Optimising the timing of whooping cough immunisation in mums (OpTIMUM) through investigating pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: an open-label, equivalence, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy is recommended in many countries to provide protection to young infants. The best timing for this vaccination is uncertain. In the UK, vaccination is recommended between 16 weeks and 32 weeks of gestation.

Fetal hemivertebra: associations and perinatal outcome.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of antenatal diagnosis of hemivertebra, to quantify the association with coexisting anomalies and to determine the perinatal outcome.

Method: This was a retrospective observational study of all cases of suspected fetal or neonatal hemivertebra identified via the UK Southwest Congenital Anomaly Register (SWCAR) between 2002 and 2012.

Results: From a total of 88 cases of hemivertebra identified during the study period, data were obtained for 67 of them: 45 (10 isolated and 35 with coexisting anomalies) cases were suspected antenatally and 22 (10 isolated and 12 with coexisting anomalies) were diagnosed postnatally.

Pregnancy outcome and follow-up cardiac outcome in women with aortic valve replacement.

Objectives: To compare the maternal, fetal and cardiac outcomes in women who have undergone aortic valve replacement.

Method: Retrospective observational study of all women with aortic valve replacement, who underwent a pregnancy (1998-2012). Maternal-, fetal- and valve-related cardiac outcomes were assessed.

Low-molecular-weight heparin or warfarin for anticoagulation in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves: what are the risks? A retrospective observational study.

The management of anticoagulation in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves is complex. The maternal and fetal outcomes of 32 pregnancies in 15 women on three different anticoagulation regimens were compared. Anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (n=4), warfarin (n=22) and combination therapy (n=6) resulted in adverse maternal events in four (100%), three (50%) and three (14%) women, and resulted in fetal losses in one (25%), 17(77%) and three (50%) pregnancies, respectively.