CHIPS-Child: Testing the developmental programming hypothesis in the offspring of the CHIPS trial.

Objectives: As a follow-up to the CHIPS trial (Control of Hypertension In Pregnancy Study) of 'less tight' (versus 'tight') control of maternal blood pressure in pregnancy, CHIPS-Child investigated potential developmental programming of maternal blood pressure control in pregnancy, by examining measures of postnatal growth rate and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activation.

Methods: CHIPS follow-up was extended to 12 ± 2 months corrected post-gestational age for anthropometry (weight, length, head/waist circumference). For eligible children with consent for a study visit, we collected biological samples (hair/buccal samples) to evaluate HPA axis function (hair cortisol levels) and epigenetic change (DNA methylation analysis of buccal cells).

Validating the Performance of the Modified Early Obstetric Warning System Multivariable Model to Predict Maternal Intensive Care Unit Admission.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the Modified Early Obstetric Warning System (MEOWS) to predict maternal ICU admission in an obstetric population.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Two maternity units in Vancouver, Canada, one with ICU facilities, between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011.