Assessing the multifaceted cervix: examining cervical gland area at cervical length screening to predict spontaneous preterm birth.

Background: Biologically active cervical glands provide a mucous barrier while influencing the composition and biomechanical strength of the cervical extracellular matrix. Cervical remodeling during ripening may be reflected as loss of the sonographic cervical gland area. As sonographic cervical length remains suboptimal for universal screening, adjunctive evaluation of other facets of the mid-trimester cervix may impart additional screening benefit.

Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in relation to preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the environmental influences on child health outcomes (ECHO) program.

Background: Phthalate exposure may contribute to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E), but epidemiologic studies are lacking.

Objectives: To evaluate associations of pregnancy phthalate exposure with development of PE/E and HDP.

Methods: Using data from 3,430 participants in eight Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program cohorts (enrolled from 1999 to 2019), we quantified concentrations of 13 phthalate metabolites (8 measured in all cohorts, 13 in a subset of four cohorts) in urine samples collected at least once during pregnancy.

The Association between Psychosocial Stressors and Gestational Weight Gain: Analysis of the National Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Results from 2012 to 2015.

Objective: Both psychosocial stress and gestational weight gain are independently associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Studies of the association between psychosocial stress and gestational weight gain (GWG) have yielded mixed results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between psychosocial stress and GWG in a large population-based cohort.

Prenatal phthalate exposure and fetal penile length and width.

Background: Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals with anti-androgenic qualities and studies reported associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and infant genitalia. This study investigated whether increased prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with decreased fetal penile measures.

Methods: Data was from the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (2016-2019).

Chronotype and sleep duration interact to influence time to pregnancy: Results from a New York City cohort.

Study Objective: To study associations between nighttime sleep characteristics and time to pregnancy.

Methods: Pregnant people age ≥18 years and<18 weeks' gestation were recruited from 3 New York University Grossman School of Medicine affiliated hospitals in Manhattan and Brooklyn (n = 1428) and enrolled into the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study. Participants in the first trimester of pregnancy were asked to recall their time to pregnancy and their sleep characteristics in the 3 months before conception.

State-specific fertility rate changes across the USA following the first two waves of COVID-19.

Study Question: How did the first two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) waves affect fertility rates in the USA?

Summary Answer: States differed widely in how their fertility rates changed following the COVID-19 outbreak and these changes were influenced more by state-level economic, racial, political, and social factors than by COVID-19 wave severity.

What Is Known Already: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to already declining fertility rates in the USA, but not equally across states. Identifying drivers of differential changes in fertility rates can help explain variations in demographic shifts across states in the USA and motivate policies that support families in general, not only during crises.

Variability and correlations of synthetic chemicals in urine from a New York City-based cohort of pregnant women.

Fetal exposure to environmental chemicals has been associated with adverse health outcomes in children and later into adulthood. While several studies have examined correlations and variability of non-persistent chemical exposures throughout pregnancy, many do not capture more recent exposures, particularly in New York City. Our goal was to characterize exposure to phthalates, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organophosphate pesticides among pregnant women residing in New York City who enrolled in the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (NYU CHES) between 2016 and 2018.

The Effect of Maternal US Nativity on Racial/Ethnic Differences in Fetal Growth.

While racial/ethnic differences in fetal growth have been documented, few studies have examined whether they vary by exogenous factors, which could elucidate underlying causes. The purpose of this study was to characterize longitudinal fetal growth patterns by maternal sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors and examine whether associations with maternal race/ethnicity varied by these other predictors. Between 2016 and 2019, pregnant women receiving prenatal care at NYU Langone Health (New York, New York) were invited to participate in a birth cohort study.

Longitudinal associations of pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain with maternal urinary metabolites: an NYU CHES study.

Background/objectives: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and pre-pregnancy obesity affect a significant portion of the US pregnant population and are linked with negative maternal and child health outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore associations of pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) and GWG with longitudinally measured maternal urinary metabolites throughout pregnancy.

Subjects/methods: Among 652 participants in the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study, a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, targeted metabolomics were measured in serially collected urine samples throughout pregnancy.

Determinants of phthalate exposures in pregnant women in New York City.

Previous studies have provided data on determinants of phthalates in pregnant women, but results were disparate across regions. We aimed to identify the food groups and demographic factors that predict phthalate exposure in an urban contemporary pregnancy cohort in the US. The study included 450 pregnant women from the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study in New York City.

Factors Associated With Changes in Pregnancy Intention Among Women Who Were Mothers of Young Children in New York City Following the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Importance: Early evidence shows a decrease in the number of US births during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet few studies have examined individual-level factors associated with pregnancy intention changes, especially among diverse study populations or in areas highly affected by COVID-19 in the US.

Objective: To study changes in pregnancy intention following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify factors possibly associated with these changes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among women who were currently pregnant or had delivered a live infant and responded to a survey emailed to 2603 women (n = 1560).

Predictors of severe and critical disease in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2.

Background/objective: SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread widely in the US and worldwide. Pregnant women are more likely to develop severe or critical illness than their non-pregnant counterparts. Known risk factors for severe and critical disease outside of pregnancy, such as asthma, diabetes, and obesity have not been well-studied in pregnancy.

Organophosphate pesticide exposure: Demographic and dietary predictors in an urban pregnancy cohort.

Pregnant women are widely exposed to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, which are potentially neurotoxicant for the developing fetus. We aimed to identify principal demographic and dietary predictors of OP pesticide exposure among 450 pregnant women participating in the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (enrolled 2016-19). Urinary concentrations of six dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites (3 dimethyl (DM) metabolites and 3 diethyl (DE) metabolites) of OP pesticides were determined at three time points across pregnancy.

COVID-19 in pregnancy: creating an outpatient surveillance model in a public hospital system.

Objectives We describe a standardized, scalable outpatient surveillance model for pregnant women with COVID-19 with several objectives: (1) to identify and track known, presumed, and suspected COVID-positive pregnant patients both during their acute illness and after recovery, (2) to regularly assess patient symptoms and escalate care for those with worsening disease while reducing unnecessary hospital exposure for others, (3) to educate affected patients on warning symptoms, hygiene, and quarantine recommendations, and (4) to cohort patient care, isolating stable infected patients at home and later within the same physical clinic area upon their return to prenatal care. Methods Pregnant women in an urban public hospital system with presumed or confirmed COVID-19 were added to a list in our electronic medical record as they came to the attention of providers. They received a series of phone calls based on their illness severity and were periodically assessed until deemed stable.

Predictors of Gestational Weight Gain in a Low-Income Hispanic Population: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Health Behaviors, and Psychosocial Stressors.

Hispanic women have a higher prevalence of weight associated complications in pregnancy. This ethnic disparity is likely related to behavior patterns, social circumstances, environmental exposures, and access to healthcare, rather than biologic differences. The objective was to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial stressors and gestational weight gain (GWG) in low-income Hispanic women.

Does the rate of cervical shortening after cerclage predict preterm birth?

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the rate of cervical shortening after cerclage can predict spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).

Methods: Women who had cervical length (CL) assessments after cerclage placement were identified. The rate of cervical shortening and its relationship with SPTB was established using a generalized linear regression model.

Do Doppler studies enhance surveillance of uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic twins?

Objectives: To determine whether isolated abnormal Doppler indices before 28 weeks predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of MCDA twin pregnancies receiving antenatal testing at a single center between 2007 and 2013 was conducted. Sonographic surveillance, including Doppler velocimetric studies of the umbilical artery, ductus venosus, and middle cerebral artery of each twin, was initiated by 28 weeks and repeated at least every 2 weeks.

Impact of change in delivery practice on neonatal and maternal outcomes in cases of significant congenital heart disease.

Objective: Because of data published in 2009 demonstrating improved outcomes among early- vs. late-term infants,practice shifted toward delivering infants at later gestational ages. We examined the effects of this change on neonates with congenital heart disease.