OBJECTIVE: The investigational AS04-adjuvanted herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) glycoprotein D (gD2) subunit prophylactic vaccine ('HSV vaccine'; GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines) has been shown to be well tolerated in adults, but limited data exist for pre-teen and adolescent girls, a likely target population. The primary objective of this study was to compare the occurrence of serious adverse events (SAEs) over 12 months between HSV vaccine recipients and saline recipients (placebo control group) in pre-teen and adolescent girls. The immunogenicity of the HSV vaccine was also assessed.

METHODS: Healthy girls aged 10-17 years, stratified by age (10-15 years; 16-17 years), were randomised 2:1:1 to receive the HSV vaccine, a hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix™; HAV control) or placebo (saline) according to a 0-, 1-, 6-month schedule. Participants and study personnel not involved in the preparation or administration of vaccines were blinded to treatment. Safety and immunogenicity analyses were performed overall and by age (10-15 years; 16-17 years) and HSV serostatus.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in the percentage of subjects with SAEs was observed between the HSV and saline group, or between the HSV and pooled control (HAV and saline) groups. The HSV vaccine was well tolerated, although a higher incidence of solicited local symptoms was observed in the HSV group than in the control group. Neither age nor HSV serostatus at the time of study entry had an impact on the safety profile of this vaccine. The HSV vaccine was immunogenic regardless of pre-vaccination HSV serostatus. Higher anti-gD geometric mean concentrations were observed in HSV-1 seropositive participants than in HSV-1 seronegative participants.

CONCLUSION: The HSV vaccine had an acceptable safety profile, and was well tolerated and immunogenic when administered to girls aged 10-17 years regardless of age or HSV pre-vaccination serostatus.

Our objective was to assess parents' expectations about participating in antenatal parenthood education classes and to determine whether their expectations might be related to gender, age, and educational level. Data from 1,117 women and 1,019 partners residing in three cities in Sweden were collected with a questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Participants believed that antenatal education classes would help them to feel more secure as parents and to be better oriented toward childbirth. Men had more positive expectations about the childbirth than the women. The participants mostly wanted help in preparing for parenthood and in learning infant care skills, followed by help in preparing for childbirth. The participants' expectations were affected by gender, age, and educational level. The expectant parents appeared to want more focus on preparation for parenthood than on childbirth.

The aim of this study was to describe perceptions of parenthood education among midwives and obstetricians in charge of antenatal care in Sweden. Focus group interviews of 25 obstetricians and midwives were conducted. Data were analyzed with a phenomenographic approach. Five main categories emerged: aim of the parenthood education, content and expectations, implementation, support to group leaders, and strategies for the future. There is a strong belief in parenthood education, and the overall aim was considered to be support in the transition to parenthood. Contents should focus on awareness of the expected child, confidence in the biological processes, and the changes of roles. Pedagogies training, cost effectiveness, development, and the need to reach target groups were emphasized.

Children born with non-optimal birth characteristics — that is, are small for gestational age and/or preterm — have an increased risk for several long-term effects such as neurological sequelae and chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to examine whether twins exhibited a different outcome, compared with singletons, in terms of hospitalization during adolescence and early adulthood, and to what extent differences remain when considering the divergence in birth characteristics between singletons and twins. Persons born between 1973 and 1983 in Sweden and surviving until age 13 were included and followed until the end of 2006. Data on birth characteristics, parental socio-demographic factors, and hospitalizations were collected from national registers. Adjusting for parental socio-demographic factors, twins had a higher risk of being hospitalized than singletons (odds ratio, OR = 1.17, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.10–1.25) and more often due to ‘Congenital anomalies’ (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.06–1.28), ‘Infections’ (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.08–1.20), ‘External causes of illness’ (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.06–1.15), and ‘Diseases of the nervous system’ (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.10–1.26). Stratifying for birth characteristics, this difference diminishes, and for some diagnoses non-optimal twins seem to do slightly better than non-optimal singletons. Thus, twins with non-optimal birth characteristics had a lower risk of hospitalization than non-optimal singletons on, for example, ‘Congenital anomalies’ and ‘Diseases of the nervous system’ (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.77–0.96; OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81–0.97, respectively) and Total (any) hospitalization (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.83–0.92). Among those with optimal birth characteristics, twins had an increased hospitalization due to ‘External causes of illness’ (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02–1.13) compared with optimal singletons. Twins have higher hospitalization rates than singletons. In stratifying for birth characteristics, this difference diminishes, and for some diagnoses, non-optimal twins seem to do less poorly than non-optimal singletons.

To date several studies have investigated the intergenerational effect of preterm and small-for-gestational-age births. However, most studies excluded both twin mothers and twin offspring from the analyses. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the intergenerational effect of preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) among twins and singletons.

A prospective population based register study of mother-first-born offspring pairs recorded in the Swedish Medical Birth Register was performed. The study included 4073 twins and 264,794 singletons born in 1973-1983 and their firstborns born in 1986-2009. Preterm birth was defined as birth <37 weeks of gestation and SGA as < 2 standard deviations of the Swedish standard. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate the intergenerational effect of each birth characteristic. Adjustments were made for maternal grandmothers and mother’s socio-demographic factors in addition to maternal birth- characteristics.

Among mothers born as singletons, being born preterm was associated with an increased risk for delivering a preterm child (adjusted OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.29-1.50) while being born SGA increased the likelihood of a SGA child (adjusted OR 3.04, 95% CI 2.80-3.30) as well as a preterm child (adjusted OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.20-1.40). In twin mothers, the corresponding ORs tended to be lower and the only statistically significant association was between a SGA mother and a SGA child (adjusted OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.40-3.31). A statistically significant interaction between twinning and mother’s size for gestational was identified in a multivariate linear regression analysis indicating that singleton mothers born SGA were associated with a lower birth weight compared to mothers not born SGA.

Preterm birth and SGA appear to be transferred from one generation to the next, although not always reaching statistical significance. These effects seem to be less evident in mothers born as twins compared with those born as singletons.

Background Twinning has been shown to be associated with a reduced reproductive rate compared to singletons. This can partly be explained by the birth-characteristics pertaining to twinning as many twins are born preterm, with low birth weight or small for gestational age. However, the intergenerational reproductive rate may also be due to familial factors such as number of siblings.

Methods This is a register-based study of all men and women born in Sweden between 1973 and 1993 who were living in Sweden at 13 years of age. Data on the study objects’ own births as well as their offspring, parental socio-demographic factors were collected from Swedish population based registers. Hazard ratios for the likelihood of becoming a parent were estimated using Cox’s proportion hazard models. All models were adjusted for socio-demographic and birth characteristics.

Results Adjusting for number of siblings, socio-demographic factors and birth characteristics, twinning was associated with a decreased likelihood of becoming a first-time parent, compared with singletons both for females (HR (95% CI)=0.90 (0.88-0.93) and males (HR (95% CI)=0.96 (0.93-0.99). Having 3 or more siblings increased the chance of becoming a first-time parent among both male twins (HR (95% CI)=1.17 (1.08-1.27)) and singletons (HR (95% CI)=1.16 (1.15-1.18)) compared to having fewer than 3 siblings. This increased likelihood of becoming a parent was also present among female twins (HR (95% CI)=1.18 (1.10-1.26)) and singletons (HR (95% CI)=1.22 (1.21-1.24)).

Conclusions Twins have a decreased likelihood of becoming a parent compared to singletons even when adjusting for number of siblings.

Background

During the last decades there has been a steady increase of twin births. A combination of improved medical treatment of preterm and small-for-gestational age children has contributed to a higher number of surviving twins. Prematurity is known to affect reproduction in a negative way. Few studies have focused on the potential effect twinning may have on future reproduction. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of being born a twin compared to being born a singleton have on future reproduction.

Methods

In a national population-based register study, all individuals born between 1973–1983 who were alive and living in Sweden at 13 years of age (n = 1 016 908) constituted the sample. Data on each study subject’s own birth as well as the birth of their first offspring, and parental socio-demographic factors were collected from Swedish population based registers. Hazard ratios and corresponding 95% CI was calculated using Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Twins, both men and women, had a reduced likelihood of reproducing compared to singletons (women: HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.86-0.93; men: HR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.87-0.97). This difference in birth rates can only partly be explained by diverging birth characteristics. Amongst men and women born very preterm, twins had an increased likelihood of reproducing compared to singletons (women: HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02-1.62; men: HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.01-1.78).

Conclusions

Twins have lower reproduction rates compared to singletons, which only to a certain degree can be explained by diverging birth characteristics.

Objective. To study whether increased maternal weight and other factors of importance is associated with higher birth weights of the children over a period of almost 25 years. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Delivery wards in southeast Sweden. Sample. A total of 4,330 delivered women and their children from the years 1978, 1986, 1992, 1997, and 2001. Methods. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the importance of the mothers body mass index (BMI) on the childrens birth weights during the study years and smoking, parity, employment, gestational age, and the age of the mothers were adjusted for. Main outcome measures. Weight of the offspring in relation to maternal BMI and possible confounders such as smoking, parity, employment, gestational age, and the age of the mother. Results. Between 1978 and 1992, there was an increase in birth weight in each of the four BMI categories (i.e. BMI20, 20-24.9, 25-29.9 and 30, respectively) even after adjustments were made for relevant background characteristics (p0.001). However, between 1992 and 2001, the birth weight for children whose mothers had a BMI of less than 20 or between 20 and 24.9 decreased (p0.001). For almost every study year, the mothers BMI was of significant influence on the childrens birth weights. However, the proportion of variance explained by the models (i.e. the adjusted R2) was not substantially altered when the mothers BMI was excluded from the models. Conclusion. Maternal BMI is of significance to explain trends in infants birth weight over time, but not of sole importance.

Aim To study cord blood concentrations of adiponectin and leptin in children born by normal weight, overweight and obese mothers and to study these parameters in relation to a weight gain intervention programme for obese mothers. Methods Ten millilitre cord blood was collected and analysed for leptin and adiponectin concentrations in children with gestational age andgt;37weeks born by 60 normal weight, 45 overweight and 145 obese mothers. 82 obese mothers took part in a weight gain intervention programme. Results Concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were higher in cord blood from children of overweight and obese mothers compared with children of normal weight mothers (leptin: Md 13.2, 30, 3 and 90.2ng/mL respectively, pandlt;0.001; adiponectin 35.9, 205.4, 213.8ng/L pandlt;0.001). No differences were found between overweight and obese mothers. The weight gain intervention programme for obese pregnant women had significant effects on the weight gain during pregnancy but had no effects on cord blood serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin. Conclusion Cord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations were higher in children born by overweight or obese women compared with children of normal weight mothers. A weight gain intervention programme for obese pregnant women did not affect these results. Intrauterine exposition to high concentrations of leptin and adiponectin may play a role in weight development later in life.

Background

Maternal obesity is accompanied by maternal and fetal complications during and after pregnancy. The risks seem to increase with degree of obesity. Leptin has been suggested to play a role in the development of obesity related complications. Whether maternal leptin levels differ between obese and morbidly obese women, during and after pregnancy, have to our knowledge not been previously described. Neither has the association between maternal leptin levels and gestational weight gain in obese women. The aim was to evaluate if maternal plasma leptin levels were associated with different degrees of maternal obesity and gestational weight gain.

Methods

Prospective cohort study including women categorized as obesity class I-III (n = 343) and divided into three gestational weight gain groups (n = 304). Maternal plasma leptin was measured at gestational week 15, 29 and 10 weeks postpartum. Maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated from early pregnancy weight. Gestational weight gain was calculated using maternal weight in delivery week minus early pregnancy weight. The mean value and confidence interval of plasma-leptin were analysed with a two-way ANOVA model. Interaction effect between BMI and gestational weight gain group was tested with a two-way ANOVA model.

Results

The mean maternal leptin concentrations were significantly higher in women with obesity class III compared to women in obesity class I, at all times when plasma leptin were measured. The mean leptin concentrations were also significantly higher in women with obesity class II compared to women in obesity class I, except in gestational week 29. There was no difference in mean levels of plasma leptin between the gestational weight gain groups. No significant interaction between BMI and gestational weight gain group was found.

Conclusions

Plasma leptin levels during and after pregnancy were associated with obesity class but not with degree of gestational weight gain. These results are in concordance with epidemiological findings where the risk of obstetric complications increases with increased maternal obesity class. The effect on obstetric outcome by degree of gestational weight gain is less pronounced than the adverse effects associated with maternal obesity.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess whether maternal prepregnancy body mass index was associated with the use of antiemetic drugs in early pregnancy and/or with the occurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, population-based, cohort study. Women who delivered singleton infants (n = 749,435) from 19952003 were evaluated concerning the use of antiemetic drugs in early pregnancy (data available from 1995). Women who delivered singleton infants (n = 942,894) from 1992-2001 were evaluated concerning hospitalization because of hyperemesis gravidarum (data available until 2001). Adjusted odds ratios were determined by Mantel- Haenszel technique and were used as estimates of relative risk (RR). RESULTS: Underweight pregnant women were more likely to use antiemetic drugs (RR, 1.19, 95% CI, 1.14-1.24) and to become hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum (RR, 1.43, 95% CI, 1.33-1.54) compared with ideal weight women. Obese women were less likely to use antiemetic drugs (RR, 0.93, 95% CI, 0.89-0.97) and less likely to require hospitalization because of hyperemesis (RR, 0.90, 95% CI, 0.85-0.95) compared with women with an ideal body mass index. CONCLUSION: The use of antiemetic drugs and the occurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum are related to maternal body composition.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal outcome among obese pregnant women who took part in an intervention study for weight restriction differed from a group of obese pregnant women attending regular antenatal care. The intervention group consisted of 155 obese pregnant women and 193 obese pregnant women who formed a control group. We found that a weight gain restriction of less than 7 kg during pregnancy is safe for both the mother and the neonate.

Objective: to investigate women's attitudes and satisfaction with a weight-gain intervention programme during pregnancy.

Design: exploratory, descriptive study. Data were collected via interviews.

Setting: University hospital.

Participants: 56 obese pregnant women who attended antenatal care at the University Hospital of Linköping's obstetrical department and took part in an intervention programme aimed at reducing weight gain during pregnancy, between November 2003 and August 2004.

Findings: the interviews comprised several questions concerning attitudes and opinions of the programme. Most of the women expressed positive experiences with the treatment and would attend the programme if they became pregnant again. Most of the women stated that they had changed their eating and exercise habits during pregnancy, and almost all of them had continued with these new habits. Even though the weight gain goal of a maximum 6.9 kg was reached by less than half of the participants, most of the women were satisfied with their weight gain. A total of 71.4% of the women participated in aqua aerobics classes. They stated that they were most satisfied with this form of exercise, and that it also was a good social experience.

Key conclusions and implications for practice: a pregnant woman herself must be actively involved in setting her own goals to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Considerable effort and support must be placed on discussing strategies, pitfalls and risks. In order for the woman to maintain the change in attitude and habits, she must probably be given continuous feedback and reinforcement over the long term.

Objectives: Successful gestational weight gain (GWG) restriction programs for obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) amp;gt;= 30 kg/m(2)) pregnant women, have not, so far, shown convincing effects on infants weight development. An intervention starting during the pregnancy might be too late and a pre-conceptional life style change may be preferable. Thus, the aim of this study was to follow children born to mothers who had participated in a weight gain restriction program during pregnancy, and make comparisons with their younger siblings. Study design and main outcome measures: An extended analysis of 262 children belonging to an intervention group and a control group. The effects of BMI at five years of age and weight-for-length/height development from two months of age until five years of age were assessed. Results: In the intervention group there was a difference in BMI at five years of age, between index boys and their younger sisters (p = 0.016). Mean BMI was lower among the boys compared with their younger female siblings. Regarding maternal GWG or the Swedish national reference data there was no difference between the index children and their younger siblings within the intervention or control groups or between younger siblings in the two groups. Conclusions: Maternal pre-conceptional lifestyle change may have a positive effect on the childs weight development during the five first years of age. However, the effect of participation in an extensive GWG restriction program when it comes to the impact on the offsprings weight development is still unclear and further research is required.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have shown an association between anxiety and depression and obesity, psychological health among obese women during and after pregnancy has not been carefully studied. The aim of this study was to investigate psychological well-being using symptoms of depression and/or anxiety among obese pregnant women attending a weight gain restriction program and to then compare this group with a control group receiving traditional antenatal care.

METHODS: 151 obese pregnant women in an intervention group and 188 obese pregnant women in a control group answered the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Group differences between the two groups were estimated by using the χ2 - test on categorical variables. The Student's t-test on continuous, normally distributed variables measuring changes in mean score on BAI and EPDS over time was used. To make a more comprehensive assessment of group differences, between as well as within the two groups, logistic regressions were performed with the BAI and EPDS as dependent variables, measured at gestational weeks 15 and 35 and 11 weeks postnatal. The grouping variable has been adjusted for socio-demographic variables and complications.

RESULTS: The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety during pregnancy varied between 24% and 25% in the intervention group and 22% and 23% in the control group. The prevalence of symptoms of anxiety postnatally was 9% in the intervention group and 11% in the control group. Five percent of the women in the intervention group and 4% of the women in the control group showed symptoms of anxiety during the course of pregnancy and at the postpartum assessment. The prevalence of symptoms of depression during pregnancy varied between 19% and 22% in the intervention group but was constant at 18% in the control group. Postnatal prevalence was 11% in both groups. Six percent of the women in the intervention group and 4% in the control group showed symptoms of depression during the course of pregnancy and at the postpartum assessment. We found no differences between the two groups as concerns demographic characteristics, weight gain in kg, or the distribution of scores on anxiety and depressive symptoms nor did we find differences in the fluctuation of anxiety and depressive symptoms over time between the women in the intervention group and in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Obese pregnant women attending an intervention program seem to have the same risk of experiencing anxiety and/or depressive symptoms as do obese pregnant and postnatal women in general.

OBJECTIVE: to compare weight development in an intervention group and a control group, six years after participation in a gestational weight-gain restriction programme.

DESIGN: follow-up of a prospective intervention study.

SETTINGS: antenatal care clinics.

PARTICIPANTS: a total of 129 women (88.4%) from the original intervention group and 166 women (88.8%) from the original control group.

MEASUREMENTS: the women answered a study specific questionnaire, covering socio-demographic data and health- and weight status.

FINDINGS: after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, the mean weight was lower (4.1kg) among the women in the intervention group, compared to the controls (p=0.028). Furthermore, the mean weight change, e.g. the weight at the six year assessment compared with the weight at the start of the intervention at the first antenatal care visit, was greater in the intervention group than in the control group. The women in the intervention group had a larger mean weight change (-5.2kg), e.g. weighed less than the women in the control group (-1.9kg) (p=0.046). Mean weight change expressed in 5kg classes also showed a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.030).

KEY CONCLUSIONS: the results indicate that attending a gestational weight-gain-restriction programme can have a positive effect on weight up to six years after the intervention.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTISE: a restrictive gestational weight gain can result in a positive weight development during the first years after childbirth. It might provide both short- and long term medical health benefits for the mother as well as the child.

Objective

the objective of the study was to compare the differences in psychological well-being and quality of life during pregnancy and post partum of obese physically active women and obese physically inactive women enroled in a weight gain restriction programme. We also wanted to explore whether physical activity influences weight change or health status during pregnancy.

Design

a prospective intervention study.

Setting

antenatal care clinic.

Participants

a total of 74 obese pregnant women in a physically active group and 79 obese women in a physically inactive group.

Measurements

the women kept diaries of their physical activity during pregnancy and answered the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Medical Study Short-Form Health Survey in gestational weeks 15 and 35 and 11 weeks post partum. Physical activity was measured in metabolic equivalents.

Findings

the physically active women experienced fewer depressive symptoms and estimated an improved quality of life during their pregnancies as measured by physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and general mental health as compared with the physically inactive women. There were no differences between the groups in gestational weight gain or weight change from early pregnancy to post partum or in prevalence of complications.

Key conclusions

physical activity among obese pregnant women provides better psychological well-being and improved quality of life, but does not prevent weight change.

Implications for practice

staff at Antenatal Care Clinics that face obese pregnant women, should encourage and emphasise the benefits of being physically active throughout pregnancy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a weight gain restriction program on weight development or weight maintenance two years after childbirth.

Methods: The intervention group consisted of 155 obese pregnant women who participated in a weight gain restriction program with weekly support duringpregnancy. The control group consisted of 193 obese pregnant women. Follow-up weight measurements were done at 12 and 24 months postpartum.

Results: The mean value of weight change in the intervention group was -2.2 kg compared to + 0.4 kg in the control group from early pregnancy to the follow-up 12 months after childbirth (p = .046). A greater percentage of women in the intervention group showed a weight loss 24 months after delivery than did women in the control group at that same time (p = .034). Women in the intervention group who gained less than 7 kg during pregnancy had a significantly lower weight than the controls at the 24 months follow-up (p = .018).

Conclusion: An intervention program with weekly motivational support visits during pregnancy and every 6 months after childbirth seems to have an impact on weight gain up to 24 months after childbirth for those women in the intervention group who succeeded in restricting their gestational weight gain to less than 7 kg.

Objective: To minimise obese women's total weight gain during pregnancy to less than 7 kg and to investigate the delivery and neonatal outcome. Design: A prospective case-control intervention study. Setting: Antenatal care clinics in the southeast region of Sweden. Population: One hundred fifty-five pregnant women in an index group and one hundred ninety-three women in a control group. Methods: An intervention programme with weekly motivational talks and aqua aerobic classes for obese pregnant women. Main outcome measures: Weight gain in kilograms, delivery and neonatal outcome. Results: The index group had a significantly lower weight gain during pregnancy compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The women in the index group weighed less at the postnatal check-up compared with the weight registered in early pregnancy (P < 0.001). The percentage of women in the index group who gained less than 7 kg was greater than that of women in the control group who gained less than 7 kg (P = 0.003). The percentage of nulliparous women in this group was greater than that in the control group (P = 0.018). In addition, the women in the index group had a significantly lower body mass index at the postnatal check-up, compared with the control group (P < 0.001). There were no differences between the index group and the control group regarding birthweight, gestational age and mode of delivery. Conclusion: The intervention programme was effective in controlling weight gain during pregnancy and did not affect delivery or neonatal outcome.

Background: Maternal prepregnancy obesity (BMI 30kg/m(2)) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) have shown a strong positive association with a higher BMI and risk of obesity in the offspring. The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of a GWG restriction program for obese pregnant women on the childrens BMI at 5 years of age and weight-for-length/height (WL/H) development from 2 months of age until 5 years of age. Methods: This was a follow-up study of 302 children (137 children in an intervention group and 165 children in a control group) whose mothers participated in a weight gain restriction program during pregnancy. Results: BMI at five years of age did not differ between girls and boys in the intervention and control group. The degree of maternal GWG, amp;lt;7kg or 7kg, did not affect the offsprings WL/H. Compared with Swedish reference data, just over half of the children in both the intervention and control group had a BMI within the average range, whereas slightly more than one-third of the children had a higher BMI. Conclusion: Despite a comprehensive gestational intervention program for obese women containing individual weekly visits and opportunity to participate in aqua aerobic classes, there were no differences between BMI or weight development among the offspring at 5 years of age in the intervention and control group.

The aim of this study was to investigate if individuals born with sub-optimal birth characteristics have reduced probability of reproducing in adulthood. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanUsing population-based registries, the authors included 522 216 males and 494 692 females born between 1973 and 1983 and examined their reproductive status as of 2006. Outcome measure was the hazard ratio (HR) of reproducing. Adjustments were made for socio-economic factors. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMales and females born very premature displayed a reduced probability of reproducing [HR 0.78, 95 confidence interval (CI): 0.700.86 for males; HR 0.81, CI: 0.750.88 for females]. Likewise for very low birthweight (HR 0.83, CI: 0.710.95 for males; HR 0.80, 95 CI: 0.720.89 for females). Individuals born large for gestational age (LGA) displayed no significant changes. Males born small for gestational age (SGA) had a 9 lower reproductive rate (CI: 0.890.94) and that reduction increased as the individuals aged. Women born SGA tended to start reproducing at an earlier age. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanThe results suggest that being born with low birthweight, premature or SGA (for males) is associated with a reduced probability of reproducing as an adult. LGA shows no statistically significant relationship with future reproduction.

Objective: To perform a cost comparison of a weight gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women with standard antenatal care, and to identify if there were differences in healthcare costs within the intervention group related to degree of gestational weight gain or degree of obesity at programme entry. Study design: A comparison of mean healthcare costs for participants of an intervention study at antenatal care clinics with controls in south-east Sweden. Methods: In total, 155 women in an intervention group attempted to restrict their gestational weight gain to less than7 kg. The control group comprised 193 women. Mean costs during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period were compared with the costs of standard care. Costs were converted from Swedish Kronor to Euros ((sic)). Results: Healthcare costs during pregnancy were lower in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in total healthcare costs (i.e. sum of costs during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period) between the intervention group and the control group. Within the intervention group, the subgroup that gained 4.5-9.5 kg had the lowest costs. The total cost, including intervention costs, was (sic)1283 more per woman/ infant in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = 0.025). The degree of obesity at programme entry had no bearing on the outcome. Conclusions: The weight gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women was effective in restricting gestational weight gain to less than7 kg, but had a higher total cost compared with standard antenatal care.

Aim: To examine the effect of hospitalization during adolescence on the likelihood of giving birth.

Methods: 142 998 women born in 1973-75 were followed with the help of the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR) and the Swedish Total Population Register (TPR) up until the end of 2000 with respect to their likelihood of giving birth. All analyses were adjusted for parental socio-economic characteristics and factors related to the studied women's own birth.

Results: The likelihood of giving birth between 20 and 27 years of age was positively affected by hospitalization at least once during adolescence according to the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register (HDR); adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-1.35. Women hospitalized due to genitourinary diseases, respiratory diseases, abdominal problems and abuse of alcohol and drugs were more likely to have given birth during the study period, while hospitalizations according to cerebral palsy and congenital malformations tended to decrease childbearing. Women hospitalized due to psychiatric diseases had an increase likelihood of given birth at 20-24 years but a reduced thereafter.

Conclusion: A majority of the causes of hospitalization during adolescence increased the likelihood of giving birth between ages 20 to 27.

Background: Preterm birth and reduced intrauterine growth appear to be related to morbidity in childhood and later adulthood. We studied whether the risk of all-cause hospitalization in adolescence and early adulthood differed between individuals who were born preterm or small for gestational age (SGA) compared with those bom at term and appropriate for gestational age.

Methods: Using Swedish registries, we followed 304,275 men and women born in 1973-1975 for any hospitalizations occurring in 1987-1996. Preterm birth was defined as <37 weeks of gestation and SGA as babies smaller than 2 standard deviations below the mean weight for gestational length, according to Swedish standards. We created 3 mutually exclusive categories: "preterm" (<37 weeks and not SGA), "SGA" (SGA and not preterm), and "both preterm and SGA." The comparison group was all term births not SGA. Childhood socioeconomic characteristics were accounted for in the analyses.

Results: The overall risk of hospitalization was higher for men and women bom SGA (adjusted odds ratio = 1.16; 95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.21), for those born preterm (1.06; 1.02-1.10), and for those born both preterm and SGA (1.42; 1.26-1.59). In addition to higher risks for previously reported adverse health outcomes, such as neurodevelopment sequelae and congenital anomalies, men and women born SGA or preterm were more likely to be hospitalized due to unspecified symptoms. SGA also appeared to be associated with genitourinary diseases and drug use.

Conclusions: Men and women born SGA or preterm were at higher risk for hospitalization during adolescence and early adulthood, with men and women born SGA more at risk than those bom preterm.

Objective: to investigate midwives attitudes and opinions on mode of birth. Design: exploratory descriptive study. Data were collected via study-specific questionnaires during 2006. Setting: southeastern Sweden. Participants: all midwives working in two counties. Findings: regardless of age, experience and working field, the midwives considered a reasonable caesarean rate to be around 11.5 per cent. None of the participants thought that the caesarean rate was too low. Midwives younger than 50 years tended to consider the current caesarean rate to be too high (p = 0.059). Midwives working on labour wards stated that they thought the current caesarean rate was too high compared with midwives working at antenatal care clinics (ACCs)(pandlt;0.001). Midwives working at ACCs agreed with the statements one should agree to a womans right to have an elective caesarean (pandlt;0.001) and elective caesarean is the best choice for a woman with fear of birth (p = 0.046) more often than midwives working on labour wards, regardless of age or working experience. Key conclusions and implications for practice: midwives working at ACCs are more willing to accept caesarean section at the womans request and for women with fear of birth. It is of importance that ACC caregivers and professionals on labour wards increase their collaboration and have continuous discussions with one another in an attempt to reach consensus about the appropriate caesarean rates on evidence-based grounds.

Objective. The Swedish cesarean section (CS) rate has increased dramatically over the last decades, but remains relatively low compared to several other countries in the Western world. The reasons for this continuous increase are multifactorial and difficult to investigate. That pregnant women are demanding CS more frequently does not appear to be the major explanatory factor for the increasing CS rate. Since Swedish CS rates are relatively low, it is important to study attitudes to CS in a nationwide population of Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists in order to determine the possible concerns of this group. Methods. In 2006, a study-specific questionnaire was created and posted to Swedish obstetricians and gynecologists. In total, 1,280 obstetricians and gynecologists received a questionnaire and replied with a response rate of 66%. Results. In general, older and longer work experience physicians had a more positive attitude towards providing CS on maternal request or elective CS for women who fear vaginal delivery. In addition, these colleagues were more positive in expressing their belief that elective CS is as safe as vaginal delivery for the mother and her child. The main difference between female and male physicians was that males were more positive toward providing CS on maternal request (p<0.001). Conclusion. We have shown that female physicians differ from their male colleagues in their attitudes toward providing CS on maternal request. Female physicians were more reluctant than males to provide CS on maternal request. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

Objective: To investigate the possible association of lumbopelvic pain and postpartum depression and differences in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among women without lumbopelvic pain and women classified as having pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and/or lumbar pain.

Summary of background data: Lumbopelvic pain and depression are common pregnancy complications, but their comorbidity has rarely been evaluated and has not been studied in relation to subgroups of lumbopelvic pain.

Methods: In a cohort of consecutively enrolled pregnant women, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to evaluate depressive symptoms at 3 months postpartum, applying a primary screening cutoff of >=10 and a cutoff of >=13 for probable depression. Women were classified into lumbopelvic pain subgroups by means of mechanical assessment of the lumbar spine, standard history, pelvic pain provocation tests, a pain drawing, and the active straight leg raising test.

Results: The postpartum cohort (n = 267) comprised 180 (67%) women without lumbopelvic pain, 44 (16%) with PGP, 29 (11%) with lumbar pain, and 14 (5%) with combined PGP and lumbar pain. Applying a cutoff of >=10, postpartum depressive symptoms were more prevalent in women with lumbopelvic pain (27 of 87, 31%; 95% confidence interval, 26%–36%) than in women without lumbopelvic pain (17 of 180, 9%; 95% confidence interval, 5%–13%; P < 0.001). The comorbidity of lumbopelvic pain and depressive symptoms was 10%. Depressive symptoms were more prevalent in women with lumbar pain versus women without lumbopelvic pain when applying cutoffs of >=10 or >=13 (P <= 0.002); whereas for women with PGP, this comparison was significant only at the screening level of >=10 (P = 0.01).

Conclusions: Postpartum depressive symptoms were 3 times more prevalent in women having lumbopelvic pain than in those without. This comorbidity highlights the need to consider both symptoms in treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to determine if maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome in the offspring and whether the risk estimates for trisomy 21 based on combined screening is affected by maternal body mass index (BMI).

METHODS: Study group I consisted of a nationwide cohort of 168 604 women giving birth; outcome was infants born with Down syndrome. Adjustment was made for maternal age. Study group II consisted of 10 224 women undergoing 1st trimester combined screening. Outcome was risk assessment for Down syndrome. All women were divided into six BMI groups, and outcomes were evaluated over the BMI strata with BMI 18.5 to 24.9 as reference and correcting for maternal age.

RESULTS: Obese women had an increased risk for giving birth to an infant with Down syndrome compared with normal-weight women, BMI 30 to 34.9 odds ratio (OR) 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.55], BMI 35 to 39.9 OR 1.12 (95% CI 0.82-1.53), BMI ≥ 40 OR 1.56 (95% CI 1.00-2.43). The observed and the expected numbers of women with a risk of Down syndrome >1/300 based on 1st trimester combined screen and maternal age were similar in each BMI group.

CONCLUSION: Maternal obesity seems to increase the risk for Down syndrome births. The risk estimate for Down syndrome with 1st trimester combined screening is unaffected by BMI. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background and purpose - The incidence of Perthes disease as reported in the literature varies widely between and within countries. The etiology of the disease is still unknown. Both environmental and genetic factors have been suggested to play a part in either causing the disease or increasing the susceptibility of an individual. We determined the incidence of Perthes disease in Sweden and investigated possible relationships to parental socioeconomic status, ethnicity, marital status, mothers age when giving birth, parity, number of siblings, and smoking habits. Patients and methods - Six Swedish population-based registers were used, together covering all children born in Sweden from 1973 through 1993. Results - The incidence of Perthes disease in Sweden was 9.3 per 100,000 subjects. The ratio between boys and girls was 3.1:1. The educational level of the father and the mother of a child with Perthes disease was lower than in the controls. The incidence was lower when the fathers were in the highest income bracket (above the 90(th) percentile). A higher proportion of parents of Nordic lineage had children with Perthes disease than parental pairs with one or both who were not of such lineage. Interpretation - This study confirms that there is an association between the incidence of Perthes disease and the socioeconomic status of the parents.

[No abstract available]

Postpartum depression is by definition a major depression with an onset during the first weeks after delivery. In practice, however, the term, postpartum depression is used to characterize all kinds of depressive symptoms after childbirth. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms during late pregnancy, in the puerperium and four years after delivery, and to analyze the mothers’ estimation of personal health and their children’s behavior at the age of four. Additional goals were to test the predictive power of potential associated factors of postpartum depression during pregnancy and the puerperium and finally, to elucidate possible genetic or neuropeptidergic explanatory variables behind the development of postpartum depression.

A population-based sample of 1489 women was screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17% in late pregnancy and 13% postpartum. Antenatal depressed mood was related to postpartum depression. In a cross-sectional study we later found that postpartum depression was associated with subsequent depressive symptoms and current health problems four years after childbirth. Four-year-old boys of postpartum depressed mothers and children of mothers with a subsequent depressive status had more behavior problems than children of non-symptomatic mothers did, according to the mothers’ opinion.

The strongest associated factors for postpartum depression, in a case-control study, were sick leave during pregnancy mainly due to pregnancy complications, e.g. hyperemesis and premature contractions and a high number of visits to the antenatal care clinic. There was no association between delivery complications or complications in the perinatal period and postpartum depression. The theory that depressive symptoms in late pregnancy or postpartum are connected with CYP2D6 genotype could not be confirmed.

In a rat model, we found that pregnancy and parturition influence the concentrations of neuropeptide Y, cholecystokinin, substance P and galanin in the rat brain. This result supports the hypothesis that neuropeptidergic systems in the brain influence the mood changes around childbirth. In conclusion, postpartum depression is a common feature with influence on both maternal and child well being.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and test the predictive power of potential independent risk factors of postpartum depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the perinatal period.

METHODS: We conducted a case-control study where 132 women with postpartum depressive symptoms were selected as an index group and 264 women without depressive symptoms as a control group. Data related to sociodemographic status, medical, gynecologic, and obstetric history, pregnancy, and perinatal events were collected from standardized medical records.

RESULTS: The strongest risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms were sick leave during pregnancy and a high number of visits to the antenatal care clinic. Complications during pregnancy, such as hyperemesis, premature contractions, and psychiatric disorder were more common in the postpartum depressed group of women. No association was found between parity, sociodemographic data, or mode of delivery and postpartum depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Women at risk for postpartum depression can be identified during pregnancy. The strongest risk factors, sick leave during pregnancy and many visits to the antenatal care clinic, are not etiologic and might be of either behavioral or biologic origin. The possibilities of genetic vulnerability and hormonal changes warrant further investigation to reach a more thorough understanding.

BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression refers to a non-psychotic depressive episode that begins in or extends into the postpartum period. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a pregnant and later postnatal population, to determine the natural course of these symptoms and whether there is an association between antenatal and postnatal depressive symptomatology.

METHODS: A longitudinal study with a total population of 1,558 consecutively registered pregnant women in the southeast region of Sweden. Presence of depressive symptoms was measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on four occasions namely in gestational week 35-36, in the maternity ward, 6-8 weeks and 6 months postpartum.

RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms during late pregnancy was 17%; in the maternity ward 18%; 6-8 weeks postnatally 13%; and 6 months postnatally, 13%. A correlation between antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms was found (r=0.50, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Detection of women at risk for developing postnatal depressive symptoms can be done during late pregnancy. Antenatal care clinics constitute a natural and useful environment for recognition of women with depressive symptoms.

Objective

To study the risk for congenital anomalies in the first child of women after bariatric surgery compared with all other women giving birth to their first child and divided by maternal body mass index (BMI) groups.

Design

Prospective, population-based register study.

Setting

Sweden.

Sample

All firstborn children to women born 1973–83 were studied to determine if they had a congenital anomaly and a mother who had undergone bariatric surgery before pregnancy.

Methods

A total of 270 805 firstborns; of which 341 had mothers who had had bariatric surgery before delivery. We retrieved information on the women's marital or cohabitation status, smoking, BMI, diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy.

Main outcome measures

Congenital malformations.

Results

Of the firstborn children to mothers who had had bariatric surgery before pregnancy, 4.1% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.2–6.0) were malformed compared with 3.4% (95% CI 3.3–3.5) of those whose mothers had not undergone bariatric surgery. The risk for congenital malformation in firstborn children increased with increasing maternal BMI. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for congenital malformation among children whose mothers' BMI ranged between 25 and 29 kg/m² was 1.09 (95% CI 1.03–1.15), whose mothers' BMI ranged between 30 and 34 kg/m² was 1.14 (1.05–1.24) and whose mothers' BMI was ≥35 kg/m² was 1.30 (95% CI 1.16–1.45) compared with those whose mothers had a normal BMI. Bariatric surgery before pregnancy did not have any effect on the odds ratio for having congenital malformation (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.63–1.91).

Conclusions

Preconception bariatric surgery does not seem to affect the risk for congenital malformations but a high to very high BMI does appear to increase the risk.

OBJECTIVE: In a large, prospective Swedish national cohort, we investigated individual birth characteristics for women who had undergone bariatric surgery and their obstetric outcome and made comparisons with all other women during the same period. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSTUDY DESIGN: The cohort consisted of 494,692 women born 19731983 of which 681 women who had undergone bariatric surgery constituted the index group. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanRESULTS: The index women more often have parents with lower sociodemographic status and are more often born large for gestational age. The women surgically treated before their first child had a shorter gestational length, their children had lower birthweight, and were more often born small for gestational age compared with the children born to the reference mothers. Women whose child was born before their bariatric surgery more often had a cesarean section, and their children were more often large for gestational age. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanCONCLUSION: Preconception bariatric surgery in obese women may be associated with improved obstetric outcomes.

To compare Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives attitudes and opinions on different aspects of cesarean section (CS). In total 330 midwives from the south east of Sweden and 1280 Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists were asked to answer a study-specific questionnaire anonymously about their opinions on different issues concerning CS. The majority of obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives had more than 10 years of experience in their professions (75.2% vs. 73.6%). The midwives thought that a reasonable CS rate would be 11.5% whereas the corresponding figures for the obstetricians/gynecologists was 13.8% (P andlt; 0.001). There are differences in opinions and attitudes concerning both CS rates and other aspects in connection with CS. There are evident differences in attitudes towards CS and mode of delivery between midwives and obstetricians/gynecologists. These need to be explored and discussed in relation to state-of-the-art knowledge and should become a part of the curriculum for both groups of professionals both in training as well as on a regular clinical basis.

n/a

Objective. To study women diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) with respect to characteristics related to their own births, their subsequent likelihood of giving birth and the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of their pregnancies. Design. Population-based register study. Population. All women born in 1973-1983 who were alive and living in Sweden at 13 years of age (n=500 245). Methods. Women diagnosed with CHD (n=2 216) were compared with women without CHD (n=492 476). A total of 188 867 mother-firstborn-offspring pairs were identified and available for analysis. Results. Mothers of women with CHD were more often older and single/unmarried. Women with CHD were more often born preterm or small-for-gestational age (SGA) than women without CHD, more likely to have been born with a cesarean section, to have given birth during the study period, and to be younger at the time of their first pregnancy. Women with CHD were also more prone to give birth to children preterm or SGA and their babies were more often delivered by cesarean section with a higher frequency of congenital abnormality. Conclusions. Women with CHD were more likely to have been born preterm or SGA and these outcomes were repeated in the next generation. Women with CHD should not be discouraged from pregnancy. Prenatal diagnostics should be discussed and offered to these women, as there is an increased risk for congenital abnormalities.

Objective: To investigate whether women with postpartum depression differ in personality traits from healthy postpartum women, healthy controls from the normal Swedish population and non-postpartum women with major depression. Methods: Forty-five women with postpartum depression were compared with 62 healthy postpartum women, 62 age-matched, healthy, non-postpartum women from a normal sample and 74 non-postpartum women with major depression from a clinical sample. The edinburgh postnatal depression scale was used in order to screen for postpartum depression. A clinical diagnostic interview was done including a rating with the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale. Personality i.e. temperament and character was measured by the temperament and character inventory. Results: Harm avoidance (HA) was higher (p < 0.001) and self-directedness (SD) scored lower (p < 0.001) in women with postpartum depression compared to healthy postpartum women. These differences were the most important differences between these two groups. Women with postpartum depression scored lower (p = 0.001) in cooperativeness (CO) and higher (p = 0.019) in self-transcendence (ST) compared to healthy postpartum women. Women with postpartum depression scored overall similar to women with major depression. Conclusion: High HA and low SD can be seen as vulnerability factors for developing a depression and especially in a stressful situation as childbirth. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and self reported health of women who have shown previous postpartum depressive symptoms. To examine the behavior of four-year-old children born to mothers affected by postpartum depression.

Methods: Longitudinal study. The index group (n = 251) constituted of all women with postpartum depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), in a population-based study made in the late 1990s. The control group (n = 502) consisted of women without postpartum depressive symptoms on the EPDS at the same occasion. Approximately four years after delivery these women were asked to answer a short questionnaire on general health, the EPDS, and also to assess their child’s behavior with the Richman Pre-School Behaviour Checklist. Results: Women with a history of postpartum depressive symptoms were approximately 6 times more likely to have recurrent depressive symptoms (OR = 5.82, 95% CI: 3.79–8.93), compared to those without postpartum depressive symptoms, and they were also more likely to experience physical and mental illness. Although postpartum depressive symptoms in the mothers were involved in explaining the likelihood of behavioral problems in their four-year-old children, mothers with current depressive symptoms were the most likely to have a child with behavioral problems (OR = 4.71, 95% CI: 1.88–11.78). Conclusion: Postpartum depressive illness constitutes a risk for future illness as well as maternal perceived behavioral problems in offspring. In order to diminish long-term adverse consequences for the mother and the child there is a great need to recognize and treat women with postpartum depressive symptoms as early as possible.

The aim of this exploratory was to investigate the theory of a relation between cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotype and depressive symptoms in late pregnancy and/or postpartum. We studied 145 women with depressive symptoms. CYP2D6 genotype was analysed in leukocyte DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There were no significant differences in CYP2D6 genotypes between the groups of women being depressed during and/or after pregnancy. The frequencies of CYP2D6 genotypes did not differ from other European studies. This study cannot confirm that depressive symptoms in late pregnancy and postpartum are connected with CYP2D6 genotype. It is, however, noteworthy that the frequency of ultrarapid metabolizers was higher than in a general Caucasian population. This warrants further exploration in a greater study sample, but should also be investigated in a general population with major depression.

Sex hormones including estrogens affect brain areas involved in mood and cognition in addition to directly controlling reproduction and reproductive behavior. We studied the effect of pregnancy and puerperium on the concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP) and galanin in tissue extracts from the rat striatum, frontal cortex and the hippocampal formation by means of radioimmunoassay. The most profound effects were found in the frontal cortex. Thus, cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) was increased by 40 % during late pregnancy (p < 0.01) compared to estrous whereas SP-LI and galanin-LI decreased 25 % and 10 %, respectively. Postpartum, CCKLI decreased by 26% compared to pregnancy (p < 0.05) whereas SP-LI and galanin-LI were increased to a level above estrous (SP, P < 0.01; galanin, P < 0.05). No significant effect was observed in NPY-LI in this area. In the striatum during late pregnancy the concentrations of cholecystokinin-LI increased by 29 % (p < 0.05), NPY-LI by 22% (p < 0.05) whereas SP-LI slightly increased (not significant). Postpartum, cholecystokinin-LI decreased by 25 % (p < 0.01) compared to pregnancy and NPY by 16 % (p < 0.01). SP continued to increase postpartum by 33 % (p < 0.05) whereas no effect was observed on galanin-LI concentration. Surprisingly, we did not observe any changes in any peptide or groups measured in the hippocampal formation. The complex hormonal adjustments occurring during pregnancy and in the puerperium induce profound changes in the concentrations of several neuropeptides in regions of the rat brain involved in the control of mood and motor control.

Background The well-known adverse consequences of maternal depression prompts consideration of the importance of learning more about intergenerational transmission in order to identify individuals at risk of developing depressive disorders. Aims To follow two generations of women with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to examine the risk of MDD in the third-generation children. Method A register-based, retrospective cohort study of all women born in Sweden between 1973 and 1982 who had given birth during the study period, their mothers and their children. All generations were followed until 2013. Data was stratified into two cohorts: women born between 1973 and 1977 and those born between 1978 and 1982. Results Second-generation women were twice as likely to be diagnosed with MDD if their mothers had been diagnosed with MDD. If both previous generations had been diagnosed with depression the likelihood of the third-generation child being diagnosed with MDD was markedly increased (odds ratio (OR) = 5.07, 95% CI 4.06-6.34 and OR = 7.20, 95% CI 4.41-11.77 in cohort 1 and cohort 2, respectively). Conclusions There is a strong intergenerational impact in the transmission of MDD. The risk of MDD is especially high in individuals with MDD in both previous maternal generations.

Objective To investigate if continuation rates in first-time users of oral hormonal contraceptives differed between different formulations and to measure if the rates were related to the prescribing categories, that is, physicians and midwives.                                

Design A longitudinal national population-based registry study.                                

Setting The Swedish prescribed drug register.                                

Participants All women born between 1977 and 1994 defined as first-time users of hormonal contraceptives from 2007 to 2009 (n=226 211).                                

Main outcome measures A tendency to switch the type of hormonal contraceptive within 6 months use and repeated dispensation identical to the first were estimated as percentages and relative risks (RRs). Physicians’ and midwives’ prescription patterns concerning the women's                                    continuation rates of oral hormonal contraceptive type.                                

Results In Sweden, there were 782 375 women born between 1977 and 1994 at the time of the study. Of these, 226 211 women were identified as first-time users of hormonal contraceptives. Ethinylestradiol+levonorgestrel, desogestrel-only and ethinylestradiol+drospirenone were the hormonal contraceptives most commonly dispensed to first-time users at rates of 43.3%, 24.4% and 11.1%, respectively. The overall rate of switching contraceptive types in the first 6 months was 11.3%, which was highest for desogestrel-only (14.3%) and lowest for ethinylestradiol+drospirenone (6.6%). The switching rate for all three products was highest in the 16-year to 19-year age group. Having a repeated dispensation identical to the initial dispensation was highest for users of ethinylestradiol either combined with levonorgestrel or drospirenone, 81.4% and 81.2%, respectively, whereas this rate for the initial desogestrel-only users was 71.5%. The RR of switching of contraceptive type within the first 6 months was 1.35 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.39) for desogestrel-only and 0.63 (0.59 to 0.66) for ethinylestradiol+drospirenone compared with ethinylestradiol+levonorgestrel as the reference category. There were no differences in the women's continuation rates depending on the prescriber categories.                                

Conclusions Desogestrel-only users conferred the highest switcher rate to another hormonal contraceptive within a 6-month period. Users of ethinylestradiol+levonorgestrel were more prone to switch to another product within 6 months than women using ethinylestradiol+drospirenone. These findings may be of clinical importance when tailoring hormonal contraceptives on an individual basis.

Objective: The aim was to investigate birth characteristics, obstetric and neonatal outcomes of the first childbirth in women with Marfan syndrome by use of Swedish national registers since pregnancy-related outcomes in women with Marfan syndrome have only been sparsely investigated. Study design: In this national population-based cohort study and matched case-control study of Swedish women born 1973-1993, women with Marfan syndrome (n =273) were compared to women without the condition (n = 1 017 265). The study population was followed until 2013. A total of 364 553 mother -firstborn-offspring pairs were analyzed. Sixty-one women with Marfan syndrome became mothers. Women with Marfan syndrome were also compared to 543 healthy controls. Results: Women with Marfan syndrome were more often born preterm (p amp;lt; 0.001), small-for-gestational age (p amp;lt; 0.001), and delivered by cesarean section (p = 0.001). Women with Marfan syndrome had no increased risk of giving birth by cesarean section (p = 0.079). No increased neonatal risks in their children were found. Women with Marfan syndrome were less likely to give birth than those without (p amp;lt; 0.001). There were no maternal deaths. Conclusions: Women with Marfan syndrome were more likely to be born preterm, SGA and by cesarean section. These increased risks of preterm birth and SGA babies were not found in connection with their own first childbirth. Pregnancies with known fetal Marfan syndrome have to be carefully monitored. The results are important for obstetricians giving preconception counseling and treating women with Marfan syndrome. Further studies are needed to evaluate risks during pregnancy and long-term effects of pregnancy on the cardiovascular status of women with Marfan syndrome. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are more often born preterm or small-for-gestational age and with a caesarean section. This pattern together with an increased risk of congenital anomalies seems to be repeated in the next generation. Information on the effect of paternal CHD on their offspring is sparse. In this study we investigated if men with CHD differ from those who do not have CHD with respect to characteristics related to their own births, their reproductive patterns and the neonatal outcomes of their children.

METHODS: In this national cohort study data were derived from Swedish population-based registries. The population consists of all men born in 1973-1983 who were alive and living in Sweden at 13 years of age (n = 522 216). The index group is men with CHD (n = 2689). Men diagnosed with CHD were compared with men without CHD. The CHD were also divided into two groups, complex and simple CHD and comparisons between the groups were made.

RESULTS: Men with CHD are more likely to have been born preterm (p < 0.001), small-for gestational-age (p < 0.001) or large-for-gestational-age (p < 0.001) than men without CHD. They are also more likely to have been the result of a twin pregnancy (p < 0.001) and to have been delivered by caesarean section (p < 0.001). Men with CHD have a decreased likelihood to become fathers compared to non-CHD men and in this study their offspring do not have a higher incidence of CHD than offspring to non-CHD fathers. The neonatal outcomes of children of men with CHD do not differ from the outcomes of children of non-CHD men.

CONCLUSIONS: Men with CHD were more often born with non-optimal characteristics compared to men without the condition. However, the increased risk does not repeat itself in the next generation. This knowledge can lead to improved preconception counselling for couples in which the father has a CHD.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether women with antepartum depression have an increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome. METHODS: From a sample of 1,489 women, an index group (n = 259) of all women with depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in gestational week 35-36 was selected. Two hundred fifty-nine women with no depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale antepartum or postpartum were randomly chosen as the reference group. Medical, gynecologic, and obstetric history, sodoeconomic status, pregnancy, and perinatal data were collected from standardized medical records for all women. RESULTS: Women with antepartum depressive symptoms were more often multiparas with a history of earlier obstetric complications. Complications during the present pregnancy were more frequent in the antepartum-depressed group of women. There were no differences concerning outcome of delivery, puerperium, and neonatal health between the index and reference groups. Forty-six percent of the women with antepartum depressive symptoms had depressive symptoms at 6-8 weeks or 6 months postpartum or both. CONCLUSION: Women depressed during pregnancy constitute a group without an increased risk for adverse obstetric or neonatal outcome but with a high risk for postpartum depressive symptoms.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of blood and injection phobia in an unselected pregnant population, in order to estimate the need for curative intervention programmes.

Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting. Antenatal care clinics in the southeast region of Sweden.

Sample: In total, 1,606 consecutively registered pregnant women attending their first visit with a midwife.

Methods: The women were asked to complete the Injection Phobia-Anxiety scale, measuring phobic symptoms. Women who scored 20 on the questionnaire were telephone-interviewed and then diagnosed or dismissed according to the DSM-IV criteria for blood and injection phobia. Main outcome measures. Prevalence of blood and injection phobia according to the DSM-IV.

Results: Of 1,529 women who chose to participate (92.5%), 110 women or 7.2% fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for blood and injection phobia. The mean age of the women was 29.1 years.

Conclusions: Blood and injection phobia is hitherto unreported in the literature, but seems to be relatively common and needs to be recognized during pregnancy as it causes a great deal of discomfort and fear among pregnant women. The Injection Phobia-Anxiety scale is suitable as a screening tool in an antenatal care clinic setting.

Introduction Identification of pregnant women suffering from depression or other mental disorders is a challenge for antenatal caregivers. The purpose of this case-control study was to describe mental disorders and the risk factors for mental disorders in women with depressive symptoms assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the first trimester and to compare them with pregnant women without depressive symptoms. Material and methods In total, 2271 women answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at the first antenatal visit with a midwife. An Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 13 or higher was considered to be screen-positive and these women were further assessed. Screen-negative pregnant women, matched for age and parity, were chosen as controls. Results In total, 149 (6.6%) women were found to be screen-positive. The majority (126, 85%) had at least one mental disorder or risk factor for mental disorder, such as depression (36.0%), anxiety (14.8%), or severe fear of childbirth (20.8%). The screen-positive women were more often smokers (16.1% vs 1.3%), unemployed (19.9% vs 1.3%), or on sick leave (25.3% vs 14.1%) during pregnancy and more often used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor during pregnancy (14.2% vs 2.7%) compared with the screen-negative women (P&lt;.001). Among the screen-negative women (n = 150) only three (2%) presented with symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Conclusions The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale seems to be a valuable screening tool to detect depressive symptoms as well as other mental disorders during early pregnancy.

Around 7% of pregnant women suffer from blood- and injection phobia. The aim was to investigate if cognitive behavior group therapy (CBT) is effective in treating pregnant womens blood- and injection phobia. Thirty pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia according to DSM-IV took part in an open treatment intervention. A two-session cognitive behavior group therapy was conducted. As controls, 46 pregnant women with untreated blood- and injection phobia and 70 healthy pregnant women were used. Repeated measures ANOVA were performed. The scores for the CBT treatment group on the "Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety" were reduced both after each treatment session and postpartum (p andlt; 0.001). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were also reduced (p andlt; 0.001). Cognitive-behavior group therapy for pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia is effective and stable up to at least 3 months postpartum. It seems also to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.