Risk of stillbirth in singleton gestations following in vitro methods of conception: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In vitro methods of conception are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. It is unclear if the risk of stillbirth is increased also.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the risk of stillbirth in singleton gestations following in vitro methods of conception compared to non-in vitro conceptions.

Are There Differences between Women who Choose Elective Repeat Caesarean Versus Trial of Labour in St. John's, NL?

Objectives: To compare the demographic and clinical characteristics between women who chose elective repeat Caesarean section (ERCS) versus trial of labour after Caesarean section (TOLAC) in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case control study of women with live singleton gestations delivering at term in St.

A comparison of breastfeeding rates by obesity class.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare breastfeeding initiation rates for women across body mass index (BMI) classes, including normal BMI (18.50-24.99 kg/m), overweight (25.

Atonic Postpartum Hemorrhage: Blood Loss, Risk Factors, and Third Stage Management.

Objective: Atonic postpartum hemorrhage rates have increased in many industrialized countries in recent years. We examined the blood loss, risk factors, and management of the third stage of labour associated with atonic postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods: We carried out a case-control study of patients in eight tertiary care hospitals in Canada between January 2011 and December 2013.

The Impact of Maternal Obesity on Breastfeeding.

Objective: To compare the rate of any breastfeeding at the time of postpartum hospital discharge between obese women (BMI ≥ 30.00 kg/m(2)) and women with a normal BMI (18.50 to 24.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies delivered at 23 weeks' gestation.

Objective: To evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies delivered at 23+0 to 23+6 weeks' gestation.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included women in the Canadian Perinatal Network who were admitted to one of 16 Canadian tertiary perinatal units between August 1, 2005, and March 31, 2011, and who delivered at 23+0 to 23+6 weeks' gestation. Women were included in the network if they were admitted with spontaneous preterm labour with contractions, a short cervix without contractions, prolapsing membranes with membranes at or beyond the external os or a dilated cervix, preterm premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, gestational hypertension, or antepartum hemorrhage.

Cervical assessment in women with hysteroscopic uterine septum resection: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To estimate whether cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography in women with a history of hysteroscopic uterine septum resection predicts spontaneous preterm birth <35 weeks' gestation.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared women who had undergone hysteroscopic metroplasty, and were subsequently pregnant with singleton gestations delivered January 2003 to December 2012, to a low-risk control group. Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical lengths were measured 16-30 weeks' gestation.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes of extreme obesity in pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of extreme obesity (pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 50.0 kg/m2) in pregnancy on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Newfoundland and Labrador Perinatal Database to compare obstetric outcomes in women with extreme obesity and those with a normal BMI (pre-pregnancy BMI 18.

Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on perinatal outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on perinatal outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of cervical length in asymptomatic high-risk women with a short cervical length in the previous pregnancy.

Objective: To determine if asymptomatic women at high risk of preterm delivery who had a short cervical length in their previous pregnancy and delivered at term are at increased risk of having a short cervical length in their next pregnancy, and whether they are at increased risk of preterm birth.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included high-risk (those with a history of spontaneous preterm birth, uterine anomaly or excisional treatment for cervical dysplasia) asymptomatic women who were pregnant with a singleton gestation delivering between April 2003 and March 2010, who had had a previous pregnancy and who had transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurement performed at 16-30 weeks' gestation in both pregnancies. Comparison was among women who had a short cervical length (< 3.

The Canadian Perinatal Network: a national network focused on threatened preterm birth at 22 to 28 weeks' gestation.

Objective: The Canadian Perinatal Network (CPN) maintains an ongoing national database focused on threatened very preterm birth. The objective of the network is to facilitate between-hospital comparisons and other research that will lead to reductions in the burden of illness associated with very preterm birth.

Methods: Women were included in the database if they were admitted to a participating tertiary perinatal unit at 22+0 to 28+6 weeks' gestation with one or more conditions most commonly responsible for very preterm birth, including spontaneous preterm labour with contractions, incompetent cervix, prolapsing membranes, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction, or antepartum hemorrhage.

Follow-up cervical length in asymptomatic high-risk women and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

Objective: To determine whether further cervical length shortening by transvaginal ultrasonography in asymptomatic high-risk women with a short cervical length adds additional predictive value for spontaneous preterm birth and perinatal morbidity.

Study Design: Women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth, loop electrosurgical excision procedure, cone biopsy or uterine anomaly, who were pregnant with singleton gestations and were found by transvaginal ultrasonography to have a cervical length <3.0 cm at 20 to 28 weeks' gestation, and who underwent a follow-up cervical length within 3 weeks were evaluated, comparing those with further cervical length shortening (>10%) to those without further shortening.

Randomized trial of oral misoprostol before endometrial biopsy.

Objective: To determine if the use of oral misoprostol in women undergoing endometrial biopsy reduces procedural discomfort.

Methods: Women undergoing endometrial biopsy were randomized to receive either 400 microg misoprostol or a vitamin B6 placebo orally 12 hours prior to the procedure, and were stratified based on menopausal status. The primary outcome was procedural discomfort on a visual analogue scale (0-10).

The effect of gestational weight gain by body mass index on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes in different body mass index (BMI) classes.

Methods: We compared maternal and neonatal outcomes based on gestational weight gain in underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese (BMI>or=40.00) women.

Use of transvaginal ultrasonography to predict preterm birth in women with a history of preterm birth.

Objective: To investigate whether cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography predicts spontaneous preterm birth at < 35 weeks' gestation in women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth, stratified by spontaneous preterm birth history subtype (preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) or preterm labor with intact membranes at onset of labor).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth that were subsequently pregnant with singleton gestations, compared with a low-risk control group. Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical lengths were measured at 24 to 30 weeks of gestation.

Transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length to predict preterm birth in asymptomatic women at increased risk: a systematic review.

Objectives: To estimate the ability of cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography in asymptomatic high-risk women to predict spontaneous preterm birth.

Methods: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published in any language between January 1980 and July 2006, using the keywords 'transvaginal ultrasonography' or ('cervix' and ('ultrasound' or 'ultrasonography' or 'sonography')); and ('preterm' or 'premature') and ('delivery' or 'labour/labor' or 'birth'), identifying cohort studies evaluating transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length measurement in predicting preterm birth in asymptomatic women who were considered at increased risk (because of a history of spontaneous preterm birth, uterine anomalies or excisional cervical procedures), with intact membranes and singleton gestations. The primary analysis included all studies meeting the inclusion criteria.

Rectal misoprostol versus oxytocin in the management of the third stage of labour.

Objective: To compare the effect of rectal misoprostol with intramuscular oxytocin in the routine management of the third stage in a rural developing country.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed at two district hospitals in Ghana, West Africa. Four hundred fifty women in advanced labour were enrolled.

A randomized trial of oral misoprostol in premenopausal women before hysteroscopy.

Objective: To determine if the use of oral misoprostol in premenopausal women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy produces a clinically important difference in pre-procedural cervical dilatation.

Methods: At a tertiary care hospital, premenopausal women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy were randomized to receive either 400 microg of misoprostol or a vitamin B6 placebo orally 12 hours before the procedure. Patients were stratified on the basis of parity.

Misoprostol compared with prostaglandin E2 for labour induction in women at term with intact membranes and unfavourable cervix: a systematic review.

Background: Misoprostol is a commonly used prostaglandin to induce labour. A potential risk of induction, however, is caesarean delivery, especially in women with an unfavourable cervix.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of misoprostol, compared with prostaglandin E2 (PgE2), for labour induction in women at term with an unfavourable cervix and intact membranes.

Factors predicting labor induction success: a critical analysis.

Because of the risk of failed induction of labor, a variety of maternal and fetal factors as well as screening tests have been suggested to predict labor induction success. Certain characteristics of the woman (including parity, age, weight, height and body mass index), and of the fetus (including birth weight and gestational age) are associated with the success of labor induction; with parous, young women who are taller and lower weight having a higher rate of induction success. Fetuses with a lower birth weight or increased gestational age are also associated with increased induction success.

Use of misoprostol before hysteroscopy: a systematic review.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of administering misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy in achieving cervical dilatation and reducing complications including cervical laceration.

Data Sources: Computerized searches of MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE were conducted using the key words "hysteroscopy" and "misoprostol." References from identified publications were manually searched and cross-referenced to identify additional relevant articles.

Oral misoprostol versus oxytocin in the management of the third stage of labour.

Objective: To compare the effects of oral misoprostol 800 mug with intramuscular oxytocin 10 IU in routine management of the third stage of labour.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in a rural district hospital in Ghana, West Africa, and enrolled women in labour with anticipated vaginal delivery and no known medical contraindication to prostaglandin administration. Women were randomized to receive oral misoprostol 800 mug or intramuscular oxytocin 10 IU.

Transvaginal ultrasonography in the prediction of preterm birth after treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective: To estimate whether cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography in women having had loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), cold knife conization, or cryotherapy predicts spontaneous preterm birth.

Methods: Women with a history of LEEP, cold knife conization, or cryotherapy and who were subsequently pregnant with singleton gestations were prospectively compared with both a low-risk control group and women with previous spontaneous preterm birth. A transvaginal ultrasonogram measuring cervical length was performed at 24 to 30 weeks of gestation.

Predictors of successful labor induction with oral or vaginal misoprostol.

Objective: To identify independent predictors of successful labor induction with oral or vaginal misoprostol.

Methods: Women enrolled in four previous randomized trials involving oral or vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening and labor induction were included in the present cohort study, with dosing of 25-50 microg every 4 to 6 h vaginally (n = 574) or 50 microg every 4 h orally (n = 207). Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with successful labor induction -- defined as vaginal delivery within 12 h, vaginal delivery within 24 h and spontaneous vaginal delivery.