The role of umbilical vein blood flow assessment in the prediction of fetal growth velocity and adverse outcome: a prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Identifying fetal growth restriction and distinguishing it from a constitutionally small fetus can be challenging. The umbilical vein blood flow is a surrogate parameter of the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the fetus, providing valuable insights about the function of the placenta. Nevertheless, currently, this parameter is not used in the diagnosis and management of fetal growth restriction.

Maternal cardiovascular profile is altered in the preclinical phase of normotensive early and late intrauterine growth restriction.

Background: The maternal cardiovascular profile of patients who develop late fetal growth restriction has yet to be well characterized, however, a subclinical impairment in maternal hemodynamics and cardiac function may be present before pregnancy and may become evident because of the hemodynamic alterations associated with pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate if maternal hemodynamics and the cardiovascular profile might be different in the preclinical stages (22-24 weeks' gestation) in cases of early and late fetal growth restriction in normotensive patients.

Study Design: This was a prospective echocardiographic study of 1152 normotensive nulliparous pregnant women at 22 to 24 weeks' gestation.

Nitric oxide donor increases umbilical vein blood flow and fetal oxygenation in fetal growth restriction. A pilot study.

Introduction: To evaluate the maternal and fetal hemodynamic effects of treatment with a nitric oxide donor and oral fluid in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction.

Methods: 30 normotensive participants with early fetal growth restriction were enrolled. 15 participants were treated until delivery with transdermal glyceryl trinitrate and oral fluid intake (Treated group), and 15 comprised the untreated group.