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To determine the impact of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on prematurity, birthweight and obstetric complications.Nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study.National Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information database in France.All single births from March to December 2020: 510 387 deliveries, including 2927 (0.6%) with confirmed COVID-19 in the mother and/or the newborn.The group with COVID-19 was compared with the group without COVID-19 using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, and the Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regressions were used to study the effect of COVID-19 on the risk of prematurity or macrosomia (birthweight ≥4500 g).Prematurity less than 37, less than 28, 28-31, or 32-36 weeks of gestation; birthweight; obstetric complications.In singleton pregnancies, COVID-19 was associated with obstetric complications such as hypertension (2.8% versus 2.0%, p 0.01), pre-eclampsia (3.6% versus 2.0%, p 0.01), diabetes (18.8% versus 14.4%, p 0.01) and caesarean delivery (26.8% versus 19.7%, p 0.01). Among pregnant women with COVID-19, there was more prematurity between 28 and 31 weeks of gestation (1.3% versus 0.6%, p 0.01) and between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation (7.7% versus 4.3%, p 0.01), and more macrosomia (1.0% versus 0.7%, p = 0.04), but there was no difference in small-for-gestational-age newborns (6.3% versus 8.7%, p = 0.15). Logistic regression analysis for prematurity showed an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.77 (95% CI 1.55-2.01) for COVID-19. For macrosomia, COVID-19 resulted in non-significant aOR of 1.38 (95% CI 0.95-2.00).COVID-19 is a risk factor for prematurity, even after adjustment for other risk factors.The risk of prematurity is twice as high in women with COVID-19 after adjustment for factors usually associated with prematurity.

The rise in the number of cesarean sections (CS) is a major health public problem which concerns nearly all countries. It is suggested that the Ten Group Classification System be adapted to a procedure of audit/feedback cycles, which could have an effect on CS practice. Therefore, we aimed to study changes in CS rates between maternity wards in a perinatal network after implementation of the Ten Group Classification System in an audit with feedback.This was a retrospective pre-post study of all births from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018, in a French perinatal network of 10 maternity wards in the Yvelines district of France. All live births occurring at a gestational age ≥24 weeks in the network were included. During the pre-period (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014), the audit and feedback provided only overall CS rates. During the post-period (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018), CS rates for each Robson Ten Group Classification System group were provided. Regression models, adjusted for maternal characteristics and maternity ward, were used to compare CS rates globally and for each group of the system. Variability of CS rates between maternity wards was analyzed using the coefficients of variation.There were 51 082 women who delivered during the pre-period and 63 964 during the post-period. The overall CS rate did not decrease (24.5% during the pre-period vs 25.1% during the post-period). There were no significant differences in CS rates for any group of the Ten Group Classification System after adjustment for maternity, maternal age and sociodemographic characteristics, nor did audit implementation decrease CS rate variability between maternity wards or within groups of the system.Implementation of an audit-and-feedback cycle using the Ten Group Classification System did not decrease either CS rates or variability between maternity wards.

Resume Objectif La perception negative du vecu subjectif de l’accouchement par la femme peut avoir de nombreuses consequences sur l’etat psychologique de la mere et sur les relations precoces mere–bebe. A ce jour, il n’existe aucun outil valide aupres d’une population francaise permettant d’evaluer cette experience de maniere multidimensionnelle. Cette etude a pour objectif de valider le « Questionnaire d’Evaluation du Vecu de l’Accouchement » (QEVA) aupres d’une population francaise. Methodes L’echantillon se compose de 256 femmes recrutees en maternite. La structure du QEVA a ete exploree par un modele d’equations structurales exploratoire (ESEM). Une analyse de la consistance interne a ete menee sur les sous-scores des facteurs identifies et la validite concourante a ete appreciee avec l’inventaire de detresse peri-traumatique (PDI) via une correlation et son test t associe. Resultats Le modele d’equations structurales applique au QEVA a revele une structure a 4 dimensions. L’analyse des qualites psychometriques a mis en evidence une bonne consistance interne, avec une valeur alpha observee variant entre 0,69 et 0,86 selon la dimension consideree. Le QEVA presente egalement une bonne validite concourante avec les scores de detresse peri-traumatique (r = 0,51). Conclusion Cet outil, simple d’utilisation et bien accepte par les meres, devrait permettre aux professionnels de sante de non seulement depister les meres ayant un vecu difficile de l’accouchement et un besoin de soutien, mais aussi d’adapter leur prise en charge en fonction des dimensions du vecu de l’accouchement et des difficultes associees (emotions pendant l’accouchement, interactions avec les professionnels de sante, premiers instants avec le bebe ou emotions pendant le post-partum).

Adrien Roussot,1,2 Karine Goueslard,1,2 Jonathan Cottenet,1– 4 Peter Von Theobald,5 Patrick Rozenberg,6,7 Catherine Quantin1– 4,8 1Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (DIM), University Hospital, Dijon, France; 2Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Dijon, France; 3Inserm, CIC 1432, Dijon, France; 4Clinical Investigation Center, Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Trials Unit, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France; 5Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Felix Guyon, CHU La Reunion, France; 6EA 7285, Versailles Saint Quentin University, Versailles, France; 7The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poissy-Saint Germain Hospital, Poissy, France; 8High-Dimensional Biostatistics for Drug Safety and Genomics, CESP, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Univ. Paris-Sud, Villejuif, FranceCorrespondence: Catherine QuantinBiostatistics and Bioinformatics (DIM), University Hospital, Dijon, BP 77908, Dijon, 21079, FranceTel +33 3 8029 3629Fax +33 3 8029 3973Email catherine.quantin@chu-dijon.frPurpose: To analyze the socio-residential factors associated with extremely and very preterm deliveries occurring in non-level 3 maternity units in France.Materials and Methods: This is a population-based observational retrospective study using national hospital data from 2012 to 2014. A generalized estimating equations regression model was used to study the characteristics of women who delivered very preterm and the socio-residential risk factors for not delivering in a level 3 maternity unit at 24– 31+6d weeks of gestation.Results: Among deliveries resulting in live births and without contraindication to in-utero transfer, we identified 9198 extremely or very preterm deliveries; 2122 (23.1%) of these were managed in a non-level 3 unit. Our study showed that young maternal age (women under 20 years at delivery) was associated with the risk of giving birth prematurely in a non-level 3 maternity, and particularly in a level 1 maternity unit (adjusted relative risk, 1.53; 95% CI 1.09– 2.16). Living more than 30 minutes away from the closest level 3 unit increased the risk of delivering very preterm in a level 1 or 2 unit. Living in an urban area or urban periphery increased the risk of giving birth in a level 2 maternity unit (adjusted relative risk, 1.53; 95% CI 1.28– 1.83 and 1.42; 95% CI 1.17– 1.71, respectively).Conclusion: This study shows that young pregnant women living more than 30 minutes from a level 3 hospital have an increased risk of delivering in a maternity unit that is not equipped to deal with premature births. The risk also increases with an urban place of residence when the delivery occurs in a level 2 unit. A clearer understanding of the population at risk of delivering prematurely in a non-level 3 maternity could lead to improvements in structuring healthcare to encourage earlier management and better support.Keywords: preterm delivery, hospital claims data, neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, maternity level, socio-residential factors

Although prophylactic tranexamic acid administration after cesarean delivery resulted in a lower incidence of calculated estimated blood loss of1000 mL or red cell transfusion by day 2, its failure to reduce the incidence of hemorrhage-related secondary clinical outcomes (TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery trial) makes its use questionable. The magnitude of its effect may differ in women at higher risk of blood loss, including those with multiple pregnancies.This study aimed to compare the effect of tranexamic acid vs placebo to prevent blood loss after cesarean delivery among women with multiple pregnancies.This was a secondary analysis of the TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery trial data, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial from March 2018 to January 2020 in 27 French maternity hospitals, that included 319 women with multiple pregnancies. Women with a cesarean delivery before or during labor at ≥34 weeks of gestation were randomized to receive intravenously 1 g of tranexamic acid (n=160) or placebo (n=159), both with prophylactic uterotonics. The primary outcome was a calculated estimated blood loss of1000 mL or a red blood cell transfusion by 2 days after delivery. The secondary outcomes included clinical and laboratory blood loss measurements.Of the 4551 women randomized in this trial, 319 had a multiple pregnancy and cesarean delivery, and 298 (93.4%) had primary outcome data available. This outcome occurred in 62 of 147 women (42.2%) in the tranexamic acid group and 67 of 152 (44.1%) receiving placebo (adjusted risk ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.38; P=.86). No significant between-group differences occurred for any hemorrhage-related clinical outcomes: gravimetrically estimated blood loss, provider-assessed clinically significant hemorrhage, additional uterotonics, postpartum blood transfusion, arterial embolization, and emergency surgery (P.05 for all comparisons).Among women with a multiple pregnancy and cesarean delivery, prophylactic tranexamic acid did not reduce the incidence of any blood loss-related outcomes.

There is no consensus on an optimal strategy for managing the active phase of the second stage of labor. Intensive pushing could not only reduce pushing duration, but also increase abnormal fetal heart rate because of cord compression and reduced placental perfusion and oxygenation resulting from the combination of uterine contractions and maternal expulsive forces. Therefore, it may increase the risk of neonatal acidosis and the need for operative vaginal delivery.This study aimed to assess the effect of the management encouraging "moderate" pushing vs "intensive" pushing on neonatal morbidity.This study was a multicenter randomized controlled trial, including nulliparas in the second stage of labor with an epidural and a singleton cephalic fetus at term and with a normal fetal heart rate. Of note, 2 groups were defined: (1) the moderate pushing group, in which women had no time limit on pushing, pushed only twice during each contraction, and observed regular periods without pushing, and (2) the intensive pushing group, in which women pushed 3 times during each contraction and the midwife called an obstetrician after 30 minutes of pushing to discuss operative delivery (standard care). The primary outcome was a composite neonatal morbidity criterion, including umbilical arterial pH of7.15, base excess of10 mmol/L, lactate levels of6 mmol/L, 5-minute Apgar score of7, and severe neonatal trauma. The secondary outcomes were mode of delivery, episiotomy, obstetrical anal sphincter injuries, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal satisfaction.The study included 1710 nulliparous women. The neonatal morbidity rate was 18.9% in the moderate pushing group and 20.6% in the intensive pushing group (P=.38). Pushing duration was longer in the moderate group than in the intensive group (38.8±26.4 vs 28.6±17.0 minutes; P.001), and its rate of operative delivery was 21.1% in the moderate group compared with 24.8% in the intensive group (P=.08). The episiotomy rate was significantly lower in the moderate pushing group than in the intensive pushing group (13.5% vs 17.8%; P=.02). We found no significant difference for obstetrical anal sphincter injuries, postpartum hemorrhage, or maternal satisfaction.Moderate pushing has no effect on neonatal morbidity, but it may nonetheless have benefits, as it was associated with a lower episiotomy rate.

Determine if head-perineum distance (HPD) measurement before vacuum extraction (VE) was predictive of an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) occurrence.Retrospective, bicentric (Lille and Poissy, France) cohort study conducted from January 2019 to June 2020. All VE in singleton pregnancies of ≥34 weeks were included. HPD measurement was performed without compression of the tissues before each VE. The judgment criterion was the occurrence of an OASIS.Of 12 568 deliveries, VE was performed in 1093 (8.6%). Among these 1093 women undergoing VE, 675 (61.7%) with HPD measurement were included. OASIS was found in 6.5% of women (n = 44; 95% CI 4.5-8.7). HPD was not associated with OASIS (38.5 ± 12.6 mm in women with OASIS vs 37.4 ± 12.0 mm in women without; adjusted OR [aOR] per 5 mm increase = 0.92; 95% CI 0.79-1.06). Increased HPD was associated with higher risk of sequential extraction (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.06-1.32), extraction duration10 min (aOR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.02-1.23) and shoulder dystocia (aOR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.03-1.40).Ultrasound-measured head-perineum distance does not predict the occurrence of obstetric anal sphincter injury during a VE. The interest of HPD is more about predicting the success or difficulty of VE rather its specific complications.

International audience; Background: The main reason to avoid trial of labor after cesarean delivery is the possibility of uterine rupture. Identifying women at risk is thus an important aim, for it would enable women at low risk to proceed with a secure planned vaginal birth. bjective: To evaluate the impact of proposing mode of delivery based on the ultrasound measurement of the lower uterine segment thickness on a composite outcome of maternal-fetal mortality and morbidity, compared with usual management, among pregnant women with a previous cesarean delivery.Study Design: This multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, unmasked trial was conducted at 8 referral university hospitals with a neonatal intensive care unit and enrolled 2948 women at 36 weeks 0 days to 38 weeks 6 days of gestation with 1 previous low transverse cesarean delivery and no contraindication to trial of labor. Women in the study group had their lower uterine segment thickness measured by ultrasound. Those with measurements >3.5 mm, were encouraged to choose a planned vaginal delivery, and those with measurements ≤3.5 mm, were encouraged to choose a planned repeat cesarean delivery. This measurement was not taken in the control group; their mode of delivery was decided according to standard management. The primary outcome was a composite criterion comprising maternal mortality, uterine rupture, uterine dehiscence, hysterectomy, thromboembolic disease, transfusion, endometritis, perinatal death, or neonatal encephalopathy. Prespecified secondary outcomes were repeat cesarean deliveries, elective or after trial of labor.Results: The study group included 1472 women, and the control group included 1476 women. These groups were similar at baseline. The primary outcome occurred in 3.4% of the study group and 4.3% of the control group (relative risk, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.54–1.13: risk difference, −1.0%; 95% confidence interval, −2.4 to 0.5). The uterine rupture rate in the study group was 0.4% and in the control group 0.9% (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–1.19). The planned cesarean delivery rate was 16.4% in the study group and 13.7% in the control group (relative risk, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.47), whereas the rates of cesarean delivery during labor were 25.1% and 25.0% (relative risk, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.89–1.14) in the study and control groups, respectively.Conclusion: Ultrasound measurements of lower uterine segment thickness did not result in a statistically significant lower frequency of maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes than standard management. However, because this study was underpowered, further research should be encouraged.

International audience; Despite antenatal corticosteroids therapy, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is still a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in premature newborns. To date, the relationship between in utero fetal drug exposure and occurrence of RDS remains poorly evaluated. This study aims to describe the pharmacokinetics of betamethasone in pregnant women and to evaluate the transplacental drug transfer and administration scheme for the prevention of RDS. Pregnant women > 27 weeks' gestation and who received at least a single dose of betamethasone for prevention of RDS were enrolled. Maternal, cord blood, and amniotic fluid betamethasone time-courses were analyzed using the Monolix software. A total of 220 maternal blood, 56 cord blood, and 26 amniotic fluid samples were described by a two-compartment model with two effect compartments linked by rate transfer constants. Apparent clearances and volumes of distribution parameters were allometrically scaled for a 70 kg third trimester pregnant woman. The impact of a twin pregnancy was found to increase maternal clearance by 28%. Using a fetal-to-mother exposure ratio, the median (95% confidence interval (CI)) transplacental transfer of betamethasone was estimated to 35% (95% CI 0.11-0.67). After adjustment for gestational age and twin pregnancy, RDS was found to be associated to the time spent in utero below quantifiable concentrations (i.e., < 1 ng/mL): odds ratio of 1.10 (95% CI 1.01-1.19) per day increase (P < 0.05). Trying to take into account both efficacy and safety, we simulated different dosing schemes in order to maintain a maximum of fetuses above 1 ng/mL without exceeding the total standard dose.

Objective: The magnitude and direction of effects on pregnancy outcomes of the lockdown imposed during COVID-19 have been uncertain and debated. Therefore, we aimed to quantify delivery and perinatal outcomes during the first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the same durations of time for the pre- and post-lockdown periods. Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study of six university hospital maternity units distributed across France, each of which serves as the obstetric care referral unit within its respective perinatal network. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between the lockdown period and same-duration (i.e., 55-day) periods before and after the 2020 lockdown (pre-lockdown: 22 January–16 March; lockdown: 17 March–10 May; post-lockdown: 11 May–4 July). We compared the overall rates of Caesarean delivery (CD), pre-labor CD, labor induction, operative vaginal delivery, severe postpartum hemorrhage (≥1 L), severe perineal tear, maternal transfusion, and neonatal mortality and morbidity (1- and 5-min Apgar scores < 7), hypoxia and anoxia (umbilical arterial pH < 7.20 or

Background Home-based postnatal care after hospital discharge has become an integral part of postnatal care. This study aimed to determine the factors relating either to individuals or the healthcare system that affect enrollment and full participation (adherence) in the French home-based postnatal coordinated care program (PRADO). Methods All admitted women for delivery in a French district over one year and eligible for this home-based midwifery support after hospital discharge were included (N = 4189). Both a simple probit model and a probit Heckman selection model were used. The control variables were the characteristics of the women, the municipalities, and the hospitals. Results Approximately 68% of the eligible women chose to enroll in the PRADO program, of who nearly 60% fully participated in this program. Enrollment in the program was influenced mostly by the family context, such as the woman’s age at the time of her pregnancy and the number of children in the household, the woman’s level of prenatal education and information about postnatal care, as well as some hospital variables such as the characteristics and organization of the maternity units. Full participation in the program was influenced by the accessibility to health professionals, particularly midwives. Furthermore, the women’s level of prenatal education and information about postnatal care, as well as their accessibility to health professionals, correlated with the socioeconomic environment. Conclusion While individual factors impacted enrollment in the PRADO program, only healthcare system-related factors influenced full participation in the program. A public health policy promoting home-based postnatal care could increase the women’s participation by improving their level of prenatal education and information about postnatal care. In addition, reducing regional inequality is likely to have a positive impact, as the availability of health professionals is a key factor for participation in home-based postnatal coordinated care.

International audience; Objective To describe and compare the characteristics of women with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) and their pregnancy outcomes according to the presence of placenta praevia and a prior caesarean section.Design Prospective population-based study.Setting All 176 maternity hospitals of eight French regions.Population Two hundred and forty-nine women with PAS, from a source population of 520 114 deliveries.Methods Women with PAS were classified into two risk-profile groups, with or without the high-risk combination of placenta praevia (or an anterior low-lying placenta) and at least one prior caesarean. These two groups were described and compared.Main outcome measures Population-based incidence of PAS, characteristics of women, pregnancies, deliveries and pregnancy outcomes.Results The PAS population-based incidence was 4.8/10 000 (95% CI 4.2-5.4/10 000). After exclusion of women lost to follow up from the analysis, the group with placenta praevia and a prior caesarean included 115 (48%) women and the group without this combination included 127 (52%). In the group with both factors, PAS was more often suspected antenatally (77% versus 17%; P < 0.001) and more often percreta (38% versus 5%; P < 0.001). This group also had more hysterectomies (53% versus 21%, P < 0.001) and higher rates of blood product transfusions, maternal complications, preterm births and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Sensitivity analysis showed similar results after exclusion of women who delivered vaginally.Conclusion More than half the cases of PAS occurred in women without the combination of placenta praevia and a prior caesarean delivery, and these women had better maternal and neonatal outcomes. We cannot completely rule out that some of the women who delivered vaginally had placental retention rather than PAS; however, we found similar results among women who delivered by caesarean.Tweetable abstract Half the women with PAS do not have both placenta praevia and a prior caesarean delivery, and they have better maternal outcomes.

Objective : To study changes in caesarean delivery (CD) rates between maternity wards in a perinatal network after implementation of the Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) in an audit with feedback. Design A retrospective pre–post study of all births from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018. Setting A French perinatal network of 10 maternity wards in the Yvelines district of France. Population All live births of gestational age ≥24 weeks in the network. Methods During the pre-period (1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014), the audit and feedback provided only overall CD rates. During the post-period (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018), CD rates for each TGCS group were provided. Regression models, adjusted for maternal characteristics and maternity ward, were used to compare CD rates globally and for each TGCS group. Variability of CD rates between maternity wards was analysed using the coefficients of variation. Main outcome measure CD rates. Results There were 51 082 women who delivered during the pre-period and 63 964 during the post-period. The overall CD rate did not decrease (24.5% during the pre-period versus 25.1% during the post-period). There were no significant differences in CD rates for any TGCS group after adjustment for maternity, maternal age and socio-demographic characteristics. Nor did audit implementation decrease CD rate variability between maternity wards or within TGCS groups. Conclusion Implementation of an audit-and-feedback cycle using the TGCS did not decrease either CD rates or variability between maternity wards.

Objective: To study the risk of CD for each gestational week among ongoing pregnancies of nulliparous women at term. Design: A retrospective, population-based cohort study from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017 Setting: a French perinatal network of the Yvelines district, France Population: 11 308 nulliparous women with a singleton fetus in a cephalic presentation and delivered at term (≥37-week +0 day) Methods: for each week of gestation at term, we defined ongoing pregnancies as all pregnancies undelivered at the start of each week. Regression models adjusted by maternal characteristics and hospital status were used to compare the CD risk between ongoing pregnancies and the pregnancies delivered the preceding week. The same methods were applied to subgroups defined by the mode of labor onset. Main outcome measure: The caesarean delivery rate (CD) Results: Ongoing pregnancies > 40 weeks+0 days were associated with a higher risk of CD compared with pregnancies delivered the previous week: 24.3% in ongoing pregnancies ≥ 40 weeks +0 days versus 19.9% in deliveries between 39 weeks +0 days and 39 weeks+6 days (Odd ratio adjusted of 1.28, 95%CI [1.15-1.44]; 30.4% in ongoing pregnancies ≥ 41 weeks +0 days versus 19.6% in deliveries between 40 weeks +0 days and 40 weeks+6 days (OR 1.73, 95%CI [1.51-1.96]). This was also shown for all modes of labor onset and in every maternity unit. Conclusions: CD rates increased starting at 40 weeks +0 days in ongoing pregnancies, regardless of the mode of labor onset.

Pregnant women may be at higher risk of severe complications associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which may lead to obstetrical complications. We performed a case control study comparing pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 19 (cases) to pregnant women with a milder form (controls) enrolled in the COVI-Preg international registry cohort between March 24 and July 26, 2020. Risk factors for severity, obstetrical and immediate neonatal outcomes were assessed. A total of 926 pregnant women with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 were included, among which 92 (9.9%) presented with severe COVID-19 disease. Risk factors for severe maternal outcomes were pulmonary comorbidities [aOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.9-9.5], hypertensive disorders [aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0-7.0] and diabetes [aOR2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5]. Pregnant women with severe maternal outcomes were at higher risk of caesarean section [70.7% (n = 53/75)], preterm delivery [62.7% (n = 32/51)] and newborns requiring admission to the neonatal intensive care unit [41.3% (n = 31/75)]. In this study, several risk factors for developing severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women were identified including pulmonary comorbidities, hypertensive disorders and diabetes. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes appear to be influenced by the severity of maternal disease. ispartof: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS vol:11 issue:1 ispartof: location:England status: published

International audience; Background: The number of twin pregnancies continues to increase worldwide as both the number of pregnancies obtained by medically assisted reproduction and age at first pregnancy keep rising. Preterm delivery is the major complication associated with twin pregnancies. The effectiveness of preventive treatments such as progesterone or cervical cerclage for women with a short cervix is doubtful in twin pregnancies. The effectivity of cervical pessaries in preventing preterm birth and its associated morbidity and mortality is also controversial.Objective: We sought to investigate if the Arabin pessary reduces adverse neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies with a short cervix.Study design: This open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial on twin pregnancies with a cervical length of

International audience; BACKGROUND: Placenta accreta spectrum is a life-threatening condition that has increased dramatically in recent decades along with cesarean rates worldwide. Cesarean hysterectomy is widely practiced in women with placenta accreta spectrum; however, the maternal outcomes after cesarean hysterectomy have not been thoroughly compared with the maternal outcomes after alternative approaches, such as conservative management.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the severe maternal outcomes between women with placenta accreta spectrum treated with cesarean hysterectomy and those treated with conservative management (leaving the placenta in situ).STUDY DESIGN: From a source population of 520,114 deliveries in 176 hospitals (PACCRETA study), we designed an observational cohort of women with placenta accreta spectrum who had either a cesarean hysterectomy or a conservative management (the placenta left in situ) during cesarean delivery. Clinicians prospectively identified women meeting the inclusion criteria and included them at delivery. Data collection started only after the women had received information and agreed to participate in the study in the immediate postpartum period. The primary outcome was the transfusion of >4 units of packed red blood cells within 6 months after delivery. Secondary outcomes were other maternal complications within 6 months. We used propensity score weighting to account for potential indication bias.RESULTS: Here, 86 women had conservative management and 62 women had cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum during cesarean delivery. The primary outcome occurred in 14 of 86 women in the conservative management group (16.3%) and 36 of 61 (59.0%) in the cesarean hysterectomy group (risk ratio in propensity score weighted model, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.45). The rates of hysterectomy, total estimated blood loss exceeding 3000 mL, any blood product transfusion, adjacent organ injury, and nonpostpartum hemorrhage-related severe maternal morbidity were lower with conservative management than with cesarean hysterectomy (all adjusted, P 4 units of packed red blood cells within 6 months than cesarean hysterectomy.

Resume Objectif Il existe des differences considerables du taux de cesariennes entre les maternites d’une meme region. Le taux de cesarienne a augmente ces dernieres annees dans la population a bas risque. L’objectif de cette etude etait d’etudier l’impact des facteurs organisationnels sur le taux de cesarienne dans une population a bas risque. Methodes Nous avons realise une etude de cohorte retrospective en population dans les dix maternites du reseau MYPA de 2009 a 2015. Nous avons selectionne une population a bas risque en ne conservant que les groupes 1 et 3 de la classification de Robson. Le critere de jugement principal etait l’accouchement par cesarienne. Les facteurs organisationnels etudies ont regroupe les caracteristiques structurelles des maternites (universitaire ou non, public ou privee, nombre d’accouchement annuel, unite de soins intensifs maternels, unite de soins intensifs neonatals, nombre de salle de naissance) et l’organisation de l’equipe soignante (nombre de sages-femmes et d’obstetriciens, mode de garde, charge de travail et realisation d’une revue de morbi-mortalite). Nous avons realise une analyse multiniveau a intercept aleatoire, univariee puis multivariee en retenant les variables ayant un p Resultats Notre population d’etude a inclus 64 100 femmes. Le taux de cesarienne a varie de 5,5 a 11,3 % parmi les 10 maternites. En analyse univariee, les variables organisationnelles significativement associees a la realisation d’une cesarienne etaient le statut de la maternite (centre hospitalier universitaire, centre hospitalier public non universitaire et etablissement prive) et la realisation d’une revue de morbi-mortalite. Cependant, apres ajustement, aucun de ces facteurs organisationnels n’etait significativement associe a la realisation d’une cesarienne. Lorsque l’analyse multivariee a ete restreinte au sous-groupe des nullipares, le statut prive de la maternite etait significativement associe a un taux plus eleve de cesariennes (OR = 1,39 [1,09–1,76]). De meme, la probabilite de cesarienne etait plus importante lorsque le nombre d’accouchement par salle de naissance augmentait (OR = 1,15 [1,01–1,31]). Pour le sous-groupe des multipares, aucune variable n’etait significativement associee a la realisation d’une cesarienne. Conclusion Dans notre population globale a bas risque, aucun facteur organisationnel n’apparaissait associe a une augmentation du taux de cesarienne. En revanche, dans la population des nullipares a bas risque, le statut prive du centre et un nombre eleve d’accouchement par salle de naissance etaient associes a un plus grand nombre de cesariennes. Augmenter le nombre de salles de naissance pourrait donc etre une piste pour tenter de reduire le nombre de cesariennes. Les travaux a venir devraient egalement chercher a identifier les facteurs specifiques permettant de reduire les differences de taux de cesarienne entre maternites privees et publiques.

Objectives To describe the prevalence of negative childbirth experiences and to identify potential predictors, including demographic, prenatal, obstetric, and psychological factors, of these experiences among French women. Design Descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study. Setting A maternity ward in a hospital located near Paris, France. Participants A total of 256 women between the ages of 18 and 46 years were recruited while hospitalized in the maternity ward 1 to 6 days after childbirth. Methods Participants completed a personal information form and five self-report scales: the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, and the Questionnaire Assessing the Childbirth Experience. We performed linear regression analyses and used scores on the Questionnaire Assessing the Childbirth Experience as the dependent variable. We considered prenatal, psychological, and obstetric factors as independent variables and adjusted results for covariates. Results The prevalence of a negative childbirth experience was 23.3% among our participants. We identified primiparity, high anxiety trait scores, and an anxious attachment style as the prenatal variables that contributed significantly to negative perceptions of childbirth based on the first step of the regression analysis (R2 = .18; p Conclusions Given that some prenatal factors influence women’s perceptions of their birth experiences, preventive measures can be implemented by health professionals to support women with risk factors. In the early postpartum period, health care professionals should focus on subjective variables of childbirth because they strongly predict the overall childbirth experience for women.

Background Prolonged pregnancies are a frequent indication for induction of labour. When the cervix is unfavourable, cervical ripening before oxytocin administration is recommended to increase the likelihood of vaginal delivery, but no particular method is currently recommended for cervical ripening of prolonged pregnancies. This trial evaluates whether the use of mechanical cervical ripening with a silicone double balloon catheter for induction of labour in prolonged pregnancies reduces the cesarean section rate for nonreassuring fetal status compared with pharmacological cervical ripening by a vaginal pessary for the slow release of dinoprostone (prostaglandin E2). Methods and findings This is a multicentre, superiority, open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial conducted in 15 French maternity units. Women with singleton pregnancies, a vertex presentation, ≥41+0 and ≤42+0 weeks’ gestation, a Bishop score, In this trial, Caroline Diguisto and colleagues compare two methods for addressing non-reassuring fetal status in caesarian deliveries., Author summary Why was this study done? Induction of labour may be necessary when pregnancies reach 41 weeks of gestation. Ripening methods include mechanical and pharmacological options and both are currently used in pregnancies that reach 41 weeks of gestation. Mechanical cervical ripening leads to less uterine tachysystole and less fetal heart rate anomalies than pharmacological methods. Whether mechanical methods are associated with reduced perinatal morbidity in prolonged pregnancies in comparison with pharmacological methods needed to be investigated by a sufficiently powered randomised trial. What did the researchers do and find? We conducted a trial to compare cervical ripening with a silicone double-balloon catheter (mechanical method) to cervical ripening with a vaginal dinoprostone slow-release system (pharmacological method) among women with prolonged pregnancies. We did not find that cervical ripening with a silicone double-balloon catheter was superior to cervical ripening with a vaginal dinoprostone slow-release system to reduce the rate of cesarean for nonreassuring fetal heart rate and overall maternal and neonatal morbidity. What do these findings mean? There is no evidence to justify preferring mechanical cervical ripening over pharmacological cervical ripening in pregnancies that have reached 41 weeks.

International audience

OBJECTIVE To assess, according to chorionicity, the perinatal outcome of twin pregnancy in which vaginal delivery is planned. METHODS JUMODA (JUmeaux MODe d'Accouchement) was a national prospective population-based cohort study of twin pregnancies, delivered in 176 maternity units in France, from February 2014 to March 2015. In this planned secondary analysis, we assessed, according to chorionicity, the perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies, in which vaginal delivery was planned, that delivered at or after 32 weeks of gestation with the first twin in cephalic presentation. In order to select a population with well-recognized indications for planned vaginal delivery, we applied the same exclusion criteria as those in the Twin Birth Study, an international randomized trial. Monochorionic twin pregnancies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome or twin anemia-polycythemia sequence were defined as complicated and were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite of intrapartum mortality and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to control for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to birth order (first or second twin) and gestational age at delivery (

International audience; Background: Induction of labor is among the most common procedures for pregnant women. Only a few randomized clinical trials with relatively small samples have compared misoprostol with dinoprostone. Although their efficacy seems similar, their safety profiles have not been adequately evaluated, and economic data are sparse. Objective: This study aimed to test the noninferiority of vaginal misoprostol (prostaglandin E1) (25 μg) to a slow-release dinoprostone (prostaglandin E2) pessary (10 μg) for induction of labor with an unfavorable cervix at term. Study Design: This was an open-label multicenter randomized noninferiority trial at 4 university hospitals of the Research Group in Obstetrics and Gynecology between 2012 and 2015. We recruited women who underwent induction of labor for medical reasons, those with a Bishop score of ≤5 at ≥36 weeks’ gestation, and those with a cephalic-presenting singleton pregnancy with no previous cesarean delivery. Women were randomly allocated to receive either vaginal misoprostol at 4-hour intervals (25 μg) or a 10-mg slow-release dinoprostone pessary. The primary outcome was the total cesarean delivery rate. Noninferiority was defined as a difference in the cesarean delivery rates between the groups of no more than 5%. Secondary outcomes included neonatal and maternal morbidity, vaginal delivery at

International audience; Objective: Women with planned cesareans can require delivery before the scheduled date. However, data describing the morbidity associated with planned cesarean deliveries performed before the originally scheduled date is lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the morbidity associated with planned cesarean delivery performed before compared with on the scheduled date. Study design: This retrospective single-center cohort study included all 3595 women with singleton pregnancies and cesarean deliveries after 36+6 weeks. All cases were reviewed individually to identify the initial intended mode of delivery, determined before 37 weeks. We excluded the 2145 (59.7%) unplanned cesareans initially planned as vaginal deliveries. Finally, the analysis included 1450 women with planned cesareans: 1232 (85.0%) performed as scheduled, and 218 (15.0%) before that date. The composite outcomes of maternal morbidity was one or more of the morbidity measures, including surgical complications, postpartum hemorrhage, infection and thrombo-embolism. Neonatal morbidity measures included 5 min Apgar score < 7, arterial cord blood pH < 7.00, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: Reasons for performing planned cesarean delivery before the scheduled date were as follows: onset of labor (n = 109; 50.0%), rupture of membranes (n = 85; 39.0%), preeclampsia (n = 9; 4.1%), scar pain in women with a previous cesarean (n = 6; 2.8%), unexplained vaginal bleeding (n = 5; 2.3%), and nonreassuring fetal heart rate (n = 4; 1.8%). Mean gestational age for planned cesarean deliveries before the scheduled date was 38.7 weeks ± 0.8 versus 39.2 weeks ± 0.7 for those performed when scheduled (P < 0.0001). The maternal morbidity composite outcome rate was significantly higher among planned cesareans performed early compared with those on the scheduled date: 18.3% vs 9.7%, respectively, P = 0.0002. It was still higher in the multivariable analysis: aOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.46–3.21, P = 0.0001. The neonatal composite outcome did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion: In planned cesarean deliveries, maternal morbidity is higher for cesareans performed before rather than on the scheduled date. Studies without accurate intent-to-treat analyses underestimate the morbidity associated with planned cesareans. Accordingly, medical records must make it possible to distinguish planned cesarean deliveries performed before the scheduled date from those performed as planned.

Objective: The effect of lockdowns during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnancy outcomes remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association between the COVID-19-related lockdown and pregnancy outcomes in maternity hospitals in France. Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study from six tertiary referral hospitals in different regions of France. Three 55-day periods were compared: pre-lockdown from 22 January 2020, lockdown from 17 March 2020, and post-lockdown from 11 May 2020 to 4 July 2020. We included all women who delivered singleton or multiple pregnancies, who delivered at ≥24 weeks of gestation and with birthweights ≥500 g. We documented gestational ages at the delivery of liveborn and stillborn infants (‘stillbirths’). These were categorized as having a very low birthweight (VLBW, +6 weeks, between weeks 28+0 and 31+6, and between 32+0 and weeks 36+6 were 1.0%, 1.9%, and 4.4%, respectively. After adjustment, these rates were stable between periods 1 and 2 (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 0.90; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.69–1.19) and between periods 2 and 3 (aOR 1.04; 95% CI 0.80–1.36). Although more VLBW neonates were born during lockdown (3.5% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.03), this difference did not persist after adjustment (aOR 0.84, CI 95% 0.64–1.10). The LBW rates were similar during the three periods at 12.5% overall. The stillbirth rate was unaffected by the lockdown. Conclusion: The pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, LBW, VLBW, and stillbirth rates) were not modified by the COVID-19 lockdown in our cohort study in France. Considering the discrepancies in results and methodological issues in previous published studies, there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that such lockdowns have any impact on perinatal outcomes.