Traditionally, women receiving azathioprine have been discouraged from breastfeeding because of theoretical potential risks of neonatal bone marrow suppression, susceptibility to infection, and pancreatitis. The aims of this study were to measure the concentration of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) in breast milk of mothers receiving azathioprine and in the blood of their babies and to investigate any immunosuppressive effects on the babies. Women receiving azathioprine, who after appropriate counselling wished to breastfeed their babies, were approached for inclusion in the study. Breast milk samples were obtained from recruited women, and 6-MP levels were measured in each breast milk sample. Haemoglobin level, white cell and platelet counts, and 6-MP and 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) levels were measured in the respective neonatal blood samples. Clinical signs of immunosuppression in the neonates were noted. Thirty-one breast milk samples were collected from ten women. Low concentrations of 6-MP (1.2 and 7.6 nanograms/ml, compared with therapeutic immunosuppressant level of 50 nanograms/ml in serum) were detected in two breast milk samples obtained from one woman. 6-MP was not detected in any of the other 29 samples. 6-MP and 6-TGN were undetectable in the neonatal blood. There were no clinical or haematological signs of immunosuppression in any of the ten neonates. We conclude that breastfeeding should not be withheld in infants of mothers receiving azathioprine.

Careful assessment of the ductus venosus and the umbilical vein should be a part of the evaluation of every fetus with unexplained cardiomegaly. All fetuses with abnormal connection of the umbilical vein should undergo a clinical and ultrasonographic assessment both in utero and after birth to exclude any cardiac and extra-cardiac abnormalities. During the prenatal period, serial ultrasound examinations are indicated and delivery is considered when there is evidence of progressive cardiovascular compromise.

word count: 677, Main text word count: 3604. CONDENSATIONIn women with twin pregnancies universal treatment with vaginal progesterone did not reduce the incidence of spontaneous birth between 24 +0 and 33 +6 weeks' gestation. Short version of article title:Vaginal progesterone in unselected twin pregnancies. AJOG AT A GLANCE• Randomized controlled trial testing the hypothesis that in women with twin pregnancies, vaginal progesterone at a dose of 600 mg per day from 11-14 until 34 weeks' gestation, as compared with placebo, would result in a significant reduction in the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth between 24 +0 and 33 +6 weeks.• In women with twin pregnancies universal treatment with vaginal progesterone did not reduce the incidence of spontaneous birth between 24+0 and 33+6 weeks' gestation. Post hoc time to event analysis led to the suggestion that progesterone may reduce the risk of spontaneous birth <32 weeks in women with cervical length <30 mm and it may increase the risk for those with cervical length ≥30 mm.• In women with twin pregnancies universal treatment with vaginal progesterone does not reduce the incidence of early spontaneous birth.

The EXIT (Ex utero Intrapartum Treatment) procedure is done in cases where difficulty is anticipated in neonatal airway establishment at delivery and is done at the time of caesarean section. The partially delivered fetus is maintained on placental circulation while airway is established and this is carried out by a multidisciplinary team. In this paper, we review the indications, the maternal and fetal considerations of the procedure and the results and outcomes. The review highlights the fact that the benefits far outweigh the risks and that the risk of postpartum haemorrhage is more theoretical than real. As technology improves and more anomalies are diagnosed during the antenatal period, the EXIT procedure can be performed with good results after carefully considering the ethical issues. We have performed a MEDLINE search by using the keywords EXIT, CHAOS, fetal surgery, fetal neck masses and ex utero intrapartum treatment. As there are not many large studies, we have also reviewed smaller case series and case reports.

In a 4-year-period there were 31 admissions to Nehru Hospital, because of nonobstetric injuries of the female genital tract. This constituted 0.8% of all gynaecological admissions over this period. The injuries were caused by voluntary coitus, automobile accidents and various types of astride injuries. Seven of the 18 patients with noncoital injuries presented with vulval haematomas and all were managed by evacuation under general anaesthesia. Two of the 13 patients with coital injury were admitted with haemorrhagic shock and required initial resuscitation with blood transfusion. The vaginal vault, especially the right and posterior fornices were the frequent sites of coital injury for parous women; on the other hand lower vaginal and introital injuries were caused by first acts of coitus. Except for trivial superficial lacerations with minimal bleeding, primary definitive surgical repair other than vaginal packing was favoured for better healing and to reduce morbidity.

The outcomes of 60 sets of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins were compared with 218 sets of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins. The caesarean section rates for MCDA were similar to those for DCDA twins (56.6 versus 53.6%, P > 0.1). Although the number of babies with 5-minute Apgar score of <7 was significantly higher for vaginally delivered MCDA twins compared with that of DCDA twins (12 versus 3.5%, P < 0.001), the umbilical artery pH of <7.2 was similar (20 versus 13%, P > 0.05). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal mortality were also similar in both groups. Delivery by caesarean section was associated with increased admission to the NICU and neonatal mortality for MCDA twins when compared with vaginal delivery group. From this retrospective cohort study, we can conclude that vaginal delivery for MCDA twins appeared to be a reasonable management option when similar selection criteria for vaginal delivery of DCDA twins were applied.

ObjectivesTo assess the diagnostic accuracy of placental growth factor (PlGF) and ultrasound parameters to predict delivery of a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infant in women presenting with reduced symphysis–fundus height (SFH).MethodsThis was a multicenter prospective observational study recruiting 601 women with a singleton pregnancy and reduced SFH between 24 and 37 weeks' gestation across 11 sites in the UK and Canada. Plasma PlGF concentration < 5th centile, estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10th centile, umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index > 95th centile and oligohydramnios (amniotic fluid index < 5 cm) were compared as predictors for a SGA infant < 3rd customized birth‐weight centile and adverse perinatal outcome. Test performance statistics were calculated for all parameters in isolation and in combination.ResultsOf the 601 women recruited, 592 were analyzed. For predicting delivery of SGA < 3rd centile (n = 78), EFW < 10th centile had 58% sensitivity (95% CI, 46–69%) and 93% negative predictive value (NPV) (95% CI, 90–95%), PlGF had 37% sensitivity (95% CI, 27–49%) and 90% NPV (95% CI, 87–93%); in combination, PlGF and EFW < 10th centile had 69% sensitivity (95% CI, 55–81%) and 93% NPV (95% CI, 89–96%). The equivalent receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curve areas were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.74–0.84) for EFW < 10th centile, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.63–0.77) for low PlGF and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.77–0.86) in combination.ConclusionsFor women presenting with reduced SFH, ultrasound parameters had modest test performance for predicting delivery of SGA < 3rd centile. PlGF performed no better than EFW < 10th centile in determining delivery of a SGA infant. © 2015 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the international society of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology.

Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the use and efficacy of delivery by vacuum extraction or ventouse in routine clinical practice and to assess some aspects of the procedure that may reflect the quality of training in this technique. Materials and methods. Women's demographic profiles and delivery details were collected in both the prospective (B) and retrospective (A) arm of the study. In addition, in the prospective arm of the study two custom-designed forms were used: the obstetrician recorded their perception of where the vacuum cup had been placed on one form while on a second form the pediatrician indicated the actual site of the cup placement as observed from the position of the chignon. All the diagrams of cup placement were reviewed by one of the authors, who was blinded to the outcome of the procedure. Results. The vacuum extractor was the first instrument to be used in 79% and 87% of the instrumental deliveries in groups A and B, respectively, with corresponding failure rates of 20% and 21%. Although an occipito-posterior position was diagnosed in 11% of cases of group A and 14% of cases of group B, the specifically designed occipito-posterior cup was not used at all. The vacuum cup was considered to have been applied suboptimally in 40% of the cases where attempted vacuum delivery failed. Conclusion. The high rate of inappropriate positioning of the cup may reflect difficulty in accurately applying the cup, perhaps due to caput or malposition, but may also represent poor assessment of the orientation and position of the fetal skull and therefore be indicative of a need for improvement in training methods.