatal care) were followed up at a mean age of 5.92 months. There was no difference in triceps skinfold thickness z-scores between the intervention vs standard care arms (difference −0.14 s.d., 95% confidence interval −0.38 to 0.10, P=0.246), but subscapular skinfold thickness z-score was 0.26 s.d. (−0.49 to −0.02; P=0.03) lower in the intervention arm. Maternal dietary GL (−35.34; −48.0 to −22.67; P

Objective To compare early pregnancy clinical and biomarker risk factors for later development of preeclampsia between women with obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥30 kg/m2 ) and those with a normal BMI (20-25 kg/m2 ). Methods In 3,940 eligible nulliparous women from the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study, a total of 53 biomarkers of glucose and lipid metabolism, placental function, and known markers of preeclampsia were measured at 14 to 16 weeks' gestation. Logistic regression was performed to identify clinical and biomarker risk factors for preeclampsia in women with and without obesity. Results Among 834 women with obesity and 3,106 with a normal BMI, 77 (9.2%) and 105 (3.4%) developed preeclampsia, respectively. In women with obesity, risk factors included a family history of thrombotic disease, low plasma placental growth factor, and higher uterine artery resistance index at 20 weeks. In women with a normal BMI, a family history of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, mean arterial blood pressure, plasma endoglin and cystatin C, and uterine artery resistance index were associated with preeclampsia, while high fruit intake was protective. Conclusions Women with obesity and a normal BMI have different early pregnancy clinical and biomarker risk factors for preeclampsia.

The term perinatal death is used to describe antepartum and intrapartum stillbirths, and early neonatal deaths. Although the overall rate of perinatal mortality is falling, a slower rate of reduction has been observed in stillbirth compared to neonatal death. Antenatal stillbirth contributes to a greater proportion of cases in high income countries and associated risk factors include maternal age, smoking, obesity and small for gestational age fetus. At term, intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal death are collectively referred to as delivery related perinatal death, and the incidence in nulliparous and multiparous women is approximately 1 in 1000 and 1 in 2000 births, respectively. Associated factors include advanced maternal age, small for gestational age, fetal macrosomia, breech labour and previous caesarean delivery. The impact of obstetric interventions in labour on delivery related perinatal death, including rising rates of caesarean delivery, is complex and unclear.

Background Sepsis is a leading cause of direct and indirect maternal death in both the UK and globally. All forms of operative delivery are associated with an increased risk of sepsis, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance recommends the use of prophylactic antibiotics at all caesarean deliveries, based on substantial randomised controlled trial evidence of clinical effectiveness. A Cochrane review, updated in 2017 (Liabsuetrakul T, Choobun T, Peeyananjarassri K, Islam QM. Antibiotic prophylaxis for operative vaginal delivery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017;8:CD004455), identified only one small previous trial of prophylactic antibiotics following operative vaginal birth (forceps or ventouse/vacuum extraction) and, given the small study size and extreme result, suggested that further robust evidence is needed. Objectives To investigate whether or not a single dose of prophylactic antibiotic following operative vaginal birth is clinically effective for preventing confirmed or presumed maternal infection, and to investigate the associated impact on health-care costs. Design A multicentre, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Setting Twenty-seven maternity units in the UK. Participants Women who had an operative vaginal birth at ≥ 36 weeks’ gestation, who were not known to be allergic to penicillin or constituents of co-amoxiclav and who had no indication for ongoing antibiotics. Interventions A single dose of intravenous co-amoxiclav (1 g of amoxicillin/200 mg of clavulanic acid) or placebo (sterile saline) allocated through sealed, sequentially numbered, indistinguishable packs. Main outcome measures Primary outcome – confirmed or suspected infection within 6 weeks of giving birth. Secondary outcomes – severe sepsis, perineal wound infection, perineal pain, use of pain relief, hospital bed stay, hospital/general practitioner visits, need for additional perineal care, dyspareunia, ability to sit comfortably to feed the baby, maternal general health, breastfeeding, wound breakdown, occurrence of anaphylaxis and health-care costs. Results Between March 2016 and June 2018, 3427 women were randomised: 1719 to the antibiotic arm and 1708 to the placebo arm. Seven women withdrew, leaving 1715 women in the antibiotic arm and 1705 in the placebo arm for analysis. Primary outcome data were available for 3225 out of 3420 women (94.3%). Women randomised to the antibiotic arm were significantly less likely to have confirmed or suspected infection within 6 weeks of giving birth (180/1619, 11%) than women randomised to the placebo arm (306/1606, 19%) (relative risk 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.49 to 0.69). Three serious adverse events were reported: one in the placebo arm and two in the antibiotic arm (one was thought to be causally related to the intervention). Limitations The follow-up rate achieved for most secondary outcomes was 76%. Conclusions This trial has shown clear evidence of benefit of a single intravenous dose of prophylactic co-amoxiclav after operative vaginal birth. These results may lead to reconsideration of official policy/guidance. Further analysis of the mechanism of action of this single dose of antibiotic is needed to investigate whether earlier, pre-delivery or repeated administration could be more effective. Until these analyses are completed, there is no indication for administration of more than a single dose of prophylactic antibiotic, or for pre-delivery administration. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN11166984. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 54. See the National Institute for Health Research Journals Library website for further project information.

Background Although many studies have compared birth-weight charts to determine which better identify infants at risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, less attention has been given to the threshold used to define small or large for gestational age (SGA or LGA) infants. Our aim was to explore different thresholds associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes using population, customised, and Intergrowth centile charts. Methods and findings This is a population-based cohort study (Swedish Medical Birth Registry), which included term singleton births between 2006 and 2015 from women with available data on first-trimester screening. Population, customised, and Intergrowth charts were studied. Outcomes included cesarean section, postpartum haemorrhage, severe perineal tear, Apgar score at 5 minutes, neonatal morbidity, and perinatal mortality. Odds for each outcome were assessed in intervals of 5 centiles of birth weight (reference being 40th–60th centiles) using logistic regression. Intervals of 5% of the population were also explored. Sensitivity for fixed false-positive rates (FPRs) was reported for neonatal outcomes. Data from 212,101 births were analysed. Mean age was 33 ± 5 years, 48% of women were nulliparous, and 80% were born in Sweden. Prevalence of SGA (90th centile) was 10.0%, 8.2%, and 25.1%, assessed using population, customised, and Intergrowth charts, respectively. In small infants, the risk of perinatal mortality was consistently increased below the 15th, 10th, and 35th birth-weight centiles for the respective charts (odds ratio [OR] 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–2.39, p = 0.03 for 10th–15th population centile; OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.74–3.71, p < 0.001 for 5th–10th customised centile; OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07–3.04, p = 0.03 for 30th–35th Intergrowth centile). The strength of association with adverse perinatal outcomes was different between infants below the 5th birth-weight centile for each chart (OR 4.47, 95% CI 3.30–6.04, p < 0.001 for the population chart; OR 5.78, 95% CI 4.22–7.91, p < 0.001 for the customised chart; OR 10.74, 95% CI 7.32–15.77, p < 0.001 for the Intergrowth chart) but similar in the smallest 5% of the population (OR 4.34, 95% CI 3.22–5.86, p < 0.001 for the population chart; OR 5.23, 95% CI 3.85–7.11, p < 0.001 for the customised chart; OR 4.69, 95% CI 3.47–6.34, p < 0.001 for the Intergrowth chart). For a fixed FPR of 10%, different thresholds for each chart achieved similar sensitivity for perinatal mortality in small infants (29% for all charts). Similar behaviour of different thresholds and similar risk/sensitivity for fixed FPR were observed in relation to other outcomes and for LGA infants. Limitations of this study include the relative homogeneity of the Swedish population, which limits generalisability to other populations; customised centiles may perform differently in populations with increased heterogeneity of ethnic background. Conclusions The risk of adverse outcomes was consistent across proportions of the population but did not reflect fixed thresholds, such as the 10th or 90th centiles, across different growth charts. Chart-specific thresholds for the population should be considered in clinical practice., Matias C Vieira and colleagues reveal the associations of perinatal outcomes in infants when using growth charts in the 10th and 90th centiles., Author summary Why was this study done? Different growth charts are currently used to identify babies that have suboptimal or excessive growth. There is considerable debate on which of these charts should be used. Most studies comparing different growth charts have not explored the impact of using different thresholds to define small or large for gestational age infants, other than the 10th and the 90th centiles. What did the researchers do and find? In this study, we explored different thresholds associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes using population, customised, and Intergrowth charts. Increased risk of adverse outcomes in small and large infants occurred at different thresholds for each chart and were also different according to the outcome studied. The strength of association with adverse perinatal outcomes was different between infants below the 5th birth-weight centile for each chart (odds ratio [OR] 4.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.30–6.04, p < 0.001 for the population chart; OR 5.78, 95% CI 4.22–7.91, p < 0.001 for the customised chart; OR 10.74, 95% CI 7.32–15.77, p < 0.001 for the Intergrowth chart) but similar in the smallest 5% of the population (OR 4.34, 95% CI 3.22–5.86, p < 0.001 for the population chart; OR 5.23, 95% CI 3.85–7.11, p < 0.001 for the customised chart; OR 4.69, 95% CI 3.47–6.34, p < 0.001 for the Intergrowth chart). The performance of these three charts to detect infants with adverse outcomes, such as perinatal mortality, was similar when thresholds that reflect a false-positive rate of 10% were used for each chart. What do these findings mean? Our findings suggest that either of the three charts in this study could be used in clinical practice, each having a similar ability to identify babies with adverse outcomes if thresholds that are specific to each individual chart are used. Further studies should explore whether this approach is also applicable to other populations. Researchers and clinicians should strive to achieve consensus in developing chart-specific thresholds.

Background The 2016 World Health Organization Antenatal Guidelines and the 2015 South African Maternal and Child Health Guidelines recommend one early antenatal ultrasound scan to establish gestational age and to detect multiple pregnancies and fetal abnormalities. Prior research indicates that ultrasound can also increase parental-fetal attachment. We aim to establish whether, compared to routine care, messages to promote parental attachment and healthy child development, conducted during one or two pregnancy ultrasounds improve early child development and growth, exclusive breastfeeding, parental-child interactions and pre- and post-natal clinic attendance. Methods The effect of messages to sensitise mothers and fathers to fetal development will be tested in a 3-armed randomised trial with 100 mothers and their partners from Soweto-Johannesburg in each arm. The primary outcome is child development at 6 months post-natal. Secondary outcomes include infant feeding, parental attachment and interaction, parental mental health and infant growth, assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months. Parents in Arm 1 receive a fetal ultrasound

BackgroundThe 2016 World Health Organization Antenatal Guidelines and the 2015 South African Maternal and Child Health Guidelines recommend one early antenatal ultrasound scan to establish gestational age and to detect multiple pregnancies and fetal abnormalities. Prior research indicates that ultrasound scan can also increase parental–fetal attachment. We aim to establish whether, compared to routine care, messages to promote parental attachment and healthy child development, conducted during one or two pregnancy ultrasound scans, improve early child development and growth, exclusive breastfeeding, parental–child interactions and prenatal and postnatal clinic attendance.MethodsThe effect of messages to sensitise mothers and fathers to fetal development will be tested in a three-armed randomised trial with 100 mothers and their partners from Soweto, Johannesburg in each arm. The primary outcome is child development at 6 months postnatally. Secondary outcomes include infant feeding, parental attachment and interaction, parental mental health and infant growth, assessed at 6 weeks and 6 months. Parents in Arm 1 receive a fetal ultrasound scan DiscussionEvidence from high-income countries suggests that first-time prospective mothers and fathers enjoy seeing their fetus during ultrasound scan and that it is an emotional experience. A number of studies have found that ultrasound scan increases maternal attachment during pregnancy, a predictor of positive parent–infant interactions which, in turn, promotes healthy infant development. It is generally agreed that studies are needed which follow up parental–child behaviour and healthy child development postnatally, include fathers and examine the construct in a wider diversity of settings, especially in low and middle-income countries. Testing the added benefits of pregnancy ultrasound scan for child development is a gap that the proposed trial in South Africa seeks to address.Trial registrationPan African Clinical Trials Registry,PACTR201808107241133. Registered on 15 August 2018.

Heart problems are common in newborn babies, affecting approximately 5-10 in 1000 babies. Some are more serious than others, but most babies born with heart problems do not have other health issues. Of those babies who have a serious heart problem, almost 1 in 4 will have heart surgery in their first year. In the UK, pregnant women are offered a scan at around 20 weeks to try and spot any heart problems. In most cases there is not a clear reason for the problem, but sometimes other issues, such as genetic conditions, are discovered. In recent years the care given to these babies after they are born has improved their chances of surviving. However, it is recognised that babies born with heart problems have a risk of delays in their learning and development. This may be due to their medical condition, or as a result of surgery and complications after birth. In babies with heart problems, there is a need for more research on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to understand how the brain develops and why these babies are more likely to have delays in learning and development. This paper discusses the way ultrasound and MRI are used in assessing the baby's brain. Ultrasound is often used to spot any problems, looking at how the baby's brain develops in pregnancy. Advances in ultrasound technologies have made this easier. MRI is well-established and safe in pregnancy, and if problems in the brain have been seen on ultrasound, MRI may be used to look at these problems in more detail. While it is not always clear what unusual MRI findings can mean for the baby in the long term, increased understanding may mean parents can be given more information about possible outcomes for the baby and may help to improve the counselling they are offered before their baby's birth.

We assessed whether paternal demographic, anthropometric and clinical factors influence the risk of an infant being born large-for-gestational-age (LGA). We examined the data on 3659 fathers of term offspring (including 662 LGA infants) born to primiparous women from Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE). LGA was defined as birth weight >90th centile as per INTERGROWTH 21st standards, with reference group being infants ⩽90th centile. Associations between paternal factors and likelihood of an LGA infant were examined using univariable and multivariable models. Men who fathered LGA babies were 180 g heavier at birth (PPPP

The development of robotic-assisted extracorporeal ultrasound systems has a long history and a number of projects have been proposed since the 1990s focusing on different technical aspects. These aim to resolve the deficiencies of on-site manual manipulation of hand-held ultrasound probes. This paper presents the recent ongoing developments of a series of bespoke robotic systems, including both single-arm and dual-arm versions, for a project known as intelligent Fetal Imaging and Diagnosis (iFIND). After a brief review of the development history of the extracorporeal ultrasound robotic system used for fetal and abdominal examinations, the specific aim of the iFIND robots, the design evolution, the implementation details of each version, and the initial clinical feedback of the iFIND robot series are presented. Based on the preliminary testing of these newly-proposed robots on 42 volunteers, the successful and reliable working of the mechatronic systems were validated. Analysis of a participant questionnaire indicates a comfortable scanning experience for the volunteers and a good acceptance rate to being scanned by the robots.

Table S1. Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) Checklist (2013): recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. Table S2. Distribution of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and expected detection rates. (DOCX 41 kb)

Box S1. Description of methods for the NMR platform used to quantify metabolic profiles, and detailed description of all statistical methods, including assumptions of these. Table S1. Participant characteristics with additional detail compared to Table 1 in main paper. Table S2. Metabolic measures quantified by the NMR platform used for this study. Table S3. Absolute difference between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation for each metabolic trait in obese pregnant women who were randomised to the control arm of the UPBEAT RCT (n = 577). Table S4. Mean concentration at 16 weeks of gestation and mean rate of change in concentration per 4 weeks of gestational age between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation for each metabolic trait in obese pregnant women in the UPBEAT RCT (n = 115). Table S5. Effect of the UPBEAT diet and physical activity lifestyle intervention on metabolic profiles: difference in mean rate of change in metabolic traits (original units) between women receiving intervention and the control group (n = 1158). Table S6. Correlations between estimates of mean slope from different sensitivity analyses. Figure S1. Stages and methods used for NMR platform metabolic measures (adapted from Wurtz et al. [12]). Figure S2. Illustration of the timing of metabolite measurements. Figure S3. Comparison of the effect of the UPBEAT intervention between 16 and 28 weeks of gestation and between 28 and 36 weeks of gestation (n = 1158). Figure S4. Comparison of results from our main multilevel model analyses and sensitivity analyses using generalised estimating equations for the effect of the UPBEAT intervention on change in metabolites. (DOCX 2580 kb)

Aims Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and has been increasingly associated with gestational diabetes (GDM). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MAFLD in women with GDM in the antenatal period. Methods 108 pregnant women with GDM diagnosed on a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test were enrolled from a multiethnic cohort attending a large obstetrics clinic in Sydney, Australia and had a single FibroScan® assessment after 24 weeks gestation to assess for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. A control attenuated parameter (CAP) cut-off score of ≥ 233.5 dB/m was chosen to signify presence of hepatic steatosis which indicates MAFLD. Obstetric, anthropometric and metabolic measures were analysed. Results 29 (26.9%) women had evidence of FibroScan®-detected MAFLD, whilst none had evidence of hepatic fibrosis. Increased maternal BMI (aOR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.20) was associated with the finding of MAFLD in this cohort. Conclusions We found a significant antenatal prevalence of FibroScan®-detected MAFLD in this cohort of multiethnic women with GDM. FibroScan® is a safe and rapid assessment tool which may have a role in screening for MAFLD in pregnancy in appropriate at-risk women.

Objective There are limited data for counseling on and management of periviable small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses. We therefore aimed to investigate the short-term outcome of periviable SGA fetuses in relation to the likely underlying cause. Methods This was a retrospective study of data from three London tertiary fetal medicine centers obtained between 2000 and 2015. We included viable singleton pregnancies with a severely small fetus, defined as those with an abdominal circumference ≤ 3rd percentile, identified between 22 + 0 and 25 + 6 weeks' gestation. Data obtained included fetal biometry, presence of placental anomalies, uterine and fetal Doppler and neonatal outcome. We excluded cases with structural abnormalities, proven or suspected abnormal karyotype or genetic syndromes. Cases were classified according to the suspected underlying cause of the small fetal size into one of the following categories: uteroplacental insufficiency, evidence of placental damage with normal uterine artery Doppler, viral infection, or unclassied. Results There were 245 cases included in the study. Of these, at diagnosis of SGA, 201 (82%) were categorized as uteroplacental cause, 13 (5%) as suspected placental cause, one (0.4%) as suspected viral cause and 30 (12%) could not be assigned to any of these categories. Overall, 101 (41%) cases survived the neonatal period; 89 (36%) underwent in-utero fetal demise, 22 (9%) died neonatally and 33 (14%) pregnancies were terminated. The diagnosis-to-delivery interval was 8.1 weeks in those that survived and 4.5 weeks in those that died neonatally. Conclusions Almost 90% of periviable SGA cases are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency or intraplacental damage. Survival is related to gestational age at delivery, with outcomes better than might be assumed at diagnosis and some pregnancies reaching term. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The pivotal role of nutrition in pregnancy is well established and has important implications on subsequent maternal and offspring health, including outcomes in later adult life. Optimal nutrition periconception, if maintained throughout pregnancy, promotes optimal foetal growth and development. Growth trajectories in utero and size at birth are related to the offspring's risk of developing disease in later life, especially chronic non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (the Barker hypothesis). This article aims to review nutritional requirements in pregnancy, describe their transport mechanisms and highlight the implications of inadequate or inappropriate intake. Nutritional requirements are broadly divided into issues surrounding quality (macronutrients and micronutrients) and quantity of intake with a final summary of current International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) recommendations.

Objectives To determine the rate of complicated birth at term in women classified at low risk according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline for intrapartum care (no pre-existing medical conditions, important obstetric history, or complications during pregnancy) and to assess if the risk classification can be improved by considering parity and the number of risk factors. Design Cohort study using linked electronic maternity records. Participants 276 766 women with a singleton birth at term after a trial of labour in 87 NHS hospital trusts in England between April 2015 and March 2016. Main outcome measure A composite outcome of complicated birth, defined as a birth with use of an instrument, caesarean delivery, anal sphincter injury, postpartum haemorrhage, or Apgar score of 7 or less at five minutes. Results Multiparous women without a history of caesarean section had the lowest rates of complicated birth, varying from 8.8% (4879 of 55 426 women, 95% confidence interval 8.6% to 9.0%) in those without specific risk factors to 21.8% (613 of 2811 women, 20.2% to 23.4%) in those with three or more. The rate of complicated birth was higher in nulliparous women, with corresponding rates varying from 43.4% (25 805 of 59 413 women, 43.0% to 43.8%) to 64.3% (364 of 566 women, 60.3% to 68.3%); and highest in multiparous women with previous caesarean section, with corresponding rates varying from 42.9% (3426 of 7993 women, 41.8% to 44.0%) to 66.3% (554 of 836 women, 63.0% to 69.5%). Conclusions Nulliparous women without risk factors have substantially higher rates of complicated birth than multiparous women without a previous caesarean section even if the latter have multiple risk factors. Grouping women first according to parity and previous mode of birth, and then within these groups according to presence of specific risk factors would provide greater and more informed choice to women, better targeting of interventions, and fewer transfers during labour than according to the presence of risk factors alone.