Nutritional assessment and support during pregnancy

Impact of maternal nutrition during early pregnancy and diet during lactation on lactoferrin in mature breast milk

OBJECTIVE

Lactoferrin supplementation is a promising strategy to prevent infections in neonates. Exploring whether maternal nutritional status in early pregnancy and maternal diet during lactation are associated with lactoferrin concentrations in mature human milk can provide early warning and allow timely adjustment.

METHODS

In this follow-up cohort study, 206 participants were recruited at Peking University People's Hospital from June 2018 to June 2019. The levels of albumin and thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) were determined as nutritional indicators during early pregnancy. Information on maternal diet during lactation was collected with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the lactoferrin concentrations in breast milk were examined at around 42 d postpartum.

RESULTS

The median level (interquartile range) of lactoferrin in breast milk was 2844.2 (2568.1, 3103.1) μg/mL. Overall, 5.5% of participants had lower albumin (<40 g/L), and 21.6% had elevated TSH (>2.5 mIU/L), respectively. The concentration of lactoferrin was higher (216.8 [13.4, 420.2] μg/mL) in women with lower albumin levels than in those with normal levels, and elevated TSH had no effect. A 1 g increase in egg intake led to a 0.3 (0.0, 0.6) μg/mL increase in lactoferrin concentration. Lactoferrin levels were also affected by intake of energy, protein, cholesterol, and vitamin A.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with lower albumin levels in early pregnancy had higher levels of lactoferrin in mature breast milk. TSH was not related to lactoferrin levels. Intake of energy, protein, cholesterol, and vitamin A may have contributed to lactoferrin concentrations in milk, and egg intake was positively associated with lactoferrin.

[Pregnancy and Irreversible Loss of Brain Functions - Case Report]

A 29-year-old woman suffered major traumatic brain injury caused by a car accident. As diagnostic measures had revealed an early pregnancy (9th week), treatment on the intensive care unit was continued for 5 months, after unfavourable cerebral prognosis was followed by an irreversible loss of brain function in the 10th week of pregnancy. After assisted vaginal delivery of a healthy child in the 31th week of pregnancy on the critical care unit, organ procurement took place according to the presumed will of the patient. The article presents the details of the critical care therapy and discusses the supportive medical measures. Those measures served primarily to uphold the pregnancy und support the healthy development and delivery of the fetus and only in second instance the organ preservation aiming on organ donation. Necessary measures included maintenance of vital functions, hemostasis of electrolytes, nutrition, treatment of infection, prevention of adverse effects on the fetus, substitution of hormones and vitamins as well as the preparation of a planned or an unplanned delivery.

Ingestão de energia e de nutrientes e baixo peso ao nascer: estudo de coorte com gestantes adolescentes

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a ingestão de energia, de macro e de micronutrientes por adolescentes no primeiro e no segundo trimestres de gestação e estimar sua associação com o peso do concepto ao nascer. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal, incluindo 139 gestantes adolescentes atendidas em serviço de pré-natal de maternidade pública, acompanhadas desde o primeiro trimestre gestacional até o puerpério imediato. Aplicou-se um questionário de frequência de consumo alimentar no primeiro e no segundo trimestres de gestação. O peso e a idade gestacional ao nascer dos recém-nascidos foram coletados dos prontuários hospitalares. Foram estimados médias e intervalo de confiança de 95%. O método dos resíduos foi utilizado para ajustar o consumo de nutrientes pelo consumo energético total. Modelos de regressão linear múltipla foram desenvolvidos para identificar os fatores associados ao peso ao nascer. RESULTADOS: O consumo médio de proteínas (p=0,02), lipídeos (p=0,02), ácidos graxos saturados (p=0,02) e monoinsaturados (p=0,05), colesterol (p=0,01), cálcio (p<0,01), potássio (p=0,01) e fósforo (p<0,01) foi mais elevado entre gestantes que tiveram filhos com peso ao nascer acima de 2500g. Idade gestacional ao parto (β=105,8; p<0,01), número de consultas de pré-natal (β=34,1; p=0,04), consumo de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados (β=7,5; p=0,04) e de ômega-3 (β=74,3; p=0,05) e de colesterol (β=0,4; p=0,04) foram variáveis preditoras do peso ao nascer em modelos de regressão linear múltipla. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil lipídico da dieta da mãe foi o principal preditor do peso do concepto ao nascer, e os resultados sugerem que o acompanhamento nutricional deva ser incluído na rotina dos serviços de atenção pré-natal.

Risks versus benefits of gastrointestinal endoscopy during pregnancy

Although gastrointestinal endoscopy is generally safe, its safety must be separately analyzed during pregnancy with regard to fetal safety. Fetal risks from endoscopic medications are minimized by avoiding FDA category D drugs, minimizing endoscopic medications, and anesthesiologist attendance at endoscopy. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy seems to be relatively safe for the fetus and may be performed when strongly indicated during pregnancy. Despite limited clinical data, endoscopic banding of esophageal varices and endoscopic hemostasis of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding seems justifiable during pregnancy. Flexible sigmoidoscopy during pregnancy also appears to be relatively safe for the fetus and may be performed when strongly indicated. Colonoscopy may be considered in pregnant patients during the second trimester if there is a strong indication. Data on colonoscopy during the other trimesters are limited. Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography seems to be relatively safe during pregnancy and should be performed for strong indications (for example, complicated choledocholithiasis). Endoscopic safety precautions during pregnancy include the performance of endoscopy in hospital by an expert endoscopist and only when strongly indicated, deferral of endoscopy to the second trimester whenever possible, and obstetric consultation.

One life ends, another begins: Management of a brain-dead pregnant mother-A systematic review-

BACKGROUND

An accident or a catastrophic disease may occasionally lead to brain death (BD) during pregnancy. Management of brain-dead pregnant patients needs to follow special strategies to support the mother in a way that she can deliver a viable and healthy child and, whenever possible, also be an organ donor. This review discusses the management of brain-dead mothers and gives an overview of recommendations concerning the organ supporting therapy.

METHODS

To obtain information on brain-dead pregnant women, we performed a systematic review of Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The collected data included the age of the mother, the cause of brain death, maternal medical complications, gestational age at BD, duration of extended life support, gestational age at delivery, indication of delivery, neonatal outcome, organ donation of the mothers and patient and graft outcome.

RESULTS

In our search of the literature, we found 30 cases reported between 1982 and 2010. A nontraumatic brain injury was the cause of BD in 26 of 30 mothers. The maternal mean age at the time of BD was 26.5 years. The mean gestational age at the time of BD and the mean gestational age at delivery were 22 and 29.5 weeks, respectively. Twelve viable infants were born and survived the neonatal period.

CONCLUSION

The management of a brain-dead pregnant woman requires a multidisciplinary team which should follow available standards, guidelines and recommendations both for a nontraumatic therapy of the fetus and for an organ-preserving treatment of the potential donor.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery for the pregnant patient

This article describes clinical approaches for the perioperative management of the pregnant oral and maxillofacial surgical patient. The following topics are discussed: ethical principles of treatment during pregnancy, physiologic changes and their treatment considerations, fetal and maternal risks of various medications, medical problems occurring during pregnancy, and common minimally invasive approaches that the surgeon can apply to minimize the risk to the mother and unborn child. The strategies discussed provide successful treatment outcomes during this important time in the female surgical patient's life.

Hepatic disorders severely affected by pregnancy: medical and obstetric management

Hepatic disorders severely affected by pregnancy include choledochal cysts that can be compressed by the gravid uterus and potentially rupture; hepatic adenomas that exhibit accelerated growth because of hyperestrogenemia during pregnancy; acute intermittent porphyria that is exacerbated by increased female sex hormones during pregnancy; splenic artery aneurysms that can rupture during pregnancy because of compression by the gravid uterus; Budd-Chiari syndrome that is promoted by hyperestrogenemia; and hepatitis E and herpes simplex hepatitis that are particularly severe during pregnancy. Hepatic disorders unique to pregnancy include intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; acute fatty liver of pregnancy; preeclampsia and eclampsia; and hemolysis, elevated liver function tests, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. Most disorders uniquely related to pregnancy are treated by prompt fetal delivery as soon as the fetus is sufficiently mature.

Cardiac arrest in pregnancy and somatic support after brain death

OBJECTIVE

To review the important causes of cardiopulmonary arrest during pregnancy and the recommended modifications to resuscitation protocols when applied to pregnant patients, including the indications for perimortem cesarean section and the expected fetal outcomes, and to review the literature regarding extended somatic support after brain death during pregnancy.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE review of publications relating to cardiac arrest and resuscitation in pregnancy, physiologic changes after brain death, and attempted somatic support of brain-dead pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac arrest during pregnancy is rare, but it is important to recognize the causes, which may be either unrelated to pregnancy or unique to the pregnant woman. For the most part, the resuscitation protocol is the same as for nonpregnant victims of cardiac arrest, with a few important modifications, including especially the need for relieving aortocaval compression by the gravid uterus, the need for rapid intubation, and the importance of rapid perimortem cesarean delivery when indicated. In those rare cases of brain death occurring in a pregnant patient, continued somatic support of the mother may be possible, even for prolonged periods, to extend the pregnancy and further fetal maturation. The expected physiologic changes after brain death, challenges to successful somatic support, and specific recommendations regarding organ support of the brain-dead pregnant woman are reviewed.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and somatic support of the pregnant patient

Cardiopulmonary arrest during pregnancy is a rare event that critical care clinicians must be prepared to manage. The causes of cardiopulmonary arrest during pregnancy, recommended modifications to cardiopulmonary resuscitation protocols that are specific to pregnancy, indications for and timing of perimortem cesarean delivery, and the expected fetal outcomes are reviewed. Rarely, brain death of a pregnant patient may occur in which continued support of the mother is possible to prolong the pregnancy and improve fetal outcome. Prolonged somatic support of pregnant patients who are brain dead presents specific management challenges, but has been accomplished. The physiologic changes that occur after brain death and recommendations for somatic support of the brain dead pregnant patient also are reviewed.

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy results in physiologic changes in almost all organ systems in the body mediated mainly by female sex hormones. Physiologic changes of pregnancy influence the dental management of women during pregnancy. Understanding these normal changes is essential for providing quality care for pregnant women. This review article briefly discusses the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, endocrine, and oral physiologic changes that occur during normal gestation. A summary of current scientific knowledge of ionizing radiation is presented. Information about the compatibility, complications, and excretion of the common drugs during pregnancy is provided. Drugs and their usage during breast-feeding are also discussed. Guidelines for the management of a pregnant patient in the dental office are summarized.