Did we observe changes in obstetric interventions in SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women at the beginning of COVID-pandemic in Belgium? Results of a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Pregnant women are more vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19 compared to their non-pregnant peers. Early in the pandemic, there was a rise in cesarean deliveries and preterm births among infected pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate whether there were any changes in obstetric interventions during the first two waves of the pandemic in Belgium.

Seroprevalence and placental transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in unvaccinated pregnant women.

Purpose: Pregnant women are at risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, potentially leading to obstetric and neonatal complications. Placental transfer of antibodies directed to SARS-CoV-2 may be protective against neonatal COVID-19, but this remains to be studied. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a population of unvaccinated pregnant women and to determine the placental transfer of these antibodies.

Influence of organizational factors on the offer and success rate of a trial of labor after cesarean section in Belgium: an ecological study.

Background: Trial of Labor After Cesarean is an important strategy for reducing the overall rate of cesarean delivery. Offering the option of vaginal delivery to a woman with a history of cesarean section requires the ability to manage a potential uterine rupture quickly and effectively. This requires infrastructure and organization of the maternity unit so that the decision-to-delivery interval is as short as possible when uterine rupture is suspected.

Late miscarriage and stillbirth in asymptomatic and symptomatic hospitalised pregnant women in Belgium during the first and second waves of COVID-19: a prospective nationwide population-based study.

Background: Stillbirth has been recognized as a possible complication of a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, probably due to destructive placental lesions (SARS-CoV-2 placentitis). The aim of this work is to analyse stillbirth and late miscarriage cases in unvaccinated pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first two waves (wild-type period) in Belgium.

Methods: Stillbirths and late miscarriages in our prospective observational nationwide registry of SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women (n = 982) were classified by three authors using a modified WHO-UMC classification system for standardized case causality assessment.

Training for breech deliveries with the mother in an upright position: An innovative adaptation of a simulation model.

Background: Delivery of a breech baby with the mother in an upright position or on all fours has gained a renewed interest. In these positions, the obstetrician or midwife needs to learn new landmarks and maneuvers. A realistic simulation model would be a valuable adjunct for breech on all fours teaching programs.

[Trial of labour after c-section in 2022: a narrative review of the literature].

One in three women in Switzerland gives birth by c-section. This high incidence of c-section frequently exposes obstetricians and midwives to the management of women and their deliveries with a scarred uterus. The decision of couples is multifactorial, but the information that will be delivered by their gynaecologist will necessarily influence the delivery route choice.

Internal podalic version of second twin: Improving feet identification using a simulation model.

Background: Podalic version and breech extraction require high obstetrical expertise. Identifying fetal extremities is the first crucial step for trainees. When this skill is not polished enough, it increases the inter-twin delivery interval and can even jeopardize the whole manoeuver.

Implementation of fetal clinical exome sequencing: Comparing prospective and retrospective cohorts.

Purpose: We compared the diagnostic yield of fetal clinical exome sequencing (fCES) in prospective and retrospective cohorts of pregnancies presenting with anomalies detected using ultrasound. We evaluated factors that led to a higher diagnostic efficiency, such as phenotypic category, clinical characterization, and variant analysis strategy.

Methods: fCES was performed for 303 fetuses (183 ongoing and 120 ended pregnancies, in which chromosomal abnormalities had been excluded) using a trio/duo-based approach and a multistep variant analysis strategy.

Iron Deficiency Is a Risk Factor for Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy: A Population-Based Study in Belgium.

Iron deficiency affects thyroid hormone synthesis by impairing the activity of the heme-dependent thyroid peroxidase. The prevalence of iron deficiency is elevated particularly in pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate the effects of iron status on thyroid function in a nationally representative sample of mildly iodine-deficient pregnant women.

Using simulation team training with human's factors components in obstetrics to improve patient outcome: A review of the literature.

Objective: to assess the evidence from multidisciplinary simulation team training in obstetrics that integrates human's factors components on patient outcome.

Introduction: It has been stated that simulation-based education has the potential to improve technical and nontechnical skills. Reports from enquiries into maternal and newborn adverse outcomes, highlight that the majority of incidents are due to a breakdown of communication and a lack of crisis resource management skills (CRM).

Risk factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a secondary analysis of the WAPM study on COVID-19.

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens.

A Tutsi family harbouring two new RHCE variant alleles and a new haplotype in the Rh blood group system.

Background: RHCE*ceEK is a rare RH allele mostly encountered in people of African descent. This allele is defined by four single nucleotide substitutions: c.48G>C, c.

The "Cocoon," first alongside midwifery-led unit within a Belgian hospital: Comparison of the maternal and neonatal outcomes with the standard obstetric unit over 2 years.

Objectives: Our aim was to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with a low-risk pregnancy attending the "Cocoon," an alongside midwifery-led birth center and care pathway, with women with a low-risk pregnancy attending the traditional care pathway in a tertiary care hospital in Belgium.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with a low-risk pregnancy who chose to adhere to the Cocoon pathway of care (n = 590) and women with a low-risk pregnancy who chose the traditional pathway of care (n = 394) from March 1, 2014, to February 29, 2016. We performed all analyses using an intention-to-treat approach.

First trimester ultrasound prediction of velamentous cord insertions: a prospective study.

Introduction: The marginal and velamentous cord insertions complicate around 8% of pregnancies and are at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. Their visualisation seems to decrease with advancing gestational age. Our aim was to analyse whether an umbilical cord insertion in the lower third of the uterus during the first trimester could predict abnormal cord insertions later in pregnancy.

Change in prevalence of gestational diabetes and obstetric complications when applying IADPSG screening criteria in a Belgian French speaking University Hospital. A retrospective cohort study.

Background: In April 2012 our institution chose to switch from a two- step criteria for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) screening, to the International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group (IADSPG) criteria. This shift led to an increased prevalence of GDM in our pregnant population. We designed a study in order to estimate the magnitude of the increase in GDM prevalence before and after the switch in screening strategy.

An exploratory cost-effectiveness analysis: Comparison between a midwife-led birth unit and a standard obstetric unit within the same hospital in Belgium.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare midwife-led and consultant-led obstetrical care for women with uncomplicated low-risk pregnancies. We estimated costs and maternal outcomes in both units to achieve a cost-effectiveness ratio.

Design: The cost-analysis was made according to the "intention to treat" concept in order to minimize bias associated with the non-randomization of participants.

Data analysis issues for allele-specific expression using Illumina's GoldenGate assay.

Background: High-throughput measurement of allele-specific expression (ASE) is a relatively new and exciting application area for array-based technologies. In this paper, we explore several data sets which make use of Illumina's GoldenGate BeadArray technology to measure ASE. This platform exploits coding SNPs to obtain relative expression measurements for alleles at approximately 1500 positions in the genome.

High-throughput analysis of candidate imprinted genes and allele-specific gene expression in the human term placenta.

Background: Imprinted genes show expression from one parental allele only and are important for development and behaviour. This extreme mode of allelic imbalance has been described for approximately 56 human genes. Imprinting status is often disrupted in cancer and dysmorphic syndromes.

Prediction of severity of symptoms in iatrogenic ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome by follicle-stimulating hormone receptor Ser680Asn polymorphism.

The ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a potentially life-threatening complication of ovarian stimulation treatments for in vitro fertilization (i.v.f.