Publications by authors named "B G van Willigen"

Introduction: The postpartum period can be complicated by hemorrhage, frequently caused by uterine atony. Electrohysterography, allowing continuous monitoring of uterine activity, may be a promising alternative for early detection of uterine atony, and thereby contribute to the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. Associations between electrohysterographic parameters postpartum and total blood loss were studied.

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Fetal asphyxia, a condition resulting from the combined effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia, leads to approximately 900,000 annual deaths worldwide. One cause is umbilical cord compression during labor-induced uterine contractions, disrupting the transport of metabolites to and from the placenta, and resulting in asphyxia. Current fetal well-being assessment relies on monitoring fetal heart rate and uterine contractions as indicators of oxygen delivery to the brain.

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Doppler ultrasound is a commonly used method to assess hemodynamics of the fetal cardiovascular system and to monitor the well-being of the fetus. Indices based on the velocity profile are often used for diagnosis. However, precisely linking these indices to specific underlying physiology factors is challenging.

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Objective: Uterine contractions are essential for childbirth, but also for expulsion of the placenta and for limiting postpartum blood loss. Postpartum hemorrhage is associated with almost 25% of the maternal deaths worldwide and the leading cause of maternal death in most low-income countries. Little is known about the physiology of the uterus postpartum, particularly due to the lack of an accurate measurement tool.

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Background: Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal deaths with increasing mortality and morbidity rates with decreasing GA at time of birth. Currently, premature infants are treated in neonatal intensive care units to support further development. However, the organs of, especially, extremely premature infants (born before 28 weeks of GA) are not mature enough to function optimally outside the womb.

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