Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(4):235-241
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000400006
Purpose: to create a uterine height growth curve, according to gestational age, to verify differences among the existing curves and to evaluate the influence of color, parity and maternal weight on the variation of uterine height. Methods: during the period from July 1997 to July 1999, 100 normal pregnant women were submitted to uterine height measurements between the 20th and 42nd week of gestation. All the pregnant women had ultrasonically confirmed gestational age. A total of 726 measurements of uterine height were carried out by the same examiner, using a metric tape from the upper border of the symphysis pubis to the fundus uteri. Results: curves and tables of uterine height according to gestational age were obtained. The average uterine height growth was 0.7 cm/week. The study revealed different average uterine height values in relation to other uterine height growth curves. No statistically significant variations were found between the distributions of uterine heights according to color, parity and weight. Conclusion: the construction of a methodologically accepted uterine height growth curve aimed to detect, as a clinical method, the fetal growth disturbances. This should be analyzed in a posterior study.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2001;23(9):567-571
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032001000900004
Purpose: to determine normal ranges for fetal heart rate (FHR) between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy. Methods: a total of 1078 fetuses within a crown-rump length (CRL) from the 10th to the 14th week of pregnancy were evaluated. The fetuses were divided into 4 groups: Group I (10 weeks), Group II (11 weeks), Group III (12 weeks), Group IV (13 weeks). The fetal heart was seen using B-mode/M-mode at a sagital plane and FHR was recorded. FHR was electronically calculated using calipers within 3 consecutive cycles without fetal moveiments. Results: FRH ranged from 136 to 178 bpm among the 1078 studied fetuses. Median values and standard deviations (5 and 95 percentiles) were calculated for each group. The FHR range for each group was: 158 to 184 bpm (Group I); 155 to 175 bpm (Group II); 152 to 172 bpm (Group III) and 149 to 168 bpm (Group IV). Our main finding was a progressive reduction in FHR during the time period under consideration. Discussion: FHR evaluation in the first trimester of gestation is a simple procedure and should be analyzed not only qualitatively but also quantitatively. Published papers have shown a relation ship between FHR and fetal prognosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(1):53-59
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000100008
PURPOSE: to study maternal (body composition and cardiovascular capacity) and perinatal (weight and prematurity) effects of hydrotherapy during pregnancy. METHODS: a prospective, random cohort study, with 41 low-risk pregnant women in their first pregnancy, practicing (study group, n=22) and not (control group, n=19) hydrotherapy. Anthropometric evaluation was used to assess lean mass, and absolute and relative body fat. Ergometric tests were used for maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO). Perinatal results showed premature births and small for gestational age newborns. Initial and final indexes within and between groups were compared. Maternal variables were evaluated using the t test for dependent and independent values; the chi ² test was used to study proportions. RESULTS: there were no significant differences between the groups for maternal variables at the start and end of hydrotherapy. Comparison within each group confirmed the beneficial effect of hydrotherapy. In the study group, relative fat index was maintained at 29.0%; the control group showed an increase from 28.8% to 30.7%; the study group maintained VO2max at 35%, and increased SV from 106.6 to 121.5 and CO from 13.5 to 15.1; the control group showed a drop in VO2max and no change in SV and CO. There was no relationship between hydrotherapy and perinatal results. CONCLUSIONS: hydrotherapy adequately assisted metabolic and cardiovascular maternal adaptation to pregnancy and did not cause prematurity or weight loss in newborns.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(7):463-468
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000700006
Purpose: to evaluate, in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, the correlation between cervical length and spontaneous preterm delivery. Methods: cervical length was evaluated in 641 pregnant women between 11-16 weeks' and 23-24 weeks' gestation. Cervical assessment was performed by a transvaginal scan with the patient with empty bladder in a gynecological position. Cervical length was measured from the internal to the external os. The gestational age at delivery was correlated with the length of the cervix. To compare the means in groups of pregnant women who had a term or preterm delivery, we used Student's t test. Sensitivity, specificity, false-positive and false-negative rates, and accuracy were calculated for cervical length of 20 mm or less, 25 mm or less and 30 mm or less in the prediction of preterm delivery. Results: the measurement of cervical length, between 11 and 16 weeks of pregnancy, did not show any statistically significant difference on comparing women who had preterm and term delivery (40.6 mm and 42.7 mm, respectively, p=0.2459). However, the difference between the two groups at 23 to 24 weeks was significant (37.3 mm in the group who delivered prematurely and 26.7 mm in the term group, p=0.0001, Student's t test). Conclusion: there was no significant difference in cervical length, at 11 to 16 weeks, between pregnant women who had a preterm and term delivery. However, at 23 to 24 weeks, cervical length was significantly different between the two groups, and this measurement might be used as a predictor for prematurity.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):247-251
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400006
Purpose: to compare cervical length measurements in twin pregnancies obtained by transvaginal ultrasound examination in the recumbent and standing positions. Methods: fifty twin pregnancies underwent transvaginal ultrasound examinations to measure the cervical length with the women in recumbent and standing positions. The study was carried out between May 1999 and December 2000. The scans were repeated every 4 weeks and the total number of evaluations was 136. Two groups were analyzed: one included only the first ultrasound examinations carried out in each woman and the second group included all evaluations. Results: in the first group, cervical length measurements in the standing and recumbent positions correlated inversely with the gestational age (recumbent: r=-0.60; p<0.001; standing: r=-0.46; p=0.008). The mean measure in the recumbent position was 35.2 mm (SD=9.9 mm) and 33.4 mm (SD=9.5 mm) in the standing position. When the difference between the measure obtained in the standing and recumbent positions was expressed as percentage of the measure in the recumbent position, there was no significant association with gestational age (p=0.07). When all evaluations were considered, there was a significant association between cervical length in the recumbent and standing positions (r=0.79; p<0.001). The measures in recumbent and standing positions were inversely correlated with gestational age (recumbent: p<0.0001; standing: p<0.0001). The mean cervical length in the recumbent position was 33.5 mm (SD=10.8 mm) and 31.8 mm (SD=9.6 mm) in the standing position. There was no significant association between cervical length difference expressed as percentage of the measure in the recumbent position and gestation. Conclusion: cervical length measure obtained with the patients in the recumbent and standing positions provided similar information.