Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pregnancy In United States Immigration Detention: Listening To Migrant Women's Stories, Amanda Heffernan

Nursing ETDs

Over the last five years, dramatic shifts in immigration policy across three presidential administrations have impacted migrants arriving at the U.S.’ southern border, with unique impacts on pregnant migrants. The purpose of this study was to document, analyze and contextualize the experience of pregnancy in United States immigration detention. Specifically, the study aimed to: 1) understand the situation of pregnant migrants detained in United States immigration detention facilities between 2017-2022; 2) situate the experience of detained pregnant migrants within multiple contexts, including their own individual and family migration stories and the larger context of United States immigration policy; and 3) …

Metabolomic Biomarkers For Hypertensive Disease Of Pregnancy, Akasham Rajagopaul

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP) is a serious cardiometabolic pregnancy complication. Early onset HDP (EO-HDP) is more severe but rare, whereas late onset HDP (LO-HDP) is milder but common. Current disease markers, including placental growth factor (PlGF), are reasonable predictors of EO-HDP but poor predictors of LO-HDP. We sought to assess the performance of metabolomic biomarkers in HDP through a scoping review and primary analysis of plasma from symptomatic patients. Review of 31 studies indicated better prediction of all HDP and EO-HDP than LO-HDP using metabolomic biomarkers. Due to substantial heterogeneity in reported metabolites, no set of reliable biomarkers have …

In Utero Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry For Fetal Tissue Development, Simran Sethi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fetal life is a significant period of human development because organ systems that sustain life outside the uterus begin to develop during this time. A necessary process that begins during fetal life is myelination, which is the process by which myelin, a lipid-rich substance, is wrapped around neurons in the brain to increase the speed of action potential transmission. Since myelination is critical for the normal function of the central nervous system, fetal myelin assessment is important for understanding neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent tool for visualizing fetal anatomy …

Inadequacies In Nutritional Counseling In The Perinatal Population, Tiffany Fry

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Obesity continues to increase at unprecedented levels and warrants immediate provider attention at the perinatal level to improve the health of the present and future generations. Reduction of this condition can reduce risk factors leading to morbidity and mortality. Guidelines exist for the prevention and management of obesity, yet little focus is placed on prevention in the perinatal population. Lack of consistent and healthy lifestyle in the perinatal population has the potential to not only place the mother at risk for obesity but also her unborn child. The overall purpose of the scholarly project is to identify any potential …

Building Resilience Through Pregnancy Utilizing Tools From Occupational Therapy And Yoga, Rachel Brown

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through a partnership with Nurture Nashville, a local yoga and movement studio focused on promoting wellness and connection for pregnant and postpartum people throughout their journey in motherhood. The primary focus of this project was developing resources to promote resilience during the perinatal period by utilizing tools from both occupational therapy and yoga practice. Outcomes included the synthesis of research into a resilience toolkit, the creation and implementation of a 5-week yoga and sharing circle curriculum, and the re-establishment of a community-centered studio event titled “Meet the Doulas.”

Contribution Of The Microbiome On Reproductive Outcomes During Pregnancy, Kalie Beckers

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A series of translational comparative studies were performed to investigate the effects of the maternal microbiome on reproductive function and outcomes. With the launch of the human microbiome project in 2007, the next generation sequencing of microbiomes is booming. It is not only in the human medicine field, but also in veterinary species. This study specifically investigates the fecal microbiome in blood pressure high sublime 5 (BPH/5) mouse model that spontaneously develops preeclampsia (PE) and obesity. Additionally, the equine reproductive tract microbiome was explored and compared to microbiome of other host body sites. The BPH/5 mouse is a translational model …

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants Of Health And Assessment, Referral, And Utilization Of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis Of Nsduh Data, Heather Lynn Coddington

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

ABSTRACT

Relationships Among Pregnancy, Substance Use, Social Determinants of Health and Assessment, Referral, and Utilization of Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of NSDUH Data

Heather Coddington

Background: Assessment and referral for substance use disorder during pregnancy is crucial to improving outcomes for mothers and newborns during the antepartum and postpartum period. Healthcare professionals are essential during the entirety of the pregnancy during each trimester to provide effective communication when assessing for substance use early and throughout each trimester of pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between assessment, referral, and utilization of treatment …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Informed Decision-Making On Primiparous Women During The Birthing Process, Morgan R. Fillipo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Childbirth is a very intense and vulnerable experience, especially for first-time mothers. Across the globe, the prevalence of traumatic and unsatisfying births has become an increasingly troublesome issue for women. There is extensive evidence of maltreatment, and a large portion of the problem has to do with the client’s medical team. To combat this dilemma, the best course of action would be to prepare women for this possibility by increasing the client’s self-efficacy and decision-making abilities. Self-efficacy, also known as confidence in one’s skills, is an important trait to have when it comes to patients being able to advocate for …

Access To Prenatal Care And Mental Health In Pregnant Women During Covid-19: A Systematic Review, Chloe Feezel, Marin Kahoun, Kaija Kunttu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

COVID-19 affected the world in many ways. Pregnant women were greatly impacted by a change in their access to prenatal care, from in-person care to telehealth methods, and social support being limited by social isolation. Compared with prevalence of anxiety and depression in pregnant women pre-COVID-19, pregnant women during COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms due to the stress of circumstantial changes. The purpose of this systematic review is to review and critically appraise the evidence about access to prenatal care and mental health in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following PICOT formatted question will …

Black Midwives For Black Mothers: Ameliorating Racial Disparities In The Quality Of Maternal Healthcare, Kimberly Navarro

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, maternal mortality represents a dire health crisis with a stark racial imbalance. Black women are two and a half to three times more likely to die from pregnancy and birth-related complications than their White counterparts. Racial disparities in maternal health can be explained by variations in the quality of maternal healthcare services that women tend to receive. Racial and ethnic minority women are more likely to receive inferior quality prenatal care (PNC), which brings to question the care model of traditional PNC and its adequacy in serving the healthcare needs of Black women. Since Black women …

Vaping With Nicotine During Pregnancy Affects Aortic Structure And Function In Rat Offspring, Sydney Alexis Nassabeh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Electronic cigarette (E-cig) use during pregnancy has grown in popularity due to the marketing of these devices as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. However, nicotine is a constituent in cigarettes that is cause for concern and is also present in a majority of E-cig devices. Little has been reported regarding the implications of E-cig use with nicotine during pregnancy on offspring health outcomes. This study tested the hypothesis that in-utero exposure to nicotine-containing E-cig aerosol would result in a wattage-dependent increase in vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffening that would persist throughout the lifespan of the offspring. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats …