Active clinical trials for "Birth Weight"

The aim of the study is to evaluate whether oral administration of 200 mg/day lactoferrin (LF) to very low birth weight infants reduces late onset sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis and the effect of LF on regulatory T cells.

The investigators investigated the effects of a supervised maternal exercise training program (performed during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy) on maternal-newborn unit health outcomes in a group of previously sedentary healthy women. A matched control group was assessed over the same time period. Given the fact that most studies in the field have used aerobic exercises, here the investigators largely focused on very light resistance, toning exercises.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of providing supplements containing alternative combinations of micronutrients during pregnancy on birth weight and other infant and maternal health and nutritional outcomes in a rural area of Nepal.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether caffeine has any effect on birth weight.

Low blood pressure is a common problem in the premature newborn and can affect over 30% of all Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates (ELGAN) babies delivered less than 28 weeks completed. Neonatal clinicians assess the hemodynamic status of the infant using clinical signs and physiological parameters including heart rate, blood pressure, capillary refill time, urine output and laboratory parameters (base deficit and lactate). While urine output and laboratory parameters do not provide real-time assessment of the hemodynamic status, heart rate and capillary refill time could be non-specific, inaccurate and observer-dependent, respectively. Blood pressure (BP) continues to be used as a common physiological marker for cardiovascular state in neonates.However, there is increasing amount of evidence that monitoring blood pressure alone is not enough to ensure adequate systemic and cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. Indeed, preterm babies may have "low blood pressure" triggering pharmacological treatment while still maintaining adequate systemic flow- especially cerebral and other organ perfusion as shown by other noninvasive measures like targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Using mean BP alone as the indication of treatment of neonatal cardiovascular compromise without taking into consideration the status of tissue perfusion may lead to unnecessary exposure of neonates to vasoactive medication. This medication can be potentially harmful to these extremely vulnerable patients. Analysis of a large neonatal database has demonstrated that treatment of hypotension was associated with an increase in serious brain injury. This held true even after the blood pressure was included in the regression mode, suggesting that it is treatment of hypotension, rather than the presence of hypotension which is harmful. The common interventions, fluid boluses followed by inotropes, could as well be harmful. Observational data has shown an association of fluid boluses with intracranial bleeding and in animal models intraventricular haemorrhage after hypotension can be induced by rapid volume infusion. Fluctuations in blood pressure when inotropes are introduced are well known and could also trigger haemorrhage. Current standard approaches to evaluation and treatment of transitional circulatory problems in the preterm infant may be harmful. Therefore it is essential that these approaches are adequately investigated. This research study is trying to find out if having a detailed hemodynamic understanding using a multimodal assessment consisting of Targeted Neonatal Echocardiogram, Cerebral NIRS and clinical-biochemical data, will result in less inotrope use in ELGAN population during the first 72hours of transitional period.

Infants delivered weighing less than 1 kg at birth (ELBW) are at high risk for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury (VILI), in part because of the need for mechanical ventilation utilizing an endotracheal tube (MVET). In spite of strategies to minimize the need for MVET, the incidence of BPD in ELBW infants continues to be 20-80%. The hypothesis is that synchronized NIPPV will decrease the need for MVET and reduce BPD in ELBW infants as compared to NIPPV.

The 2016 WHO antenatal care guidelines stated that pregnant women in undernourished populations should receive fortified balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplements to reduce the risk of stillbirth and small-for-gestational-age birth. However, acceptable supplements and delivery channels must be determined for different contexts. The present proposal therefore will 1) perform a formative study to identify the most suitable (acceptability and utilization) BEP supplement for pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso (phase 1) and 2) evaluate the efficacy of this supplement to improve birth weight, fetal and infant growth (phase 2). The nutritional composition of the BEP supplement was established during an expert convening at the BMGF in September 2016. Private sector partners will prepare the supplements in the selected forms with the recommended nutrient composition.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a combination of evidence-based strategies can improve intrapartum and newborn care in facilities to reduce mortality among preterm infants. This will be a cluster randomized implementation science study across 23 facilities in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya. Selected interventions will be supported in facilities to measure impact during the study period. These interventions are: a) data strengthening and data use activities; b) implementation of a modified WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist with an emphasis on preterm labor and preterm babies; c) simulation-based provider training and mentoring on key existing evidence-based practices to improve newborn outcomes; d) support of Quality Improvement (QI) cycles to identify and resolve facility-specific issues and bottlenecks. A two-stage design will be used where all study facilities will receive some aspects of the intervention initially, namely data strengthening and the modified checklist. Subsequently, the remaining interventions (QI cycles and simulation training of providers) will be rolled out to a randomly selected half of the facilities in the first stage. At a second stage, the remaining half of the facilities will receive the remaining interventions.

The purpose of this study is to determine if a nutrient-rich supplement of animal-source foods ingested 5d/wk from pre-conception to term improves maternal nutrient status, decreases infections, and improves birth weight and rates of prematurity compared with supplemental ingestion during pregnancy ( from mid-gestation to term) or routine prenatal care.

This study hopes to determine whether nitric oxide along with oxygen during the first 20 minutes of life in infants needing help with breathing will reduce the percentage and total exposure to oxygen during that time frame. Although the use of oxygen in management of breathing is an important part of supporting baby immediately after delivery, there is more evidence that too much exposure to oxygen may lead to potential problems for your baby later. Oxygen exposure can be harmful to premature babies developing lungs.