Short-term neonatal outcomes in diamniotic twin pregnancies delivered after 32 weeks and indications of late preterm deliveries.

Objective: We sought to compare neonatal outcomes in twin pregnancies following moderately preterm birth (MPTB), late preterm birth (LPTB), and term birth and determine the indications of LPTB.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study. MPTB was defined as delivery between 32(0/7) and 33(6/7) weeks and LPTB between 34(0/7) and 36(6/7) weeks.

Demographic differences in Down syndrome livebirths in the US from 1989 to 2006.

Objective: To explore demographic differences in Down syndrome livebirths in the United States.

Methods: Using National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) birth certificate data from 1989 to 2006 we analyzed Down syndrome livebirths after correcting for under-reporting. We created six subsets based on maternal age (15-34 and 35-49 years old); US regions, that is, Northeast, Midwest, South and West; marital status, (married, unmarried); education, ( ≤ 12 years, ≥ 13 years); race, (white, black); and Hispanic ethnicity, (non-Hispanic, Hispanic).

Toxoplasmosis, parvovirus, and cytomegalovirus in pregnancy.

Several infections in adults warrant special consideration in pregnant women given the potential fetal consequences. Among these are toxoplasmosis, parvovirus B19, and cytomegalovirus. These infections have an important effect on the developing fetus depending on the timing of infection.

Modifying risk for aneuploidy with second-trimester ultrasound after a positive serum screen.

Prenatal diagnosis for aneuploidy (primarily Down syndrome) has evolved over the past 4 decades. It started as a screening process using maternal age of 35 years or older as a risk factor to offer patients the option for prenatal diagnosis. The actual diagnosis used an invasive procedure (amniocentesis) to obtain fetal cells for processing to determine fetal karyotype.