Changes in Maternal Heart Rate Variability and Photoplethysmography Morphology after Corticosteroid Administration: A Prospective, Observational Study.

: Owing to the association between dysfunctional maternal autonomic regulation and pregnancy complications, assessing non-invasive features reflecting autonomic activity-e.g., heart rate variability (HRV) and the morphology of the photoplethysmography (PPG) pulse wave-may aid in tracking maternal health.

Intrapartum non-invasive electrophysiological monitoring: A prospective observational study.

Introduction: Doppler ultrasound cardiotocography is a non-invasive alternative that, despite its poor specificity, is often first choice for intrapartum monitoring. Doppler ultrasound suffers from signal loss due to fetal movements and is negatively correlated with maternal body mass index (BMI). Reported accuracy of fetal heart rate monitoring by Doppler ultrasound varies between 10.

The impact of transmural multiprofessional simulation-based obstetric team training on perinatal outcome and quality of care in the Netherlands.

Background: Perinatal mortality and morbidity in the Netherlands is relatively high compared to other European countries. Our country has a unique system with an independent primary care providing care to low-risk pregnancies and a secondary/tertiary care responsible for high-risk pregnancies. About 65% of pregnant women in the Netherlands will be referred from primary to secondary care implicating multiple medical handovers.

Study protocol: PoPE-Prediction of Preterm delivery by Electrohysterography.

Background: Traditional methods used for prediction of preterm delivery are subjective and inaccurate. The Electrohysterogram (EHG) and in particular the estimation of the EHG conduction velocity, is a relatively new promising method for detecting imminent preterm delivery. To date the analysis of the conduction velocity has relied on visual inspection of the signals.

Cost-effectiveness of cardiotocography plus ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram compared with cardiotocography only.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of addition of ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG; STAN) to cardiotocography (CTG) for fetal surveillance during labor compared with CTG only.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis based on a randomized clinical trial on ST analysis of the fetal ECG.

Setting: Obstetric departments of three academic and six general hospitals in The Netherlands.

Maternal thyroid function and the outcome of external cephalic version: a prospective cohort study.

Background: To investigate the relation between maternal thyroid function and the outcome of external cephalic version (ECV) in breech presentation.

Methods: Prospective cohort study in 141 women (≥ 35 weeks gestation) with a singleton fetus in breech. Blood samples for assessing thyroid function were taken prior to ECV.

Inter-electrode delay estimators for electrohysterographic propagation analysis.

Premature birth is a major cause of mortality and permanent dysfunctions. Several parameters derived from single channel electrohysterographic (EHG) signals have been considered to determine contractions leading to preterm delivery. The results are promising, but improvements are needed.

Estimation of internal uterine pressure by joint amplitude and frequency analysis of electrohysterographic signals.

Monitoring the uterine contraction provides important prognostic information during pregnancy and parturition. The existing methods employed in clinical practice impose a compromise between reliability and invasiveness. A promising technique for uterine contraction monitoring is electrohysterography (EHG).