Perinatal Care Provider Perspectives on Integrating Clinical Research Into the Clinical Infrastructure.

Introduction: This study explored perinatal health care providers' perspectives on the recruitment of pregnant participants and integrating clinical research into their practice, with a particular emphasis on the complexities introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: From May to September 2021, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 perinatal health care providers from an urban US health center. The interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework, a rigorous method for analyzing qualitative data by identifying, coding, and reporting themes.

Midwives' and Obstetric Physicians' Practices Related to Pregnancy Nutrition Counseling: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Dietary intake during pregnancy impacts short- and long-term maternal and fetal health outcomes. Dietary habits are highly individualized and influenced by contextual factors and social determinants of health within each person's lived environment. Midwives and other health care providers are well positioned to facilitate nutrition conversations and interventions with patients related to recommendations and modifications before and during pregnancy.

Food Choice and Dietary Perspectives of Young, Urban, Black Pregnant Women: A Focus Group Study.

Black pregnant women in Chicago are disproportionately affected by maternal morbidity and mortality and are more likely to reside in neighborhoods that experience greater economic hardships and food apartheid than any other race/ethnicity. Addressing social determinants of health such as structural inequities, economic environment, and food apartheid issues may provide insights into eliminating Black maternal morbidity and mortality disparities. This study explores food choice determinants and dietary perspectives of young, urban, Black pregnant women.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Depressive Symptoms among a Nationally Representative Sample of Pregnant Women in the United States.

Background: Prenatal depression affects ∼12% of pregnant women in the United States and is associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and maternal mortality. Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern may reduce and/or protect against depressive symptoms.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and depressive symptoms among pregnant women in the United States.

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Structural Violence and Stress Experiences of Young Pregnant Black People.

Introduction: Approximately 10-20% of individuals suffer from mental health concerns during the prenatal period due to their vulnerability and emotional responses to stressful events. Mental health disorders are more likely to be disabling and persistent for people of color, and they are less likely to seek treatment due to stigma. Young pregnant Black people report experiencing stress due to isolation, feelings of conflict, lack of material and emotional resources, and support from significant others.

Associations between plant-based diets, plant foods and botanical supplements with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common health complications during pregnancy. Medical nutrition therapy is the mainstay of treatment for GDM, however, there is no current consensus on optimal dietary approaches to prevent or control hyperglycaemia in pregnancy. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the relationships between plant-based dietary patterns, plant foods and botanical dietary supplements with GDM and maternal glycaemic biomarkers.

Feasibility Study of Probiotic Supplementation in an Urban Academic Facility among Diverse Pregnant Individuals.

(1) Background: Despite iron intake recommendations, over a quarter of pregnant individuals have iron deficiency. (®) enhances iron absorption in non-pregnant populations and may have positive effects in pregnancy among those with sufficient iron stores; however, no studies have evaluated the effect of ® on maternal and neonatal iron status among individuals at risk for iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. Thus, this study aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of daily oral ® maternal supplementation among diverse pregnant individuals.

Obstetric experiences of young black mothers: An intersectional perspective.

Background: In Chicago, maternal morbidity and mortality is six times more likely among Black birthing people than white, despite policy initiatives to promote maternal health equity. Disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality reflect experiences of structural inequities - including limited quality obstetric care, implicit bias, and racism resulting patient mistrust in the health care system, inadequate social support, and financial insecurity. Although there is published literature on Black women's experiences with obstetric care, including experiences with individual and structural racism, little is known about the intersection of age and race and experiences with health care.

Efficacy of behavioral interventions to improve maternal mental health and breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Despite extensive benefits and high intentions, few mothers breastfeed exclusively for the recommended duration. Maternal mental health is an important underlying factor associated with barriers and reduced rates of breastfeeding intent, initiation, and continuation. Given evidence of a bidirectional association between maternal mental health and breastfeeding, it is important to consider both factors when examining the efficacy of interventions to improve these outcomes.

Recruitment and Retention of Urban Pregnant Women to a Clinical Study Administering an Oral Isotope Dietary Tracer.

Introduction: Pregnant women are a vulnerable population that are difficult to engage in clinical research. We report successful recruitment and retention strategies used in a longitudinal pilot study of urban racially/ethnically diverse pregnant women that involved administration of an orally ingested isotope tracer, multiple venipunctures, biopsy of placenta after delivery, and cord or placental blood collection.

Materials And Methods: We used direct strategies to recruit English-speaking obese and nonobese pregnant women aged 17-45 years, who were in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Feasibility of a Web-Based Intervention to Prevent Perinatal Depression and Promote Human Milk Feeding: Randomized Pilot Trial.

Background: Mothers who identify as Black or African American are more likely to report depressed moods in late pregnancy and early postpartum and have the lowest rates of human milk feeding compared with all other racial groups in the United States. Internet interventions offer the potential to extend preventative and supportive services as they address key barriers, particularly for those navigating the complex and vulnerable early postpartum period. However, there is limited evidence on the feasibility of such interventions for preventing perinatal mental health disorders and improving human milk feeding outcomes in Black mothers.

Relationships between Thai fathers' self-efficacy to support breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration.

Objective: To determine associations between Thai fathers' self-efficacy to support exclusive breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding duration.

Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used.

Participants And Settings: The study sample consisted of 205 father-mother couples (410 participants) with an infant who was 6 months old.

Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Lower Depressive Symptoms among U.S. Adults.

Depression is a leading cause of disability, yet current prevention and treatment approaches have only had modest effects. It is important to better understand the role of dietary patterns on depressive symptoms, which may help prevent depression or complement current treatments. This study examined whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet (Med Diet), determined by the Alternate Med Diet score (aMED), was associated with depressive symptoms in a representative sample of U.

A Mixed-Methods Examination of Inpatient Breastfeeding Education Using a Human Factors Perspective.

The objective of this study was to examine postpartum, inpatient mother-lactation educator (LE) breastfeeding education, resulting perceptions, and patient-reported worries and outcomes. In the breastfeeding literature, there is inadequate insight into the mother-LE relationship, and specifically, the extent to which contextual factors are elicited and information is tailored accordingly. In this study, we were specifically interested in maternal contextual factors.

Prepregnancy Obesity Does Not Impact Placental Iron Trafficking.

Background: Iron is critical for fetal development. Neonates of obese women may be at risk for poor iron status at birth as a result of maternal inflammation-driven overexpression of hepcidin.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine differences in placental transfer of oral iron (57Fe) and expression of placental transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) and ferroportin (FPN) mRNA and protein and their association with maternal and neonatal iron-related parameters, including maternal hepcidin, among women with and without prepregnancy (PP) obesity.

Perinatal granulopoiesis and risk of pediatric asthma.

There are perinatal characteristics, such as gestational age, reproducibly associated with the risk for pediatric asthma. Identification of biologic processes influenced by these characteristics could facilitate risk stratification or new therapeutic targets. We hypothesized that transcriptional changes associated with multiple epidemiologic risk factors would be mediators of pediatric asthma risk.

A Scoping Review: Family and Child Perspectives of Clinic-Based Obesity Treatment.

Problem: Interventions for children with obesity lead to only modest improvements in BMI and long-term outcomes, and data are limited on the perspectives of families of children with obesity in clinic-based treatment. This scoping review seeks to answer the question: What is known about the perspectives of families and children who receive care in clinic-based child obesity treatment?

Eligibility Criteria: Studies were eligible for inclusion in this review that 1) reported parent, family or child perspectives of obesity treatment; 2) addressed concepts identified in the obesity literature as barriers or facilitators to success in obesity treatment from the perspective of the parent/family/child, including reasons for failure to return to clinic and satisfaction with care.

Sample: Twelve studies qualified for final inclusion in this scoping review RESULTS: Families report a lack of interventions tailored to their unique needs and resources.

The Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Prevention and Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Are We There Yet?

Current nonpharmacological approaches, including diet and exercise interventions, for preventing and treating gestational diabetes mellitus are effective for less than 50% of women. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is integrally involved in maternal glucose homeostasis. Changes to the composition and metabolic behavior of the gut microbiota may play a role in the development and persistence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Prepregnancy Obesity Is Not Associated with Iron Utilization during the Third Trimester.

Background: An adequate maternal iron supply is crucial for maternal red blood cell (RBC) expansion, placental and fetal growth, and fetal brain development. Obese women may be at risk for poor iron status in pregnancy due to proinflammatory-driven overexpression of hepcidin leading to decreased iron bioavailability.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of prepregnancy (PP) obesity on third-trimester maternal iron utilization.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Probiotic Species on Iron Absorption and Iron Status.

Background: Strategies to prevent iron deficiency anemia (IDA) have varying effectiveness. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis was to examine the effects of probiotics on iron absorption and iron status-related markers in humans.

Methods: We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines.

Effects of maternal iron status on placental and fetal iron homeostasis.

Iron deficiency is common worldwide and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The increasing prevalence of indiscriminate iron supplementation during pregnancy also raises concerns about the potential adverse effects of iron excess. We examined how maternal iron status affects the delivery of iron to the placenta and fetus.

Racial discrimination predicts greater systemic inflammation in pregnant African American women.

Purpose: Chronic exposure to racial discrimination by pregnant African American women may lead to allostatic overload; thereby, predisposing women to systemic inflammation. Thus, the goal of this study was to examine if experiences of racial discrimination are related to systemic inflammation in pregnant African Americans.

Methods: A sample of 96 African American women from Chicago completed questionnaires and had blood drawn during the second trimester of pregnancy (19.