Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Researchers are studying how serum kisspeptin levels change throughout pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study aims to understand the relationship between kisspeptin, insulin, glucose, and testosterone levels, and to explore whether kisspeptin can predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and other pregnancy complications in PCOS patients. The study is observational and focuses on pregnancies affected by PCOS using the 2003 Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. The study includes two groups: pregnant women aged 18 to 40 diagnosed with PCOS before pregnancy, and healthy pregnant women in the same age range without PCOS. Participants will be registered for prenatal check-ups during the first trimester. This is an observational study, so no specific treatments or interventions will be given. Researchers will monitor kisspeptin and related hormone levels at different stages of pregnancy. Participants will be followed throughout pregnancy, with assessments to measure dynamic changes in serum kisspeptin over 40 weeks. The study will also evaluate how kisspeptin levels relate to the development of GDM and insulin resistance. Participants will undergo regular check-ups, laboratory tests, and hormone measurements. The study will help understand hormonal changes in PCOS pregnancies and their potential impact on complications, with a total participation time covering the full pregnancy period.

Researchers are evaluating postpartum diabetes screening methods and cardiovascular health counseling for individuals who experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The study compares immediate inpatient postpartum oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) before hospital discharge to the current standard outpatient OGTT performed 4-12 weeks after delivery. Additionally, the study explores patient perspectives on postpartum cardiovascular health counseling and risk reduction, including social and structural factors that affect health outcomes. This research is conducted to address the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population and to improve postpartum care. The trial includes two study groups: one receiving an immediate inpatient 2-hour OGTT before discharge, and the other receiving the standard 4-12 week outpatient OGTT. Eligible participants are individuals aged 18 or older, diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and receiving prenatal and postpartum care at the study site. A follow-up phase involves surveys and qualitative assessments between 12 and 24 months postpartum to evaluate barriers and facilitators of cardiovascular health counseling and wellness interventions. Participants will undergo diabetes screening either immediately postpartum or during the standard postpartum visit, with data collected on screening rates up to 12 weeks after delivery. Patient-reported outcomes on cardiovascular health counseling will be gathered within 12 months postpartum, while patient perspectives on postpartum interventions will be assessed between 12 and 24 months postpartum. The study measures include diabetes screening rates, cardiovascular counseling experiences, lifestyle changes, primary care visits, and diabetes treatment satisfaction. This research helps identify ways to improve postpartum screening and cardiovascular health management for individuals with gestational diabetes.

Pregnancy increases the risk of developing blood clots by nearly five times, which can be dangerous for both mother and baby. Researchers are studying whether giving the medication Lovenox three times a day instead of the usual twice daily can help maintain more consistent blood levels and potentially reduce this risk. This study focuses on pregnant women who need therapeutic low molecular weight heparin to prevent clots during pregnancy. Participants in this study will receive Lovenox split into three doses per day for five days. The researchers will measure Factor Xa levels, an indicator of how well the medication is working, four hours after injection. This dosing schedule is being tested because changes in blood volume and kidney function during pregnancy may affect how the medication is processed. During the study, women will have their blood tested to check Factor Xa levels after each Lovenox injection. The study team will monitor these levels to understand how three times daily dosing affects medication consistency. Participation includes regular visits over the treatment period, and the research aims to gather detailed information on the medication's anticoagulation profile in pregnant women.

Pregnancy-related death rates have significantly increased in the United States over the past two decades, with many cases considered preventable. This research focuses on improving awareness and decision-making among postpartum patients, especially African American and Spanish-speaking Latina women, to help them recognize warning signs and seek timely medical care. The study evaluates a mobile health approach designed to support these patients in self-monitoring symptoms and receiving guidance on when to seek help. Participants will use the Maternal Outcome Monitoring and Support (MOMS) system, a smartphone application that allows them to report symptoms related to pregnancy complications. The app provides decision support to help users decide when to contact their healthcare provider or visit an emergency room. This single-arm pilot trial assesses the feasibility and early impact of this intervention in improving patient knowledge and activation during the postpartum period. During the study, participants will engage with the MOMS app from baseline through six weeks postpartum, with researchers measuring changes in patient activation and knowledge of pregnancy-related death warning signs. The study will monitor participants remotely through the app, collecting patient-reported outcomes to evaluate how well the system supports timely care-seeking behavior. This involvement aims to improve postpartum health outcomes in diverse populations facing disparities.

Pregnancy is a crucial time to assess and manage cardiovascular health risks for both mothers and their children. Researchers are studying the use of the American Heart Association's "Life's Essential 8" as a new way to evaluate cardiovascular health in pregnant women. The goal is to better understand how this tool can be applied and to develop appropriate cardiovascular health standards during pregnancy. The study involves observing pregnant women aged 20 to 49 who conceived naturally and are carrying a single baby. Participants will complete questionnaires, undergo clinical follow-ups, and provide specimens for analysis. The research focuses on monitoring cardiovascular health throughout pregnancy to explore its impact on pregnancy outcomes. During the study, researchers will track maternal and newborn health outcomes up to 42 weeks of gestation. Participants will be involved in routine prenatal checkups and data collection to support the study's assessments. This observational study helps gather important information on cardiovascular health during pregnancy without altering the standard care process.

Researchers are investigating whether using the automated insulin delivery system CamAPS FX during pregnancy planning or early pregnancy can improve blood sugar control and fetal growth in women with type 1 diabetes. This national multi-center open-label randomized controlled trial compares the CamAPS FX system to usual insulin treatment methods combined with continuous glucose monitoring. The study focuses on women aged 18 to 45 with type 1 diabetes who are planning pregnancy or are in early pregnancy. Participants will be randomly assigned to either start using the CamAPS FX automated insulin delivery system or continue their usual insulin treatment with continuous glucose monitoring. Women planning pregnancy will begin their assigned treatment before conception and continue throughout pregnancy until one month after delivery, or for up to 52 weeks if they do not become pregnant. Those pregnant at the start will follow their assigned treatment until one month post-delivery. During the study, participants will be closely monitored through continuous glucose data, insulin and carbohydrate tracking, blood tests including HbA1c, and fetal growth assessments via ultrasound. Researchers will evaluate time spent in target blood sugar range and birthweight as primary outcomes, along with various secondary measures such as pregnancy and birth complications, neonatal health, and maternal weight. The study lasts until one month after delivery or up to 52 weeks for those not becoming pregnant, with ongoing safety and health assessments.

Pregnancy raises the risk of blood clots and complications related to the placenta, which can cause serious health issues for both mother and baby. Researchers are studying the balance between autophagy (cell maintenance) and apoptosis (cell death) in the placenta to better understand how these processes may contribute to placental vascular diseases like preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. This study builds on previous research that looked at these cell activities in normal pregnancies. The study involves pregnant women who develop placental vascular complications and are hospitalized at Nimes University Hospital. Blood and urine samples will be collected at the start, then monthly during pregnancy follow-up visits, and again at delivery. These samples will be tested to measure specific proteins related to autophagy and apoptosis, as well as other markers linked to vascular and kidney function. Participants will undergo regular monitoring through blood and urine tests to track changes in cell activity and other biological markers from the start of the study until delivery. Researchers will analyze these samples to understand the cellular mechanisms involved in the placental complications. The study aims to provide new insights that could lead to better screening and prevention strategies for these pregnancy-related vascular problems.

Researchers are studying how different immune cells interact with placental cells and how this interaction may lead to pregnancy complications, especially focusing on preeclampsia. The study aims to understand how uteroplacental syndrome develops into maternal symptoms in preeclampsia by examining immune cell subtypes that cause endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular damage during pregnancy. This observational study includes healthy pregnant women as well as those diagnosed with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or gestational diabetes. Participants will be observed without receiving experimental treatments. The study focuses on comparing immune cell populations, particularly T cells, at the time of preeclampsia diagnosis to those in control pregnancies. Participants will undergo evaluations including flow cytometry to measure T cell populations during pregnancy. Researchers will collect data at the time of preeclampsia diagnosis and compare it with controls at the same gestational stage. The study is sponsored by Charite University in Berlin and includes women aged 18 to 45 years. The total participation duration varies by the timing of diagnosis and pregnancy progress.

Researchers are evaluating a behavioral intervention designed to improve glucose metabolism during pregnancy in African American women who are overweight or obese. This randomized controlled trial compares a culturally tailored sleep-focused intervention to an attention control group to see how each affects maternal metabolic health. The study aims to address disparities in pregnancy complications among this population by focusing on sleep hygiene and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the BETTER intervention, which includes sleep hygiene practices and cognitive-behavioral principles, or the Birth-Prep control group, which involves training about pregnancy-related topics and follow-up. The trial takes place at the University of Illinois health clinics and monitors participants from 16 to 22 weeks of gestation through later pregnancy stages. During the study, participants undergo baseline and follow-up assessments of fasting glucose and insulin resistance between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation. Sleep quality and duration are also evaluated subjectively and objectively at multiple time points. Medical records are reviewed up to three months post-delivery to capture pregnancy outcomes. The trial includes regular monitoring and data collection to assess the effects of the interventions on maternal glucose metabolism and sleep patterns.

This research gathers data and biological samples from pregnant women to study prematurity, preeclampsia, and other pregnancy complications. It combines information from four original studies involving women at different stages of pregnancy, including those with low risk and those diagnosed with preeclampsia. The goal is to better understand early onset preeclampsia and related conditions using medical, social, obstetrical, and ultrasound data along with biological markers and genetics. Participants in the biobank provide blood and urine samples along with detailed clinical and demographic information. The studies include women pregnant with singletons or twins at various early gestational ages, some randomized to receive low-dose aspirin or placebo. Ultrasound examinations and blood pressure measurements are also part of the data collection, with access to medical records for pregnancy outcomes and newborn health. Women in the biobank undergo assessments including blood sample collection, urine testing, blood pressure monitoring, and ultrasound scans. Researchers use this information to measure outcomes such as early onset preeclampsia diagnosed between 20 and 34 weeks, severe preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal anomalies. The study started in 2015 and plans to continue until 2028, offering long-term follow-up of pregnancy complications and their outcomes.