The effect of obesity on heart rate (heart period) and physiologic parameters during pregnancy.

Obesity and excess gestational weight gain (EGWG) in pregnancy increase the risk for adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Along with careful monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy, early identification of a maladaptive response to the changes of pregnancy may help to avoid adverse outcomes. Simple physiologic markers such as resting heart rate (HR), heart period (HP), and blood pressure (BP) may be powerful predictors of cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy.

Meta-analysis of acustimulation effects on nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.

Objective: We used meta-analysis to examine the effects of acustimulation (AS) on the prevention of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women (NVP).

Methods: Meta-analysis of effects of acustimulations (ie, acupressure, acupuncture, and electrical stimulation [ETS]) on NVP was conducted. Fourteen trials, eight random controlled trials (RCTs), with one RCT having two treatment modalities with four groups, and six crossover controlled trials (N = 1655) published over the last 16 years were evaluated for quality according to the Quality of Reports of Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (QUORUM) guidelines.

Maternal race/ethnicity and predictors of pregnancy and infant outcomes.

Objective: To examine predictors of pregnancy and infant outcomes, including maternal race/ethnicity.

Design: Prospective and observational follow-up of high-risk pregnancies and births.

Participants: Three hundred fifty-four mothers and their preterm and/or high-risk live-born neonates were closely followed in three tertiary care centers from the prenatal to postnatal periods for potential high-risk and/or preterm births that required neonatal resuscitations.