Maternal Fetal Medicine
Zahra Panahi; Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Soudabeh Kazemi Aski,; Saeede Eslami Khotbesara; Mamak Shariat; Fahimeh Ghotbizadeh; Razieh Akbari
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 17 May 2023
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the high efficacy of the Apgar score to find respiratory distress, a low Apgar score doesn’t necessarily indicate fetal hypoxia-asphyxia. Umbilical Artery pH (UApH) is one the best indicator of fetal hypoxia. Therefore it’s so beneficial to consider these criteria and ...
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Introduction: Despite the high efficacy of the Apgar score to find respiratory distress, a low Apgar score doesn’t necessarily indicate fetal hypoxia-asphyxia. Umbilical Artery pH (UApH) is one the best indicator of fetal hypoxia. Therefore it’s so beneficial to consider these criteria and its relationship with Apgar score for accurate diagnosis of prenatal respiratory distress retrospectively and by which reduces the unnecessary cesarean section(CS) rate.
Methods: 162 full-term (≥259 days) neonates delivered by CS with a diagnosis of decreased fetal heart rate (FHR) were evaluated. 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores and UApH were measured. The correlation between Apgar scores with UApH and the association between UapH and Apgar with the NICU admission were evaluated. The effect of other variables including mother’s age, gravidity, gestational age, birth weight, newborn gender, and causes of decreased FHR on Apgar scores and UApH were studied as well.
Results: The most common cause of decreased FHR was fetal distress, boys had higher weight (p=0.033) and lower UApH (p=0.049) than girls. Other parameters were not different significantly between males and females. There was a positive correlation between UApH and 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores (r=0.464 and r=0.370 respectively) when controlled for birth weight (p<0.0001). The RR for NICU admission in male acidemic neonates with abnormal 1-min Apgar was 14.05(CI95%: 5.7-34.6) in comparison to females (RR=1.06, CI95%:1-1.26).
Conclusion: Mild acidemia (UApH<7.2) at least in male fetuses would be a good predictor for postnatal complications and the need for NICU admission. Future studies with more samples are suggested.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Fatemeh Mirzaie; Khadije Rezaie Keikhaie; Mahin Badakhsh; Bahareh Khajehpour; Samira Ghofrani
Volume 7, Issue 2 , September and October 2021, , Pages 89-98
Abstract
Background & Objective: Pregnancy is a stressful event in and of itself, which may have an impact on the present prevalence of COVID-19 illness. It is crucial to think about what factors can help pregnant women cope with the anxiety brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. The purpose of this study was ...
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Background & Objective: Pregnancy is a stressful event in and of itself, which may have an impact on the present prevalence of COVID-19 illness. It is crucial to think about what factors can help pregnant women cope with the anxiety brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in pregnant women, as well as the impact of COVID-19 anxiety on pregnant women's Apgar scores and birth weights of newborns.Materials & Methods: From early January to late March 2021, 102 pregnant women were included in this descriptive cross-sectional study using any accessible sampling method. Questionnaires such as the "Demographic" and "Corona Anxiety Scale" were used to collect data. SPSS software version 22 was used to analyze the data.Results: The mean score of total anxiety caused by COVID-19 in pregnant women was 20.88 ± 21.08, which was moderate. Among the components of anxiety, the mean score of psychological symptoms (13.05 ± 5.31) of pregnant women was higher than physical symptoms (5.64 ± 5.72). There was no statistically significant link between demographic characteristics and COVID-19-induced anxiety (P < /em>>0.05). The findings also revealed no statistically significant connection between COVID-19-induced anxiety and newborn weight or Apgar score 1 and 5 minutes after birth (P < /em>>0.05).Conclusion: The definitive incidence of COVID-19 in pregnant women was low. They experienced a moderate level of anxiety caused by COVID-19, which requires the necessary measurements to be taken by the relevant authorities, family and others to reduce this anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic.
