Obstetric risk score - revalidated for triaging high-risk pregnancies in rural areas.

Background: A pregnancy risk score system in popular use in provincial and rural Queensland to assist with the triage decisions regarding the appropriate facility for pregnancy care has been upgraded with more recently recognised pregnancy risk factors.

Aims: To review the usefulness of the revised pregnancy risk score system and the integrity of its continuing use.

Materials And Methods: 459 women attending regional/rural hospitals and 1963 women attending a major specialist hospital for their pregnancy care had a prospective risk score assessed, and the resulting score was examined in relationship to pregnancy outcomes.

Development and validation of a pregnancy symptoms inventory.

Background: Physical symptoms are common in pregnancy and are predominantly associated with normal physiological changes. These symptoms have a social and economic cost, leading to absenteeism from work and additional medical interventions. There is currently no simple method for identifying common pregnancy related problems in the antenatal period.

Overweight and obesity knowledge prior to pregnancy: a survey study.

Background: Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for pregnancy complications. Knowledge about increased risks in overweight and obese women could contribute to successful prevention strategies and the aim of this study is to assess current levels of knowledge in a pregnant population.

Methods: Cross sectional survey of 412 consecutive unselected women in early pregnancy in Brisbane, Australia: 255 public women attending their first antenatal clinic visit and 157 women at private maternal fetal medicine clinics undergoing a routine ultrasound evaluation prior to 20 weeks gestation.

Exercise in obese pregnant women: the role of social factors, lifestyle and pregnancy symptoms.

Background: Physical activity may reduce the risk of adverse maternal outcomes, yet there are very few studies that have examined the correlates of exercise amongst obese women during pregnancy. We examined which relevant sociodemographic, obstetric, and health behaviour variables and pregnancy symptoms were associated with exercise in a small sample of obese pregnant women.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis using data from an exercise intervention for the prevention of gestational diabetes in obese pregnant women.