The effect of maternal obesity on the course of labor.

Aim: To determine whether maternal obesity is associated with dysfunctional labor patterns.

Methods: In a case-control design we compared the graphic labor patterns of a group of 105 very obese subjects [body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m(2)] with those of 113 lean controls (BMI<26 kg/m(2)). All entered spontaneous labor at term.

Incidence of fetal echogenic intracardiac foci in a Hispanic population.

Echogenic intracardiac foci (EIF) are small areas of increased echogenicity inside the fetal ventricles. When isolated, they are considered to be a normal finding with prevalence differing among ethnic groups. It has been described as a weak marker for trisomy 21 and other chromosomal anomalies.

Method of risk assessment affects acceptance rate of amniocentesis.

Risk assessment for aneuploidy is an integral part of modern obstetrics. However, patients might choose or reject an amniocentesis, based, not on the risk, but on the screening method used. We examined records of patients referred for evaluation of aneuploidy risk from January 1999 to December 2000.

How does maternal age affect pregnancy planning in Puerto Rico?

Family planning is essential to most prenatal care programs. It is generally believed that maternal age influences the planning of pregnancy with younger patients having higher incidences of unplanned pregnancies. To test this hypothesis we evaluated 470 consecutive cases of pregnant patients regarding pregnancy planning in their current pregnancy.

Failure of intensive fetal monitoring and ultrasound in reducing the stillbirth rate.

Although highly popularized among obstetricians, there are conflicting results regarding the efficacy of high-resolution ultrasound and other fetal well-being tests on improving neonatal outcome and morbidity. To assess the impact of unrestricted fetal well-being tests and sonographic evaluations on the stillbirth rate, we evaluated a total of 1,810 pregnancies 20 weeks of gestation or more from a single private clinic serving a mixed population of high and low-risk patients. All patients were performed high-resolution sonography during each trimester of pregnancy.

A nationwide program for the use of preconceptional folic acid to prevent the development of open neural tube defects. Who is really using folic acid?

A nationwide program directed at stimulating the preconceptional use of folic acid (FA) for the prevention of open neural tube defects has been in effect in Puerto Rico for the last 4 years. To evaluate its effectiveness, 479 questionnaires were distributed among pregnant patients. The average age was 27 (range 14-21), and 64.