OBJECTIVE To review the effect of the number of embryos transferred on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF), to provide guidelines on the number of embryos to transfer in IVF-embryo transfer (ET) in order to optimize healthy live births and minimize multiple pregnancies. OPTIONS Rates of live birth, clinical pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy or birth by number of embryos transferred ar...

In the past decades, we have observed a large increase in the number of multifetal pregnancies, which is mainly associated with the introduction of assisted reproductive techniques. Even though neonatal intensive care of very premature infants has improved significantly, the risk of mortality and long-term morbidity is still much higher among these newborns. A longer interdelivery period may re...

Cigarette smoking adversely affects every organ system. Paradoxically, smoking during pregnancy has been associated with a reduced risk of preeclampsia. We reviewed previous epidemiologic and clinical studies on the association between smoking and preeclampsia from 1959 to March, 2006. A total of 48 epidemiologic studies were identified. Overall, smoking during pregnancy reduces the risk of pre...

We analyze the relationship between prenatal WIC participation and birth outcomes in New York City from 1988-2001. The analysis is unique for several reasons. First, we have over 800,000 births to women on Medicaid, the largest sample ever used to analyze prenatal participation in WIC. Second, we focus on measures of fetal growth distinct from preterm birth, since there is little clinical suppo...

background: the increase in the prevalence of cesarean section (c-section) in recent decades has become a public health problem worldwide. studies of cesarean section in order to identify the causes and form policies and interventions to reduce the incidence of this health problem are necessary. this study was conducted with the aim to investigate the causes of c-sections performed at niknafs a...

In 2009, the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth Conference charged the authors to propose a new comprehensive, consistent, and uniform classification system for preterm birth. This first article reviews issues related to measurement of gestational age, clinical vs etiologic phenotypes, inclusion vs exclusion of multifetal and stillborn infants, and separation vs combination o...

physiologists have shown that increased fluids improve skeletal muscle performance in prolonged exercise.typical orders provide for 125 ml of intravenous fluids per hour in patients taking limited oral fluids during labor. our purpose in this study was to determine whether increased intravenous fluids affect the progress of labor. in a prospective randomized institutional clinical trial, one-hu...

Introduction Preterm birth is still a major health problem throughout the world. Preterm birth results in 75% of neonatal mortality. We sought to identify risk factors which cause preterm birth. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study assessed all preterm neonates born in Asali Hospital in Khorram Abad (either by NVD or C/S) during the first 6 months of 2007. Sampling method was censu...