'Goodbye and good luck' Midwifery care to pregnant undocumented migrants in Norway: A qualitative study.

Objective: To explore community midwives' experiences caring for pregnant undocumented migrants seeking prenatal care in Norway.

Method: Due to the relatively limited previous research and number of pregnant undocumented migrants we used an explorative approach through qualitative method. Ten community midwives were interviewed after snowball sampling in Oslo, the capital of Norway.

Use of non-governmental maternity services and pregnancy outcomes among undocumented women: a cohort study from Norway.

Background: In 2011 Norway granted undocumented women the right to antenatal care and to give birth at a hospital but did not include them in the general practitioner and reimbursement schemes. As a response to limited access to health care, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) have been running health clinics for undocumented migrants in Norway's two largest cities. To further facilitate universal health coverage, there is a need to investigate how pregnant undocumented women use NGO clinics and how this affects their maternal health.

Public health nurses' encounters with undocumented migrant mothers and children.

Objectives: Undocumented migrant children (UMC) are often affected by policies and practices that do not take their best interests into account. The aim of this study was to describe how public health nurses (PHNs) experienced challenges and dilemmas in ensuring the best interests of the undocumented migrant child.

Design: This study had a qualitative descriptive design.

Does prolonged labor affect the birth experience and subsequent wish for cesarean section among first-time mothers? A quantitative and qualitative analysis of a survey from Norway.

Background: Prolonged labor might contribute to a negative birth experience and influence first-time mothers' attitudes towards future pregnancies. Previous studies have not adjusted for possible confounding factors, such as operative delivery, induction and postpartum hemorrhage. We aimed to determine the impact of prolonged labor on birth experience and a wish for cesarean section in subsequent pregnancies.

Pregnancy and advanced maternal age-The associations between regular exercise and maternal and newborn health variables.

Introduction: Despite the associations between delayed childbearing and poorer maternal and perinatal outcomes, little is known about these issues in regular exercisers and in women with healthy lifestyles. The aims of the present study were to: (a) compare lifestyle variables and exercise, pregnancy and birth outcomes in women ≥35 years and women <35 years of age, and (b) investigate the associations between regular exercise and maternal health and newborn variables in women of advanced maternal age.

Material And Methods: Healthy pregnant women (≥35 years, n = 104 and <35 years, n = 362) were allocated to the study from Rikshospitalet, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.

De-medicalization of birth by reducing the use of oxytocin for augmentation among first-time mothers - a prospective intervention study.

Background: The use of synthetic oxytocin for augmentation of labor is rapidly increasing worldwide. Hyper-stimulation is the most significant side effect, which may cause fetal distress and operative delivery. We performed an intervention consisting of an educational program and modified guidelines to achieve a more appropriate use of oxytocin.

β-cell dysfunction in women with previous gestational diabetes is associated with visceral adipose tissue distribution.

Context: Glucose intolerance in pregnancy predicts an increased risk of future type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate glucose metabolism in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at 5 years follow-up and identify risk factors associated with disturbed glucose metabolism post-partum.

Design: This follow-up study included 300 consecutively enrolled women from a previous population-based cohort study.

Attitudes and awareness towards weight gain among normal weight and overweight pregnant women.

Objectives: (1) To evaluate the proportion who correctly classify- or misclassify maternal weight gain; (2) to investigate weight gain attitudes, and (3) to compare weight gain attitudes with weight gain recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), as well as background and lifestyle factors.

Methods: This is secondary analysis of cohort data collected as part of a prospective study of determinants of macrosomic infants in Norway (the STORK project). The participants (n = 467) answered a self-administered questionnaire, including report on maternal weight gain and attitudes towards weight gain, in mean gestation week 36.

Newborn body fat: associations with maternal metabolic state and placental size.

Background: Neonatal body composition has implications for the health of the newborn both in short and long term perspective. The objective of the current study was first to explore the association between maternal BMI and metabolic parameters associated with BMI and neonatal percentage body fat and to determine to which extent any associations were modified if adjusting for placental weight. Secondly, we examined the relations between maternal metabolic parameters associated with BMI and placental weight.

Stages of change model for participation in physical activity during pregnancy.

Background: The transtheoretical model (TTM) has been successful in promoting health behavioral change in the general population. However, there is a scant knowledge about physical activity in relation to the TTM during pregnancy. Hence, the aims of the present study were (1) to assess readiness to become or stay physically active according to the TTM and (2) to compare background and health variables across the TTM.

Shape information from glucose curves: functional data analysis compared with traditional summary measures.

Background: Plasma glucose levels are important measures in medical care and research, and are often obtained from oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) with repeated measurements over 2-3  hours. It is common practice to use simple summary measures of OGTT curves. However, different OGTT curves can yield similar summary measures, and information of physiological or clinical interest may be lost.

Umbilical cord levels of sclerostin, placental weight, and birth weight are predictors of total bone mineral content in neonates.

Context: During pregnancy, changes occur in the maternal calcium homeostasis to fulfill fetal demand. We hypothesized that the fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) system and Wnt signaling pathway are important for normal skeletal development in the offspring.

Aims: Circulating α-klotho, FGF23, sclerostin, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) at the fetal and maternal sides of the placenta were measured to investigate associations with newborn bone mass independent of maternal BMI, calcium and phosphate levels, placental weight, and birth weight.

Fetal growth versus birthweight: the role of placenta versus other determinants.

Introduction: Birthweight is used as an indicator of intrauterine growth, and determinants of birthweight are widely studied. Less is known about determinants of deviating patterns of growth in utero. We aimed to study the effects of maternal characteristics on both birthweight and fetal growth in third trimester and introduce placental weight as a possible determinant of both birthweight and fetal growth in third trimester.

Impact of ethnicity on gestational diabetes identified with the WHO and the modified International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) recently proposed new criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We compared prevalence rates, risk factors, and the effect of ethnicity using the World Health Organization (WHO) and modified IADPSG criteria.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of 823 (74% of eligible) healthy pregnant women, of whom 59% were from ethnic minorities.

The STORK Groruddalen research programme: A population-based cohort study of gestational diabetes, physical activity, and obesity in pregnancy in a multiethnic population. Rationale, methods, study population, and participation rates.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and obesity may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers and offspring. We have set up a research programme to identify predictors for GDM and fetal growth in a multiethnic population in Oslo to improve the identification of high risk pregnancies and reduce adverse short and long-term outcomes for mothers and offspring.

Aims: To present the rationale, methods, study population and participation rates.

The interleukins IL-6 and IL-1Ra: a mediating role in the associations between BMI and birth weight?

The biological mechanisms in the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and birth weight are not well understood, but are likely to involve maternal plasma glucose levels and nutrient transport across the placenta, both important modulators of fetal growth. Adipose tissue contributes to circulating levels of interleukins that may affect glucose metabolism and possibly also placental transport of nutrients. We investigated possible mediating roles of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 1 Receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in 208 pregnant women.

Assessing body composition in healthy newborn infants: reliability of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is used to measure body composition in newborns; however, data on DXA accuracy are limited. We investigated the reliability of body composition measurements by DXA. The present study included 207 normal-term newborn babies, recruited from a larger study on the determinants of birth weight in healthy pregnancies (STORK) between 2005 and 2008.

Overweight is associated with impaired beta-cell function during pregnancy: a longitudinal study of 553 normal pregnancies.

Objective: To monitor beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity longitudinally in a large cohort of pregnant women to elucidate mechanisms that influence glycemic control in pregnancy.

Design And Methods: Five hundred and fifty-three pregnant Scandinavian women underwent 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at weeks 14-16 and 30-32. Insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) and beta-cell function (ratio of AUC(insulin) to AUC(glucose), AUC(ins/glc)) were calculated from 520 complete tests, and subsequently beta-cell function was adjusted for insulin sensitivity, rendering an oral disposition index (DI(o)).

Why do pregnant women stop exercising in the third trimester?

Unlabelled: Current exercise guidelines recommend pregnant women to exercise throughout pregnancy. However, a high percentage of pregnant women are sedentary, and there is an increasing decline of physical activity and exercise, especially in the third trimester.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare demographic and health-related factors in pregnant women exercising and not exercising in the third trimester.

Increased risk of macrosomia among overweight women with high gestational rise in fasting glucose.

Objectives: Maternal overweight is a risk factor for gestational diabetes (GDM) and for newborn macrosomia. Among women without GDM, it is not well understood why some women with high body mass index (BMI) give birth to macrosomic newborns while others do not. We wanted to explore the effect of BMI and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) on the risk of newborn macrosomia.

Association between aerobic fitness in late pregnancy and duration of labor in nulliparous women.

It is established that the level of physical activity in the population generally is too low, and data indicate that pregnant women are no exception. Studies of the effects of aerobic fitness on delivery outcomes are limited. In this observational study, we investigated the effect of aerobic fitness on duration of labor in nulliparous women who started labor spontaneously.

Birth complications, overweight, and physical inactivity.

Objective: Maternal lifestyle factors are potential predictors of pregnancy complications. We examined relations between modifiable factors and delivery complications.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Retinol-binding protein-4 is not strongly associated with insulin sensitivity in normal pregnancies.

Objective: Recently, experimental and clinical studies suggest that retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) may provide a link between obesity and insulin resistance. However, no previous studies have investigated the impact of circulating RBP4 on measures of insulin resistance in normal pregnant women, and the objective of this study is to measure serum RBP4 in early and late pregnancy and relate these to measures of insulin resistance and secretion controlling for changes in fat mass.

Design And Methods: Samples were obtained during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) from 44 normal pregnancies at weeks 14-16 and 30-32.

Modifiable determinants of fetal macrosomia: role of lifestyle-related factors.

Background: Newborn macrosomia is associated with both short- and long-term health risks for the infant, and increases the prevalence of birth complications. Parity, maternal age and gender of the child are known variables that influence fetal growth. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate prospectively the contributions of modifiable maternal predictors of fetal macrosomia (> or =4,200 g), which included lifestyle-related factors, such as nutritional intake, physical activity, and plasma glucose values, in addition to overweight and pregnancy weight gain.