scholarly journals Provisionally pregnant: uncertainty and interpretive work in accounts of home pregnancy testing

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Ross
Keyword(s):  
Positive Result ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Reproductive Rights ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Pregnancy Test ◽  
Early Gestation ◽  
Medical Technologies ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Pregnancy Testing ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Upon their availability for purchase in the 1970s, home pregnancy testing devices were hailed as a ‘revolution’ for women’s reproductive rights. Some authors, however, have described these technologies as further enabling the medicalisation of pregnancy and as contributing to the devaluing of women’s embodied knowledge. The home pregnancy test is one of many technological devices encountered by women experiencing pregnancy in the United Kingdom today. Existing literature has described how engagement with medical technologies during pregnancy might address uncertainties experienced at this time, providing women with reassurance and alleviating anxieties. Drawing on interviews with women living in Scotland, this article explores accounts of testing for a first pregnancy, and women’s descriptions of the impacts of home pregnancy testing upon experiences of early gestation. Participants engaged with pregnancy tests in varying ways, with uses shaping and shaped by their experiences of early pregnancy more broadly. Particular technical characteristics of the home pregnancy test led many participants to question their interpretation of a positive result, as well as the accuracy of the test itself. Rather than addressing the unknowns of early gestation by confirming a suspected pregnancy, a positive result could thus exacerbate uncertainty. Through participants’ accounts, this article shows how uncertainty is lived out by users of mundane techno-medical artefacts and sheds new light on women’s experiences of the first trimester of pregnancy.

Opportunities for treating opportunistic vaginal infections during pregnancy

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 11-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
T E Karapetyan ◽  
V V Muravieva ◽  
A S Ankirskaya ◽  
L A Lyubasovskaya ◽  
T V Priputnevich
Keyword(s):  
Positive Result ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Premature Birth ◽  
Local Treatment ◽  
Vaginal Infections ◽  
Aerobic Vaginitis ◽  
Early Gestation ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Intrauterine Infections

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment of women with opportunistic vaginal infections during pregnancy. Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study included 330 pregnant women, of whom 151 were diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV), 37 had aerobic vaginitis (AB), 109 had vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC), 20 had a combination of VC + BV. When carrying out antibiotic therapy in the early stages of pregnancy, the principle of local treatment was observed. Results. Most often (46.0%), vaginal infections were detected when women were treated early in pregnancy. In the treatment of BV in the early stages of pregnancy with antiseptic chlorhexidine, a positive result of therapy was noted in 97.6% of women. Therapy with metronidazole or clindamycin BV in women who applied in the II and III trimesters, gave a positive result, respectively, in 90.0% and 89.5% of cases. The course of therapy with chlorhexidine pregnant women with AB was effective in 91.7% of cases with treatment in the first trimester and 92.0% in treatment in the II and III trimesters. In the treatment of VC in early pregnancy, natamycin was effective in 95.0% of women. In the II and III trimesters, econazole treatment was successful in 88.2% and 88.6%, respectively. In the treatment of combination of BV + VC in early gestation, the complex course of chlorhexidine + natamycin was effective in 76.5% of women, in II and III trimesters Neo-Penotran Forte was effective in 93.8% of pregnant women. Relapses of vaginal infections were observed in 34 pregnant women (10.3%). Superinfection with fungi was noted in 9.3% of cases of BV treatment and in 8.1% of pregnant women with AB. Among women observed from early pregnancy, there were no cases of premature birth, manifestations of intrauterine infections were noted in 5.3% of newborns. At treatment in the II and III trimesters, premature birth was in 6.5% and 13.5% of women, and manifestations of intrauterine infections - in 15.3% of newborns. Thus, microbiological monitoring of timely detection and treatment of opportunistic vaginal infections in pregnant at-risk groups showed the advisability of treating these infections in early gestation.

Evaluation of Normal Heart Rate in Early Pregnancy Corresponding to Gestational Age between Six to Eight Weeks

Med Phoenix ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Author(s):  
Akhilesh Kumar Jha ◽  
Bikranta Rimal ◽  
Tarannum Khatun
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Normal Heart ◽  
Normal Heart Rate ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
Singleton Pregnancies

Background: Ultrasonography is the reliable and safe way for the evaluation of pregnancy. Heart rate can be detected more confidently from the Ultrasonography. Heart rate is an important parameter for the evaluation of early pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the normal heart rate in embryos/fetuses between 6 and 8 weeks of gestation.Method: In our region people are poor and most of them do not know the benefit of regular follow up examination during pregnancy. So most of pregnant women come to our centre at late stage of pregnancy. The number of pregnancy cases is good in our centre but the number of early pregnancy cases coming to regular follow up examination is low. Thus the study was conducted in 51 normal singleton pregnancies undergoing routine ultrasound examination during the first trimester of pregnancy. The duration of study was 6 weeks.Result: Out of 51 singleton pregnancies, 20 cases (39.2%) heart rate were between 131-150 beat per minute and 25 cases (49.0 %) heart rate were between 151-170 beat per minute. However 4 cases (7.8%) were between 110-120 beat per minute and 2 cases (3.9%) were more than 171 beat per minute. There were zero cases above the 180 beat per minute.Conclusion: The result of this study will help to evaluate abnormal and normal fetal heart rate so that early clinical decision whether to continue the pregnancy or terminate it can be taken, as Ultrasonography is only the method used in screening fetal well being in most of the region of our country.Med Phoenix Vol.2(1) July 2017, 34-37

scholarly journals Spontaneous rupture of an unscarred uterus in early pregnancy: a rare but life-threatening emergency

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. e228493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bedayah Amro ◽  
Ghassan Lotfi
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Uterine Rupture ◽  
Laparoscopic Approach ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Rare Occurrence ◽  
Spontaneous Uterine Rupture ◽  
First Case ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
Underlying Risk

Spontaneous uterine rupture during early pregnancy is an extremely rare occurrence and may vary in presentation and course of events, hence the clinical diagnosis is often challenging. We present our experience with two such cases of spontaneous uterine rupture in the first trimester of pregnancy without any identifiable underlying risk factors. The first case was at 12 weeks of gestation and the second case was at 6 weeks gestational age (GA). Both cases were diagnosed and managed by the laparoscopic approach. We are reporting the earliest documented GA in which spontaneous uterine rupture occurred. So far, the earliest GA reported in the literature according to our knowledge was at 7+3 weeks. Access to a laparoscopic facility is crucial in the early definitive diagnosis and prompt management of these cases, since this may significantly reduce the risk of severe morbidity and mortality.

Pregnancy Sickness

Physiology ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Andrews ◽  
S Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Nausea And Vomiting ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Inappropriate Response ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy

The majority of women suffer from nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy, but the mechanisms and reasons for this are unknown. Based on our current understanding of the emetic response and physiological changes of early pregnancy, hypotheses are put forward to explain this apparently inappropriate response to conception.

scholarly journals Relative Risk Assessment of Intrauterine Infection of the Fetus During Cytomegalovirus Infection in Early Pregnancy

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. K. Petrova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Intrauterine Infection ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Cmv Infection ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
Relative Risk Assessment

Background. Intrauterine fetal infection (IUI), the common cause of which is the cytomegalovirus (CMV), occupies one of the first places in the structure of perinatal morbidity and mortality. There are no data on the relative risk assessment of IUI at the exacerbation of CMV infection and its delitescent course in first trimester of pregnancy in the literature.Aim: to calculate the relative risks of fetal IUI in pregnant women with exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy.Methods. A retrospective review of the labor and delivery medical records and prenatal records of 104 CMV-seropositive women was carried out. Fifty of these women had an exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy – main group and 54 of them were with delitescent course of the disease (comparison group).Results. A comparative analysis of ultrasound and morphological markers of IUI with risk assessment depending on the course of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy has been carried out. A high risk of placental structure abnormalities, as well as amniotic fluid and fetal membranes, fetal and placental blood flow pathology, onset of  choroid plexus cyst and fetal growth restriction was found, with a statistically significant difference in the group of pregnant women with exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy.Conclusion. The findings suggest that the exacerbation of CMV infection in early pregnancy is a risk factor for IUI.

scholarly journals Blunted erythropoietin production and decreased erythropoiesis in early pregnancy [see comments]

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Y Beguin ◽  
G Lipscei ◽  
H Thoumsin ◽  
G Fillet
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Entire Group ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Serum Transferrin Receptor ◽  
Erythropoietin Production ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy

After decreasing in the first trimester of pregnancy, the total red blood cell mass increases in the second and third trimesters to peak at term at about 120% to 125% of nonpregnant values, but how this is brought about by changes in the rate of erythropoiesis is not known. We evaluated erythropoiesis by measuring serum transferrin receptor (TfR) levels in 406 women during normal pregnancy (N = 317), at delivery (N = 63), or in the early postpartum (N = 27). Despite the presence of the placenta and the frequent occurrence of iron deficiency, TfR levels remained low in the first two trimesters and increased in the third trimester and at delivery. To explain why erythropoiesic activity was relatively low in early pregnancy, we also measured serum immunoreactive erythropoietin (Epo) in relation to the degree of anemia. There was a very strong correlation between serum TfR and Epo levels in the entire group (r = .59, P less than .0001) as well as in each period of pregnancy. Epo levels remained low for the degree of anemia and did not correlate with hematocrit in the first two trimesters, but recovered afterwards. In the early postpartum, Epo production and erythropoiesis were normal. We conclude that: (1) erythropoiesis is decreased in the first part of pregnancy but increases afterwards; and (2) blunted Epo production in early pregnancy could be responsible for that observation.

Histopathological Diagnosis of Partial and Complete Hydatidiform Mole in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

2003 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil J. Sebire ◽  
Rosemary A. Fisher ◽  
Helene C. Rees
Keyword(s):  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Hydatidiform Mole ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Histopathological Diagnosis ◽  
Molar Pregnancy ◽  
Diagnostic Problem ◽  
Complete Hydatidiform Mole ◽  
Products Of Conception ◽  
Genetic Abnormalities ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy

The diagnosis of molar pregnancy is a continuing diagnostic problem for many practicing histopathologists who are required to examine specimens of products of conception, particularly since changes in gynecological management in recent years have resulted in uterine evacuation at earlier gestations. The aim of this review is to provide practical, up-to-date, diagnostically useful information regarding the histological diagnosis of molar disease in early pregnancy. Pathophysiological issues relevant to molar pregnancies, such as genetic abnormalities, will be briefly summarized, but nonhistopathological aspects of molar disease will not be covered in detail in this review.

Aseptic Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Early Pregnancy

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
YH Lim
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Rare Case ◽  
Sinus Thrombosis ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis ◽  
Venous Sinus Thrombosis ◽  
Sagittal Sinus ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
Sagittal Sinus Thrombosis

This is a rare case of sagittal sinus thrombosis occurring in the first trimester of pregnancy. A literature review was performed.

Prevention of Orofacial Clefts: Does Pregnancy Planning Have a Role?

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. Mossey ◽  
Janet A. Davies ◽  
Julian Little
Keyword(s):  
Cleft Palate ◽  
Cleft Lip ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Orofacial Cleft ◽  
Orofacial Clefts ◽  
Pregnancy Planning ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Objective: To investigate the association between pregnancy planning and orofacial clefts in the United Kingdom. Design: Case–control study. Setting: Scotland and the Manchester and Merseyside regions of England. Participants: One hundred and ninety-one children born with nonsyndromic orofacial cleft, 1997 to 2000, and 247 controls. Main outcome measure: Cleft lip with and without cleft palate, and cleft palate. Results: There was an inverse association between planning for pregnancy and orofacial cleft in the offspring (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.33–0.79). An unplanned pregnancy together with smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy resulted in almost treble the risk of a child with an orofacial cleft when compared with those who planned their pregnancy and did not smoke (OR = 2.92, CI = 1.50–5.65). Conclusions: Planned pregnancies were associated with a lower risk of orofacial clefts. Isolation of the elements of pregnancy planning implicated in these results is difficult. Current preconception advice needs to reach a wider audience; however, for maximum impact, efforts are needed to reduce the numbers of unplanned pregnancies.

Is the exposure to antidepressant drugs in early pregnancy a risk factor for spontaneous abortion? A review of available evidences

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Santone ◽  
Gianmatteo Ricchi ◽  
David Rocchetti ◽  
Stefania Tofani ◽  
Cesario Bellantuono
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
The Cochrane Library

SUMMARYAim– To review studies conducted to establish the risk of spontaneous abortion (SA) in women exposed to anti-depressant drugs (ADs) during early pregnancy.Methods– By using different search terms, PubMed, Toxline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane library databases were searched from January 1980 to March 2008, to identify studies assessing the risk of SA in women exposed to different classes of ADs during the first trimester of pregnancy.Results– Ten studies over 21 identified were selected for the analysis. All were performed prospectively and included as control group unexposed women, or exposed to non-teratogenic drugs or to placebo. In seven studies a depressive episode was specified as the reason for which the drug was prescribed, while the time of exposure was in nine.Conclusions– Only three studies over ten selected reported a significant association between an increased rate of SAs and early pregnancy exposure to some ADs. Many methodological flaws in the study design were found in all studies considered. Given this background and a lack of strong evidence on this issue, further prospective and better designed studies are needed to assess the risk of SA in pregnant women exposed to ADs against the risk of an untreated maternal depression.Declaration of Interest:None.

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