The maternal body mass index and first-trimester placental (vascular) development.

Background: Maternal obesity is associated with maternal complications, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and related fetal complications, such as fetal growth restriction. During pregnancy, the placenta is one of the key regulators of embryonic and fetal growth. Previous studies mainly investigated placental growth by measuring postpartum placental weight.

Methylome profiling of cell-free DNA during the early life course in (un)complicated pregnancies using MeD-seq: Protocol for a cohort study embedded in the prospective Rotterdam periconception cohort.

Introduction: Placental DNA methylation differences have been associated with timing in gestation and pregnancy complications. Maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) partly originates from the placenta and could enable the minimally invasive study of placental DNA methylation dynamics. We will for the first time longitudinally investigate cfDNA methylation during pregnancy by using Methylated DNA Sequencing (MeD-seq), which is compatible with low cfDNA levels and has an extensive genome-wide coverage.

Impact of corpus luteum number on maternal pregnancy and birth outcomes: the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

Objective: To investigate associations between assisted reproductive technology (ART)-induced alterations in corpus luteum (CL) number during implantation, and maternal pregnancy and birth outcomes. Pregnancies conceived through ART are associated with increased risks of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes, with discrepancies in outcomes between different ART treatment protocols. We hypothesize that this is because the periconceptional hormonal environment regulated by the CL.

Developing an effective and simple digital screening tool to identify inadequate calcium intake in pregnant women: A prediction model in the Rotterdam periconception cohort.

Objectives: An inadequate intake of calcium in pregnancy is associated with higher risks of maternal hypertensive pregnancy disorders, premature birth and intrauterine growth restriction. An evidence based and clinically applicable tool to efficiently estimate the adequacy of calcium intake in pregnant women currently does not exist. The aim of this study is to develop an effective and simple digital screening tool for calcium intake in pregnancy.

Smarter Pregnancy Coaching and Maternal Blood Pressure.

Introduction: Maternal lifestyle behaviors can affect blood pressure with consequences for maternal and offspring health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Smarter Pregnancy digital lifestyle coaching program on maternal blood pressure during the first trimester.

Methods: The study was conducted on data of the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort from 2010 to 2019, and analysis was completed in 2024.

Periconceptional maternal intake of ultra-processed foods, energy and macronutrients the impact on imaging markers of early utero-placental vascular development: The rotterdam periconception cohort.

Background & Aims: The quantity and quality of maternal nutrition in the periconception period is an important determinant for embryonic and foetal development and subsequent pregnancy course and outcome. The intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has increased worldwide and adverse health outcomes have been reported. However, the impact of UPF intake on the placenta, essential for prenatal nourishment, is unknown.

Embryonic size and growth and adverse birth outcomes: the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

Study Question: Is early embryonic size and growth in the first trimester of pregnancy associated with adverse birth outcomes?

Summary Answer: Larger embryonic crown-rump length (CRL) and embryonic volume (EV) are associated with lower odds of adverse birth outcomes, especially small for gestational age (SGA).

What Is Already Known: Preterm birth, SGA, and congenital anomalies are the most prevalent adverse birth outcomes with lifelong health consequences as well as high medical and societal costs. In the late first and second trimesters of pregnancy, fetuses at risk for adverse birth outcomes can be identified using 2-dimensional ultrasonography (US).

Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice Affects the Maternal Gut Microbiota and Immune Response in Mid-Pregnancy.

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This might be due to undesired obesity-induced changes in the maternal gut microbiota and related changes in the maternal immune adaptations during pregnancy. The current study examines how obesity affects gut microbiota and immunity in pregnant obese and lean mice during mid-pregnancy (gestational day 12 (GD12)).

Periconceptional maternal and paternal alcohol consumption and embryonic and fetal development: the Rotterdam periconception cohort.

Research Question: What is the impact of maternal and paternal alcohol consumption in the periconception period on embryonic and fetal development assessed using three-dimensional ultrasound and virtual reality techniques?

Design: This prospective observational study was embedded in the Rotterdam periconception cohort (Predict study). Participating women received longitudinal three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound examinations from week 7 to week 12 of gestation to measure crown-rump length and embryonic volume. Mid-pregnancy fetal size parameters and birth weight were retrieved from medical files.

Maternal serum PlGF associates with 3D power doppler ultrasound markers of utero-placental vascular development in the first trimester: the rotterdam periconception cohort.

Objective (s): Circulating angiogenic factors are used for prediction of placenta-related complications, but their associations with first-trimester placental development is unknown. This study investigates associations between maternal angiogenic factors and utero-placental vascular volume (uPVV) and utero-placental vascular skeleton (uPVS) as novel imaging markers of volumetric and morphologic (branching) development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature.

Methods: In 185 ongoing pregnancies from the VIRTUAL Placenta study, a subcohort of the ongoing prospective Rotterdam Periconception cohort, three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasounds of the placenta were obtained at 7-9-11 weeks gestational age (GA).

Paternal age and first trimester placental size and growth: The Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort.

Introduction: Despite a noticeable trend of delayed fatherhood, less is known about the impact of paternal age on the paternally programmed placenta. We hypothesize that paternal aging affects seminal quality and as such induces ageing-related epigenetic alterations that influence placental growth. Our main aim is to investigate associations between paternal age and first trimester (vascular) placental growth trajectories.

Morphologic development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature is positively associated with embryonic and fetal growth: the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

Study Question: Is morphologic development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature associated with embryonic growth and development, fetal growth, and birth weight percentiles?

Summary Answer: Using the utero-placental vascular skeleton (uPVS) as a new imaging marker, this study reveals morphologic development of the first-trimester utero-placental vasculature is positively associated with embryonic growth and development, fetal growth, and birth weight percentiles.

What Is Known Already: First-trimester development of the utero-placental vasculature is associated with placental function, which subsequently impacts embryonic and fetal ability to reach their full growth potential. The attribution of morphologic variations in the utero-placental vascular development, including the vascular structure and branching density, on prenatal growth remains unknown.

The one-carbon metabolism as an underlying pathway for placental DNA methylation - a systematic review.

Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, are proposed mechanisms explaining the impact of parental exposures to foetal development and lifelong health. Micronutrients including folate, choline, and vitamin B provide methyl groups for the one-carbon metabolism and subsequent DNA methylation processes. Placental DNA methylation changes in response to one-carbon moieties hold potential targets to improve obstetrical care.

The intake of ultra-processed foods and homocysteine levels in women with(out) overweight and obesity: The Rotterdam Periconceptional Cohort.

Purpose: Today's diet consists of a substantial proportion of ultra-processed foods (UPF), especially in women with overweight and obesity in the reproductive period. High UPF intake results in an inadequate and unbalanced diet leading to derangements of several metabolic pathways detrimental to pregnancy and birth outcomes. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether UPF intake in the periconceptional period affects total homocysteine plasma levels (tHcy).

First-trimester 3D power Doppler imaging markers of utero-placental vascular development are associated with placental weight and diameter at birth: The Rotterdam Periconception Cohort.

Introduction: Early utero-placental vascular development impacts placental development and function throughout pregnancy. We investigated whether impaired first-trimester utero-placental vascular development is associated with pathologic features of the postpartum placenta.

Methods: In this prospective observational study of 65 ongoing pregnancies, we obtained three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasounds of the placenta at 7, 9 and 11 weeks of gestation.

Prenatal counseling of an isolated fetal small head circumference during the second trimester expert ultrasound examination.

Objective: To evaluate perinatal and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with an isolated small head circumference (HC) on expert ultrasound examination in the second trimester for further recommendations in prenatal care.

Study Design: In a retrospective cohort we included singleton-pregnancies with a fetal HC > -3.0 SD and ≤ -1.