Slow and Deep Breathing to Lower Blood Pressure in Women With Pregnancy-induced Hypertension
Pregnancy-Induced HypertensionThis study evaluates the effect of slow and deep breathing on lowering blood pressure in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Slow and deep breathing will be practised daily for 10 minutes from enrolment until the woman gives birth. This feasibility study aims to investigate the practicality of conducting a proposed future randomised controlled trial.
Preeclampsia Postpartum Antihypertensive Treatment
PreeclampsiaHypertension in PregnancyThe goal of this study is to compare whether antihypertensive treatment in the postpartum period decreases postpartum hypertension and its associated maternal morbidity, including risk of readmission and healthcare utilization in comparison with no treatment. Women with preeclampsia diagnosed during the antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum period will be randomized to either initiate antihypertensive treatment or standard of care. We hypothesize that postpartum antihypertensive treatment of patients with preeclampsia will decrease risk of hospital readmission, healthcare utilization and the number of severe range blood pressures at postpartum follow-up visits.
Expanding the Family Check-Up in Early Childhood to Promote Cardiovascular Health of Mothers and...
ObesityMaternal5 moreThis randomized-controlled pilot study will examine the implementation of a cardiovascular health intervention on postpartum mothers and infants. The investigators will adapt a cardiovascular health intervention into an evidence-based home visiting program, Family Check-Up to create Family Check-Up Heart. Through a Type 1 hybrid effectiveness implementation design, the pilot study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of Family Check-Up Heart (Family Check-Up Heart, n=100; Family Check-Up, n=50). The investigators hypothesize that Family Check-Up Heart will show comparable levels of engagement and acceptability as Family Check-Up alone, and mothers receiving Family Check-Up Heart will have greater improvements in cardiovascular health at 6 months postpartum compared to Family Check-Up alone.
Treatment of Elevated Blood Pressures in Early Pregnancy
Elevated Blood PressurePregnancy Induced HypertensionThis is a randomized controlled trial comparing the outcomes of treatment and non-treatment of elevated blood pressures in early pregnancy.
The ACHIEVE Trial: Achieving Longer Gestation in Preeclampsia Via Antihypertensive Therapy.
PreeclampsiaGestational Hypertension1 moreThe Achieve Trial is a randomized clinical trial to test whether lowering blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will prolong pregnancy.
Eliminating Severe Maternal Morbidity With Heart Health Doulas Trial
PreeclampsiaHypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy13 moreThis is a single site, single-blinded parallel randomized control trial that investigates a multi-level intervention to improve postpartum blood pressure in women with hypertensive disorder pregnancy. The investigators will recruit women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, identified between 3rd trimester and 2 weeks post-delivery. The investigators will randomize participants to receive usual care home blood pressure monitoring for 6 weeks versus an intervention of usual care + blood pressure and weight monitoring + a doula trained in heart health. This trial will be conducted in partnership with a local community-based organization, Healthy Start Inc.
Active Pregnancy Against COVID-19
Pregnancy ComplicationsPregnancy8 moreHistorically and traditionally, the recommendations related to physical exercise during pregnancy have been based more on moral or cultural issues than on scientific evidence. During some phases of history, pregnancy has meant a period of seclusion for women (not only physical). One of the adverse consequences has been the common recommendation of rest as a general rule for pregnant women. Scientific evidence from recent years has achieved a better understanding of the process of pregnancy and childbirth as well as maternal and fetal responses to exercise. Currently, both from a scientific and clinical/obstetric point of view, there is no doubt about the benefits of an active pregnancy for entire body of pregnant woman, and even her child. In fact, risks of a sedentary lifestyle are applicable to the pregnancy situation, even more with important associated complications during pregnancy and postpartum period. Unfortunately, the impact of COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented global crisis, in this sense the necessary measures taken by the different administrations, especially in terms of confinement causes (from now on) a large number of complications affecting different populations. In summary a complex situation without established prevention strategies exists. The pregnant population is, due to the nature of the gestation and delivery process, one of the population groups with the highest risk of adverse outcomes and associated complications and whose consequences include the mother, fetus, newborn and even children. According to an important body of scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining factor for the future human being to evolve regardless of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and observable postnatal pathologies in infants. In addition, current publications report the large number and variety of alterations that the COVID-19 situation causes in pregnant women and that includes the entire female organism. This complex situation does not only affect aspects of a physical or physiological nature, but also psychic and emotional factors. In summary, a new state of confinement or similar situations in the near future (impossibility of groupings, distance between people), avoid during the daily life of pregnant women one of the important and recent recommendations made by the international scientific community: a pregnancy physically active. This is especially relevant, due to the dangerous association between complications of a psychological or emotional nature during pregnancy with pre, peri and postnatal disorders (low birth weights, perinatal complications, altered and prolonged deliveries, etc.), which affect not only to the mother and can determine the health of the future human being. According to the scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining aspect in the health of the future human being and the prevention of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous and recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and different pathologies during and after pregnancy. It is evident the change that COVID-19 and its effects will generate in the lifestyle of the pregnant population and the increased probability of suffering associated pathologies in the next 24-36 months. No preventive actions have yet been planned in Spain and its public hospitals against the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of pregnant women. It is urgent to design and perform an adequate strategy of intervention for its possible prevention. From the scientific point of view, the recommendations are clear and concrete, an aerobic exercise program, designed and supervised by professionals from the Sciences of Physical Activity and Sports, is the best option for pregnant women. In this sense, in the last 30 years, physical exercise has proven to have many benefits for pregnant women, without causing risks or adverse effects on maternal-fetal well-being. This is confirmed by an important body of scientific literature on gestational physical exercise and its effects on pregnancy outcomes.
Postpartum Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy With Hydrochlorothiazide
Pre-EclampsiaGestational Hypertension5 morePostpartum prophylactic HCTZ administration for prevention and relapse of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.
SMART Health Pregnancy 2 - Intervention to Reduce Anaemia and Cardiometabolic Risk During Pregnancy...
Anemia of PregnancyGestational Diabetes5 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a complex intervention called SMARThealth Pregnancy can improve the detection and management of high-risk conditions during pregnancy and in the first year after birth in women living in rural India. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can screening of pregnant and postpartum women using the SMARThealth Pregnancy intervention decrease anaemia prevalence at 1 year after birth? Can the SMARThealth Pregnancy intervention improve postnatal testing after a pregnancy affected by hypertension and diabetes? Participants in the intervention group will be screened by their community health worker at several timepoints during pregnancy, and in the first year after birth using the SMARThealth Pregnancy tablet App. The community health worker will ask about each woman about her medical and obstetric history, then measure her blood pressure, haemoglobin (using a point of care device), and offer a referral for a glucose tolerance test when indicated. Women who screen positive for anaemia, hypertension or diabetes will be given advice and referred to the primary care doctor. The primary care doctor will have a complimentary tablet app to facilitate electronic referral and evidence-based prescribing when indicated. The comparison group will have usual antenatal and postnatal care.
Optimal Nutrition for Prevention of Hypertension in Pregnancy
Blood PressurePregnancyThe aim of this study is to investigate the role of the 677C→T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene on blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy, and to examine the effect of intervention with riboflavin, alone or in combination with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), as a non-drug approach for managing BP in pregnancy in women with the variant TT genotype. In addition, we aim to examine the effect of maternal supplementation with riboflavin, alone or combined with 5-MTHF, on BP in the offspring in early infancy. Study design: A double-blind randomized controlled trial in pregnant women will be conducted. Women with a singleton pregnancy who are in their first trimester will be recruited from antenatal clinics in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Women interested in the study will provide informed consent, complete a screening questionnaire and will provide a buccal swab to collect DNA to screen for the MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism. Women with multiple pregnancies, a previous NTD-affected pregnancy and those who are taking medication interfering with B-vitamin metabolism will be excluded from participation in the study. At approximately the 16th gestational week (GW), those with the variant TT genotype and age-matched heterozygous women (CT genotype) will be randomised to receive riboflavin (5 mg/day) alone, or in combination with 5-MTHF (400µg/day), or placebo, until the end of pregnancy. A non-fasting blood sample will be collected for biomarker assessment of B-vitamin status and other relevant variables from each participant before intervention and at the 36th GW. At the same time points, anthropometric and BP measurements will be taken. Women will also complete a health and lifestyle questionnaire and a 4-day dietary record. Samples of cord blood, umbilical cord and placenta will be collected after delivery and anthropometric parameters of the newborns will be retrieved postpartum. Maternal and infant BP will be measured 2-4 months after birth. In parallel with the intervention trial, age-matched pregnant women who do not carry the variant gene (CC genotype) and have not been randomized to treatment, will be monitored in order to control for any changes associated with normal pregnancy in the study outcome measurements. In the pilot phase, the feasibility and acceptability of the study procedures and treatment will be evaluated for clarification of the sample size and refinement of the study protocol.