View clinical trials related to Preterm Birth.
Filter by:This is a non-blinded randomized screening trial of asymptomatic singleton pregnancies without prior spontaneous preterm birth who are randomized to either transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening program (i.e. intervention group) or no screening (i.e. control group). Women are consented and randomized at the time of their routine anatomy scan between 18 0/7 and 23 6/7 weeks. Women randomized in the transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening will receive a single transvaginal ultrasound cervical length measurement after the anatomy scan. The cervical length will be measured by operators with certification of competence in the technique.
Cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke and cardiac insufficiency) are the leading cause of death worldwide. They are a major cause of concern in public health worldwide as well. Their incidence is increasing especially in emerging countries. It has been shown through epidemiological and experimental studies that these cardiovascular diseases are influenced by environmental factors which can act early during different periods of the development. Preterm birth is an emerging risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Preterm birth rate varies accordingly to countries from 6 % to 14 % and accounts for 80% of low birth weight. These past thirty years have shown an improvement in the management and survival rate of these babies. The number of preterm infants reaching adulthood is thus increasing. Long term effects of preterm birth on cardiovascular diseases are little known. However, emerging evidence suggest that preterm birth affects certain functions and structure. A significant increase in blood pressure and alterations on the vascular, metabolic, and renal systems have been reported in healthy young adult born preterm. And abnormal heart shape with left ventricular hypertrophy have been demonstrated in these population (Oxford)
Background: Preterm birth has major medical, psychological and socio-economic consequences worldwide. A recent systematic review suggests positive effects of music therapy (MT) on physiological measures of preterm infants and maternal anxiety, but methodologically rigorous studies including long-term follow-up of infant and parental outcomes are missing. Drawing upon caregivers' inherent resources, this study emphasizes caregiver involvement in MT to promote attuned, developmentally-appropriate musical interactions that may be of mutual benefit to infant and parent. This study will determine whether MT, as delivered by a qualified music therapist during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization and/or in home/municipal settings following discharge, is superior to standard care in improving bonding between primary caregivers and preterm infants, parent well-being and infant development. Methods: Design: International multi-center, assessor-blind, 2x2 factorial, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. A feasibility study has been completed; ethical approval for the main trial is pending. Participants: 250 preterm infants and their parents. Intervention: MT focusing on singing specifically tailored to infant responses, will be delivered during NICU and/or during a post-discharge 6-month period. Primary outcome: Changes in mother-infant bonding until 6 months corrected age (CA), as measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes: Mother-infant bonding at discharge and over 12 months CA; child development over 24 months; and parental depression, anxiety, and stress, and infant re-hospitalization, all over 12 months. Discussion: This study fills a gap by measuring the long-term impact of MT for preterm infants/caregivers, and of MT beyond the hospital context. Outcomes related to highly involving parents in MT will directly inform the development of clinical practice in Scandinavia and other contexts with similar social welfare practices. By incorporating family-centered care, continuity of care, user involvement, and cultural relevance, this study can potentially contribute to improved quality of care for premature infants and their parents worldwide.
Preterm birth (PTB) is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Worldwide, about 15 million babies are born too soon every year, causing 1.1 million deaths, as well as short- and long-term disability in countless survivors. Different strategies have been studied for prevention of spontaneous PTB (SPTB) in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including progesterone, cerclage, cervical pessary, as well as lifestyle modification, such as smoking cessation, diet, aerobic exercise, and nutritional supplements. Most successful effort to reduce the incidence of SPTB have focused on asympatomatic women with risk factors, such as prior SPTB or short cervix. However, most SPTB occur in symptomatic women, i.e. women with preterm labor (PTL). Women with arrested PTL are at increased risk of SPTB. The cervical pessary is a silicone device that has been used to prevent SPTB. The leading hypotheses for its mechanisms are two: that the pessary helps to keep the cervix closed, and that the pessary changes the inclination of the cervical canal so that the pregnancy weight is not directly above the internal os. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of pessary in reducing preterm birth in women with arrested preterm labor
This research study is being done to find out whether a screening blood test can help identify women with an increased risk of preterm birth.
Since 2008, preterm neonates are taking care of in a Special Baby Care Unit (SCBU). Those born less than 34 weeks of gestation are followed-up monthly for one year for monitoring their hematocrit level, growth and development. Medical chart reviews are useful to evaluate the burden of diseases, characterize care treatment patterns and clinical outcomes by patients' subgroups; ultimately it can help identifying gaps in care pathways thus improving quality of care and ultimately reducing mortality. Medical records of all preterm neonates hospitalized in the SCBU including those followed up during their first year of life are computerized. The investigators propose to review the clinical charts of the preterm neonates in regards to four main points of care a) feeding, b) infections including early onset of neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis and umbilical cord infection, c) body temperature control and d) respiratory distress. This medical charts review will be complemented by i) focus group discussions (FGD) with the medical staff working in the SCBU on the benefits and difficulties in using the existing guidelines for preterm care and by ii) interviews with mothers who delivered a preterm neonate on their experience in caring for their child and the challenges they faced. While performing the retrospective part of the project and after discussing the preliminary findings from the medical staff perception of the existing guidelines, the investigators will evaluate the feasibility to implement some additional recommendations to improve preterm birth outcomes based on recent literature and new protocols for resource-limited settings.
to test the hypothesis that activity restriction in women with singleton gestations and with arrested PTL would reduce the rate of PTB.
Objective: To study the natural history of normal pregnancy and the most frequent pregnancy complications responsible for the excessive rate of perinatal morbidity and mortality, in order to develop models to predict the occurrence of these complications of pregnancy at the earliest possible time. The study focuses on the prediction of preterm labor with intact membranes, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM), preeclampsia, small for gestational age, gestational diabetes, and fetal death. These complications account for a minimum of $30 billion annually in the US alone. Study population: A cohort of pregnant women seeking care at the prenatal clinic of the Perinatology Research Branch in Detroit, Michigan. Design: A prospective observational cohort study of the natural history of women with a normal pregnancy, a history of adverse outcome, or those with a complication in the index pregnancy; therefore, this study will include nulliparous and parous women. Data will be collected at the time of clinic visits and will include interviews, clinical measurements, and ultrasound studies. We will assemble a biorepository of maternal biological fluids (blood, urine, saliva, cervicovaginal fluid, gingival crevicular fluid, swabs to characterize microbiota, amniotic fluid when a clinically indicated amniocentesis is performed). Placentas will be collected at the time of delivery as well as umbilical blood, and swabs to characterize the neonatal microbiota. We will use a retrospective case control and case-cohort design to generate models for the prediction of the most common pregnancy complications. These models will be developed by classifying obstetrical complications according to clinical presentation and histologic placental lesions. Models will be developed and subsequently validated in an independent cohort. Outcome measures: The goal is to develop sensitive, specific, and parsimonious predictive models to identify the patients at risk for developing complications of pregnancy using a combination of clinical and biological markers (biochemical and biophysical).
Preterm birth is associated with significant and often life-long developmental, emotional and financial burdens. Preterm infants face several challenges that continue late into life, including developmental delays, social, and behavioural problems and poor academic performance. Parents also suffer considerable emotional and physical stress which in turn can have a negative impact on the child's development. In Switzerland, during the transition from hospital to home, there are not many interventions intended to improve mental health outcomes in parents or to promote positive parenting to improve developmental outcomes for the preterm infant. There are also few interventions to reduce associated health care costs. In order to improve parent and preterm infant outcomes, reduce hospital stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), lower readmission rates, and avoid unnecessary use of primary care resources a unique, new model of transitional care was developed. The new 'Transition to Home' (TtH) model makes use of well-tested, successful methods of post-discharge care. The investigators' study will evaluate the organizational and financial feasibility and cost effectiveness of the TtH model for infants born preterm by measuring the impact of an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)-led intervention at the Children's University Hospital Bern. The intervention focuses on improving parental mental health and well-being, on infant growth and development, and on lowering overall costs. The investigators will gather data and then adapt and test the model within a longitudinal interventional comparative effectiveness study, and prepare it for other Cantons in Switzerland to implement.
The purpose of this research study is to determine if a vaginal fluid (VF) test can predict very early preterm birth in patients who are scheduled to have an exam indicated cerclage for severe cervical shortening. Prior to participants undergoing a scheduled amniocentesis two swabs to collect vaginal secretions for the VF tests will be done. During the amniocentesis your doctor will remove amniotic fluid as part of the routine clinical care. From that fluid sample, the study will use less than a quarter teaspoon for the amniotic fluid study test (AF test). Data regarding maternal and birth outcomes will be collected by medical record review.