This article explores the literature on the phenomenon of the ‘concealed’ or ‘undetected’ pregnancy. It proposes a useful working definition and categorization predominantly based on the work of Conlon (2006). Women's unawareness of pregnancy up to giving birth is explored. Evidence from Confidential Enquiries highlights the risks to both mother and child associated with concealment. By raising awareness among care providers and suggesting remedial action such as making maternity services more accessible it may be possible to reduce the consequences of this problem. Included in this article are four case studies which illustrate the phenomenon. Details have been altered to protect confidentiality. Other accounts where tragedy has resulted are not included, as these might be more easily identifiable.
These experiments suggest that serum obtained subsequent to partial hepatectomy of rats is capable of stimulating the growth of and enhancing the final population and cell viability achieved in antibiotic-free suspension cultures of L929 cells. Preliminary enzymatic inhibition of post-hepatectomy serum suggests that one of the humoral factors involved may be RNA.
I feel Diane Blake doth protest too much, in her article condemning the pinnard stethoscope to the museum (Blake, 2008). The new Intrapartum Guidelines do not require confirmation of the fetal heart (FH) with pinnard either for intermittent or prior to commencing continuous recording, though obviously the convenience and comfort of the woman is the driving force behind this. The latest antenatal guidelines, as did the old, do not recommend any instrument for auscultation, as it is not deemed a required screen. More appropriate is the enquiry of the mother that she is feeling plenty of fetal movements. So, indeed, according to these authorities, the pinnard is out of date. However, I feel that what is heard with the hand-held ultrasound device (poppler or sonicaid) warrants a more detailed explanation than supplied by the article, to enable an understanding as to why skills in use of the pinnard should be taught and maintained by midwives.
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