Pregnancy

Background: The microbiome is the bacteria and other microorganisms that live inside and on the body. The microbiome is important for our health. Researchers study how the microbiome help people stay healthy. They study how the microbiome affects the body when people get sick. To do this research, they need samples of the microbiome living on the bodies of many people. The purpose of this natural history study is to collect microbiome samples in a repository. These samples will be used for future research. Objective: To collect microbiome samples from the body that can be used for future research. Eligibility: People of any age. Only those older than 3 years will be seen at the NIH clinic. Design: Participants will fill out a questionnaire. Topics will include their medical history and foods they eat. Participants will be asked to give 1 or more of the following: Stool, urine, saliva, vaginal fluid, and breastmilk. These samples can be collected at home and sent to the researchers. Cells from participants cheek, nose, mouth, skin, rectum, and/or vagina. The cells may be collected by rubbing the area with a sterile cotton swab. These procedures can also be done at home. Blood. Blood may be drawn using a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. For young children, blood may be collected by a prick on the heel or finger. Intestinal tissue samples. These may be collected from participants who are having an endoscopy or colonoscopy for other reasons. Skin tissue samples. These may be collected from participants who are having biopsies for other reasons.

Research Aim 1: Determine the effectiveness of PROMOTE vs. usual care to increase patients' receipt of counseling about workplace accommodations and pregnancy. Investigators will recruit and randomize Obstetric providers to the PROMOTE intervention or usual care. The investigators will compare the frequency of EHR documented work- related counseling and adherence to employer documentation recommendations between the two study arms. Hypothesis: Patients receiving care by a provider randomized to PROMOTE will have higher rates of documented counseling about work and pregnancy. Research Aim 2: Determine the effectiveness of PROMOTE vs. usual care to reduce undesired wage or advancement reduction, increase accommodation requests granted, and improve maternal-infant health. The investigators will recruit a racially and socioeconomically diverse cohort of 304 pregnant patients and compare responses to surveys and qualitative interviews about work experiences and EHR-documented maternal-infant health outcomes among patients receiving care by providers randomized to PROMOTE vs. usual care. Hypothesis: Compared to patients receiving care by providers randomized to usual care, participants receiving care by providers randomized to PROMOTE will have less undesired loss of wages and advancement, increased accommodation request granted, and improved maternal-infant health during pregnancy.

Many pregnant people don't get the dental care they need, even though it's safe and important. The CHEER Study offers free dental check-ups, cleanings, and supplies to help participants take care of their teeth and gums during pregnancy. The purpose of this research study is to compare two types of noninvasive oral health interventions to evaluate their effectiveness. We want to learn if one method is more effective in supporting oral health and improving pregnancy outcomes. There are two aims of this study: Aim 1: To evaluate whether a structured oral health intervention reduces periodontal inflammation during pregnancy and postpartum in pregnant people with indicators of periodontal disease. Aim 2: To assess whether a structured oral health intervention is associated with changes in oral health behaviors or birth outcomes in pregnant people with periodontal disease.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate pregnancy-related health outcomes in participants who are exposed to Epidiolex/Epidyolex during pregnancy and their infant up to 12 months of life.

This study aims to screen women who have a negative Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) result in routine screening tests or who have never had it with the Fasting Blood Glucose Test (FBG) at 32-34 weeks of gestation to diagnose late-onset GDM with routine FBG ≥5.1 mmol/L (92mg/dl) in fasting blood, and to investigate its connection with perinatal and maternal outcomes, hoping to inform about late-stage GDM.

Overdose is a national top-three leading cause of pregnancy-associated death, and maternal substance use disorder (SUD) accounts for an estimated $1.5 billion in healthcare spending each year. Treatment with medication and behavioral therapy lowers morbidity and overdose risk. However, studies have shown 55% to 80% of patients stop treatment within one year postpartum. Additionally, as a result of systemic inequities, historically marginalized patients are at greatest risk of overdose or death. We are conducting a study at WashU Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore clinics that offer prenatal care, addiction treatment, and extended postpartum support for patients facing the challenges of a SUD. Study participants will complete a structured screening and management of their social needs, and then will be randomly assigned to continue their usual care or to participate in a contingency management program, which provides incentives to continue treatment.

Detailed Description The doula-led intervention developed during the first phase of this project will be pilot tested for feasibility. Following the recruitment procedures described in the recruitment and retention plan, approximately 75 participants will be enrolled into the study. Twenty-five of the participants will receive regular doula care and 25 of the participants will receive care from a doula trained in the PMAD doula training throughout their pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum time period, following the intervention procedures developed in Aim 2 of this study. Twenty-five women will not receive care from a doula and will receive perinatal care as usual. Women in all groups will take surveys via REDCap during their enrollment in the intervention, at 1 month postpartum, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum (at the conclusion of the intervention). All participants who receive the PMAD doula intervention will complete checklists after each session with their doula, to assess fidelity to the intervention. Participant communication with their doula via patient notebook will also be assessed for fidelity to the intervention.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of stress management and epigenetic awareness training provided in prenatal classes on maternal stress levels, cortisol levels, and epigenetic awareness. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Do stress management and epigenetic awareness training provided in prenatal classes affect pregnant women's cortisol levels? 2. Does the training affect pregnant women's knowledge and awareness of epigenetic effects?

Substance use during pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States, with 55-80% of postpartum patients disengaging from substance use disorder (SUD) treatment within one year of delivery. Structural and social determinants of health, including housing instability, transportation barriers, and limited childcare access, further exacerbate disparities in treatment retention. This pilot study, conducted in two specialized prenatal care clinics, evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of two integrated strategies to promote sustained engagement in recovery-oriented services during the perinatal and postpartum periods. Aim 1 implements a standardized social needs screening and referral protocol to connect patients with community-based supports. Aim 2 pilots a contingency management intervention to incentivize recovery-supportive behaviors. Findings will inform the design of a larger multi-site randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of these interventions on treatment retention, overdose prevention, and maternal-infant health outcomes.

This is a randomized, sham-controlled trial to determine whether treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is superior to a sham condition at reducing the symptoms of depression in pregnant people with moderate to severe depression. The study aims to enrol 156 participants across all sites. Data collection occurs at baseline, immediately after treatment, every 4 weeks during pregnancy and 4-, 12-, 26- and 52-weeks postpartum

This prospective clinical validation study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based navigational support system for determining fetal lie and presentation during third-trimester ultrasound examinations. Following routine clinical assessment by an expert clinician, three blind ultrasound sweeps will be obtained from each participant. The AI system will generate predictions of fetal lie and presentation from each sweep, which will be compared with the expert clinician's assessment as the reference standard. The study will also explore clinician perceptions of the system's usability and potential clinical value.

The Effect of Scenario-Based Simulation Training for Nutritional Counseling During Pregnancy on Nursing Students' Anxiety Levels, Self-Efficacy Perceptions, and Clinical Skill Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial Research Hypotheses H1: Scenario-based simulation training significantly reduces anxiety levels among nursing students. H2: Scenario-based simulation training significantly increases nursing students' perceived self-efficacy. H3: Scenario-based simulation training significantly improves nursing students' clinical skill performance. H0₁: Scenario-based simulation training has no statistically significant effect on nursing students' anxiety levels. H0₂: Scenario-based simulation training has no statistically significant effect on nursing students' perceived self-efficacy. H0₃: Scenario-based simulation training has no statistically significant effect on nursing students' clinical skill performance.

Aim 3 is a provider-focused pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating a digital storytelling intervention to increase obstetric care providers' empathy and to examine associations with postpartum patient trust. Providers randomized to the intervention view a video of Black women's labor pain and care experiences and complete a brief reflection; control providers receive general culturally sensitive care materials. Outcomes include change in provider empathy (primary) and patient trust among Black postpartum patients under those providers' care (secondary). Risks are minimal and mitigated via consent, voluntary participation, the option to skip questions, and secure data practices.

This observational study aims to compare mean arterial pressure measurements obtained using an ankle blood pressure cuff with those obtained using a standard upper-arm cuff in pregnant individuals undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia. The primary objective is to determine the level of agreement between the two measurement sites.The main question\[s\] it aims to answer \[is/are\]: Demonstrate that the mean arterial pressure is similar between arm and ankle with the blood pressure cuff Every participant will be their own control. (Measurements will be taken at both sites on every participant)

IMPAACT 2044 is a study to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of ceftriaxone and benzathine penicillin G during pregnancy. Up to 78 pregnant women receiving (1) ceftriaxone for indications other than syphilis or (2) benzathine penicillin G for treatment of syphilis from non-study clinical care providers will be enrolled at study sites located in the United States. Approximately 22 infants of pregnant participants receiving benzathine penicillin G will also be enrolled.

This study will assess the impact of virtual doula care on birth and postnatal outcomes among rural mothers. The goal of virtual doula services is to improve access to care in underserved communities and decrease urban-rural differences in key maternal health outcomes including mode of birth (cesarean vs vaginal) and birth satisfaction. By implementing a digital randomized controlled trial, the study team will efficiently recruit a national sample of rural pregnant women to provide evidence of the effectiveness of virtual doula care, the appropriateness of virtual visits for different care and support needs, and the role of virtual care in improving maternal health.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the tissues supporting the teeth and may contribute to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Increasing evidence suggests that maternal inflammation during pregnancy may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth. However, the biological mechanisms linking maternal periodontal inflammation to the intrauterine environment remain unclear. This prospective observational cohort study aims to investigate the relationship between maternal periodontal status and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers measured in both saliva and amniotic fluid. Eighty healthy pregnant women between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation will be recruited from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Gulhane Training and Research Hospital. Participants will undergo a comprehensive periodontal examination and provide unstimulated saliva samples. Amniotic fluid samples will be collected during delivery as part of routine obstetric care, without any additional invasive procedures. The concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) will be measured in saliva and amniotic fluid using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pregnancy outcomes, including gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and pregnancy complications, will also be recorded. The study will evaluate whether maternal periodontal inflammation is associated with changes in inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in saliva and amniotic fluid and whether these biomarkers are related to pregnancy outcomes. The findings may improve understanding of the biological relationship between oral health and pregnancy and may contribute to the identification of biomarkers associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The objective of this study is to test the effect of smoking cessation in pregnancy or in lactation on preventing rapid infant adiposity gain. Investigators propose a randomized, controlled experiment among smoking pregnant women from 1st prenatal care visit through 6 months of postpartum period. Two-phase randomization will be applied to separate the effects of smoking cessation in two different critical periods (i.e., pregnancy and lactation) on infant adiposity gain. Investigators will first randomly assign 40 smoking pregnant women into either the multicomponent intervention (N=30) or the education-only control group (N=10). The multicomponent intervention group will receive education and counseling, monitoring and feedback, contingent financial incentives, and family support, while the control group will receive education only. At the end of pregnancy, investigators will further randomize successful quitters (estimated N=20) from the multi-component intervention group into either the continuous multi-component intervention group in lactation (N=10) or the education-only control group (N=10). All women and their newborns will be followed from enrollment to 6 months postpartum. The key outcomes include maternal smoking abstinence confirmed by urine-cotinine and infant gain in weight-for-length z-score. Specific Aim 1 is to examine the effects of maternal smoking cessation intervention in pregnancy on infant gain in weight-for-length z-score from birth to 6 months. Specific Aim 2 is to examine the effect of maternal smoking abstinence intervention in lactation and infant post-weaning gain in weight-for-length z-score among the women who have successfully quit smoking in pregnancy.

The goal of this randomized control trial is to compare different doses of Misoprostol (25 mcg vs 50 mcg) in induction of labor (IOL) in morbidly obese patients with BMI \>40. It is known that morbid obesity is a risk factor for failed IOL and ultimately cesarean delivery (CD.) If the rates of vaginal delivery in this population can improve, then surgical morbidity can be reduced in these patients.

This clinical trial is about prenatal genetic screening. It will test an intervention to help people make decisions about screening. The intervention is a short set of information cards about screening. This intervention is for pregnant participants. They will use the intervention on their mobile phone before they see their doctor. The study has one main question: * Do participants who use the intervention feel more confident when they make a decision about screening? Researchers will compare participants who use the intervention to participants who do not. All participants will have their usual care when they visit their doctor. What will participants do? * Participants must be pregnant. They will sign up for the study before their first doctor's visit for their pregnancy. This is the visit where their doctor usually talks with them about screening. * Some participants will use the intervention before their first doctor's visit. Other participants will not use it. * All participants will talk with a researcher on the phone after their first doctor's visit. * Participants who use the intervention will answer a short survey on their phone. * A few participants who use the intervention will talk with a researcher a second time on the phone.

The purpose of this research study is to see if using the MI MOM App improves pregnancy and postpartum health. There are two study groups, where one group is "treatment as usual" and the other is the "MI MOM App" group. Both groups will be asked to answer questions about their pregnancy health. Researchers will also retrieve vital records and Medicaid claims information related to pregnancy for both groups. Those in the "MI MOM App" group will receive mobile web app content and text messages with informational links and links to videos and micro-interventions. They will also identify up to three close friends or family members who will be invited to receive text messages. Those in the "MI MOM App" will also have the option to contact a community health worker as needed.

Pre-eclampsia (PET) is a condition characterised by high blood pressure and damage to other organs, and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal complications such as fetal growth restriction (FGR). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) involves abnormal blood sugar levels during pregnancy and can have both short and long-term impacts on the health of the mother and child. Both conditions are linked to placental dysfunction but the precise mechanisms behind these links remain unclear. A major focus of this study is on extracellular vesicles (EVs) which are tiny, bubble-like particles released by the placenta into the mother's and baby's bloodstreams. These EVs act as messengers, carrying proteins, lipids and genetic material that can influence how cells function, even in parts of the body far from the placenta. Notably, the number and content of these EVs change in conditions like PET and GDM, suggesting they may play a role in the development of these complications. This single-site, observational, laboratory study aims to investigate how these EVs contribute to maternal health and disease. To enable analysis across different physiological and pathological conditions pregnant participants with healthy pregnancies, pregnancies predisposed to PET and pregnancies complicated by GDM, FGR and PET will be recruited alongside healthy non-pregnant controls. Recruitment will be from the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford (who fund the research). Demographic and clinical data will be collected as well as blood, urine, breath, voice, placenta, umbilical cord, umbilical cord blood, amniotic fluid and/or uterine vein blood samples. Through examining EV content and function, it is hoped a better understanding of their role in pregnancy complications will be gained, including their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and targeted treatments, improving outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide.

This study aims to identify which of the following factors-physical activity level, nutritional status, or pregnancy-related anxiety-has the strongest influence on excessive gestational weight gain. Pregnant women in their third trimester who are being followed at Gebze Fatih State Hospital and meet the inclusion criteria will be referred to the Exercise Therapy Laboratory of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakıf University. After being informed about the study and providing written informed consent, participants will undergo a face-to-face assessment. Data will be collected prospectively using a demographic information form, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), a nutritional status assessment form, and a pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaire.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of sequential versus combined multimodal cervical ripening strategies to achieve vaginal delivery within 24 hours among nulliparous patients with singleton, vertex pregnancies at term undergoing induction of labor.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of an unconditional cash transfer intervention to improve mental bandwidth, ART adherence, and postpartum retention among pregnant women with HIV in Botswana. The main questions it seeks to answer are: 1. Do unconditional monthly cash transfers improve mental bandwidth relative to usual care among pregnant women with HIV? 2. Do unconditional monthly cash transfers improve ART adherence (PDC) during pregnancy and the postpartum period? 3. Is delivery of UCTs via mobile money feasible and acceptable in public ANC clinics in Botswana? 4. What barriers and facilitators affect implementation, and how should the model be adapted for a larger trial or a policy pilot (e.g., a pregnancy support grant)?