Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increase future cardiovascular risk. The Clinique Santé Globale PostPartum (CSGPP) was created to assess risk, provide lifestyle counseling, and inform primary care providers. This study was meant to assess its relevance, efficacy, and women's satisfaction to optimize the clinic. Methods This descriptive, single-center prospective cohort study was conducted at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke. Women were recruited at their first CSGPP visit. Data on attendance, lifestyle behaviors, motivation, follow-up with primary care providers, and satisfaction were collected at baseline and 12 months postpartum. Results Of 104 referrals, 84 women (80.8%) attended the first visit, 65 agreed to participate, and 47 completed follow-up. Belief in the health benefits of lifestyle changes increased ( P = .007), and satisfaction with the clinic was high. Conclusion Given the high adherence and satisfaction with the clinic, these findings support expanding access to the clinic to all conditions increasing CVD in this young population.
Introduction There is limited information on the impact of pregnancy planning on neonatal outcomes in people with spina bifida (SB). Methods This study is a sub-group analysis of The Spina Bifida Reproductive Health and Pregnancy Study, an online international cross-sectional survey. Pregnancy, birth and neonatal data were assessed using descriptive and chi-squared analyses. Results A total of 209 pregnancies were included: 108 planned and 101 unplanned. The unplanned group included a greater risk of miscarriage/ectopic pregnancy (30%), unplanned fetal loss (34%), intrauterine growth restriction less than 5th percentile (16%) and babies with congenital anomalies. There was no statistically significant difference between unplanned and planned pregnancies in terms of admission to neonatal intensive care unit or risk of preterm birth. Conclusion People with SB have rates of unplanned pregnancy similar to the general population. Unplanned pregnancies appear to have increased fetal and neonatal risks. Findings suggest that pregnancy planning is a modifiable factor, which may improve outcomes.
Belly dancer dyskinesia (BDD) is a rare movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive contractions of the abdominal wall. Pregnancy-associated BDD is exceptionally uncommon, and recurrence in subsequent pregnancies has rarely been reported. We describe the case of a 29-year-old woman in her first pregnancy who developed involuntary abdominal movements at 16 weeks. Her medical history included hypertension and multiple uterine fibroids. Neurological assessment, laboratory investigations, and spinal magnetic resonance imaging were unremarkable, and a clinical diagnosis of BDD was established. Symptoms persisted throughout pregnancy and resolved immediately after delivery. Two years later, during a second pregnancy, similar movements recurred at 15 weeks, again resolving completely after delivery. Recurrence during two consecutive pregnancies suggests a pregnancy-related trigger for BDD, and complete postpartum resolution highlights the self-limiting course of this benign condition.
Eclampsia, a serious and life-threatening complication of pregnancy, affects women in low-income and vulnerable populations. This case series describes the clinical management of two young Rohingya refugee women, aged 17 and 21, who presented with eclampsia at Seberang Jaya Hospital, Penang, Malaysia. Both patients reported prodromal symptoms of severe headache and visual disturbances before experiencing generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Treatment involved intravenous magnesium sulfate for seizure control and labetalol for blood pressure control, in accordance with local clinical guidelines. Notably, the 17-year-old patient's recovery was complicated by concurrent dengue fever, which presented additional management challenges. Neonatal outcomes varied significantly: the first infant had an Apgar score of 3 at 1 min and a birth weight of 1.7 kg, while the second infant had a healthier outcome, with an Apgar score of 9 and a birth weight of 3 kg. These cases emphasize the critical need for timely diagnosis, standardized treatment protocols, and comprehensive maternal and neonatal care in managing eclampsia among vulnerable populations.
Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is an underrecognized cause of abdominal wall pain. Pregnancy-associated ACNES is uncommon, and its optimal management remains uncertain. A 38-year-old woman in her first pregnancy at 37 weeks and 2 days of gestation presented with severe localized abdominal pain and a positive Carnett's sign. Repeated local anesthetic injections provided insufficient relief. Continuous thoracic epidural analgesia at the T8–T9 level achieved sustained pain control and served as a bridge to cesarean delivery. No recurrence was observed during the first postpartum week. This case suggests that continuous thoracic epidural analgesia may be considered for refractory pregnancy-associated ACNES when less invasive treatments are ineffective.
