Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of mobile health technology and its potential to improve antenatal care (ANC) services in Iraq. Methods: This was a controlled experimental study conducted at primary health care centers. One hundred pregnant women who attended those centres for ANC were exposed to weekly text messages varying in content, depending on the week of gestation, while 150 women were recruited for the unexposed group. The number of ANC visits in the intervention and control groups, was the main outcome measure. The Mann-Whitney test and the Poisson regression model were the two main statistical tests used. Results: More than 85% of recipients were in agreement with the following statements: "the client recommends this program for other pregnant women", "personal rating for the message as a whole" and "obtained benefit from the messages". There was a statistically significant increase in the median number of antenatal clinic visits from two to four per pregnancy, in addition to being relatively of low cost, and could be provided for a larger population with not much difference in the efforts. Conclusions: Text messaging is feasible, low cost and reasonably acceptable to Iraqi pregnant women, and encourages their ANC visits.

Background: Mid-trimester maternal serum markers have been used for prenatal aneuploidy screening for more than 20 years. In the absence of aneuploidy or neural tube defect, these serum markers have also been associated with several placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and stillbirth. Objective: To assess the effect of maternal alpha fetoprotein and B-HCG in umbilical artery Doppler change in 2 nd trimester. Patients and Method: An observational prospective cohort study, conducted at Al-Elwiya maternity teaching hospital Obstetrics department, from the first of February 2019 to the end of Jan. 2020. Results: The current study was included 50 patients within the mean age (25.7±6.2) years old and the main age group was between 21-30 years (62.0%), normal pregnancy outcome in (88.0%), while preeclampsia found in 4 (8.0%) patients and IUGR in 2 (4,0%). Significant association were found between elevated level of serum HCG and Alpha feto protein with adverse pregnancy outcome (P=0.005). Conclusion:Alpha feto protein and HCG were not significantly related to Doppler change in the current study.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) (G1691A) and prothrombin gene (G20210A) mutations are the most common inherited forms of thrombophilia. The main objective of this study is to analyze the association between inherited thrombophilia FVL mutation and prothrombin G20210A mutation and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) among women suffering from complications of pregnancy. The study included 40 buccal swab samples collected from women at the reproductive age complications; abruption placenta 12.5%, dead fetal 37.5%, and recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) 50% in comparison with 30 women who had one or more normal pregnancies from Elwiyah Obstetric teaching hospital through the period from mid of September 2014 to the mid of March 2015. The median age of patients was 32 years (range: 19–42 years) while for the control group, it was 28 years (range: 17–41 years). Out of 40 women, 65% had one pregnancy loss and 35% for more than two previous pregnancy losses. According to the time of pregnancy losses, 22(55%) women had early pregnancy loss (EPL), and 18 (45%) women had Late Pregnancy Loss (LPL). For FVL mutation detection the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used. DNA fragment of interest was amplified by PCR and then subjected to digestion by MnlI specific restriction enzyme. For prothrombin G20210A mutation detection different PCR products were generated using a set of primers in A/A, G/G, A/G alleles. Out of the 70 samples tested for FVL mutation no homozygous FVL mutation was detected and Prothrombin gene mutation G20210A was totally absent among patient and control.

Background: Successful labor induction is clearly related to the state of the cervix. The utero-cervical angle and cervical length represent novel ultrasonographic markers. Aim: To assess the relationship between utero-cervical angle and cervical length and satisfactory response to labor induction. Methods: Prospective cohort study was conducted in Al-Elwyia Maternity Teaching Hospital for a period of six months; 100 cases were enrolled in the study, and a pre-labor induction measurement of utero-cervical angle and cervical length using transvaginal ultrasound scanning was followed up till the end of labor to estimate the rate of success of induction of labor. Results: 65 patients had successful induction of labor and 35 failed to do so. No differences were found in demographic data and previous obstetric history. Short cervical length and wide utero-cervical angle were found in successful induction of labor. A significant negative correlation was found between utero-cervical angle and labor duration. At the cutoff point of 97.5 degrees of utero-cervical angle, the sensitivity was 83.12%, specificity was 71.4%, positive predictive value was 84.38%, negative predictive value was 69.45% and the accuracy was 88%. At a cutoff point of less than 29.5 mm of cervical length, the sensitivity was 92.3%, specificity was 80%, positive predictive value was 89.55%, negative predictive value was 84.84% and the accuracy was 88%. Conclusion: Utero-cervical angle and cervical length may be independent predictors of successful induction of labor.