The importance of community midwives in Pakistan: Looking at existing evidence and their need during the COVID-19 pandemic

Concerns over the soaring number of COVID-19 cases has taken precedence within the healthcare community and overshadows the jarringly high rates of maternal mortality in developing countries. Pakistan is suffering from high maternal mortality, surges of COVID-19 cases, lack of integrated healthcare system, and rural poverty. Amidst fear and uncertainty, Community Midwives are stepping up as maternal healthcare leaders who are reaching out to neglected pregnant women in rural communities of Pakistan. They are responsible for rebuilding trust, delivering comprehensive and respectful maternal care and providing family planning counseling. To accomplish Sustainable Development Goal #3.1, Pakistan must support community midwives and diminish the barriers they face.

Successful pregnancy after suspected anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy (amniotic fluid embolus). A case report

BACKGROUND

Limited information is available on the recurrence risk of anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy.

CASE

A successful pregnancy followed suspected anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

A review of the literature revealed five cases of successful subsequent pregnancies following anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy. No instances of recurrent anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy have been reported.

Pregnancy outcome after successful external cephalic version

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have suggested that the rate of cesarean delivery in patients who have undergone a successful external cephalic version is higher than expected. This study compares the incidence of cesarean delivery in patients who underwent successful external cephalic version and patients with primary cephalic presentations.

STUDY DESIGN

We identified and reviewed the charts of 92 patients who underwent a successful external cephalic version. We identified a control population of 184 patients from the delivery room logs. We collected outcome data and information on additional risk factors that may affect cesarean delivery rates.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between study and control populations. There was no significant difference in the cesarean delivery rate between study patients (22.8%) and control patients (23.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

We could not demonstrate a significant increase in the cesarean delivery rate for women who underwent successful external cephalic version in comparison with patients in labor with primary cephalic presentations.

The association of increased fetal nuchal translucency and spinal muscular atrophy type I

We report a fetus with spinal muscular atrophy type I, who presented with an increased nuchal translucency at 13 weeks' gestation. A review of the literature reveals additional cases of spinal muscular atrophy type I associated with increased nuchal translucency and suggests increased nuchal translucency may be an early finding in this disorder.