Objectives: to identify the main reasons of breastfeeding cessation in Lithuania and if there is a link between the length of maternity leave and breastfeeding cessation. Methods: a prospective questionnaire study was conducted in a tertiary hospital from 2016 to 2017. The sample size included 449 women. Results: a total of 41% (n = 123) of respondents weaned off by 6 months after birth, and 57.8% (n = 173) between 6 months and 1 year. During the first few days after delivery, mothers did not breastfeed their infants mainly due to shortage of milk (n = 10; 40%) or separation from their baby due to infant health problems (n = 12; 48%) (p < 0.0001). Mothers who did not breastfeed during the first days after birth more often did not start breastfeeding later at home (p = 0.001). Going back to work was not a significant factor in weaning off. Conclusions: breastfeeding initiation and practice during the first few days after birth has a significant impact on the further commitment for full breastfeeding. Additionally, a perceived lack of support and help from both doctors and midwives influences a woman’s decision to choose not to breastfeed.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH), are major causes of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. This review elucidates the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the immunological aspects of HDP and explores their therapeutic potential. Tregs, which play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis, are crucial in pregnancy to prevent immune-mediated rejection of the foetus. The review highlights that Tregs contribute to immunological adaptation in normal pregnancy, ensuring foetal acceptance. In contrast, HDP is associated with Treg dysfunction, which is marked by decreased numbers and impaired regulatory capacity, leading to inadequate immune tolerance and abnormal placental development. This dysfunction is particularly evident in PE, in which Tregs fail to adequately modulate the maternal immune response against foetal antigens, contributing to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate Treg activity represent a promising avenue for HDP management. Studies in animal models and limited clinical trials suggest that enhancing Treg functionality could mitigate HDP symptoms and improve pregnancy outcomes. However, given the multifactorial nature of HDP and the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Tregs, the review explores the complexities of translating in vitro and animal model findings into effective clinical therapies. In conclusion, while the precise role of Tregs in HDP is still being unravelled, their central role in immune regulation during pregnancy is indisputable. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which Tregs contribute to HDP and to develop targeted therapies that can safely and effectively harness their regulatory potential for treating hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.

Background: There are little up-to-date data available on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Lithuania. The aim of our study was to examine the factors that could influence exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. Methods: In 2016, a survey was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Vilnius University Hospital, Santaros Klinikos. Women in postnatal wards were opportunistically offered questionnaires and later followed up by telephone interviews at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum. We used binary logistic regression to determine the factors that impacted exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months following childbirth. Results: Of 475 eligible women that were approached, a total of 447 women were recruited, with response rates of 76.1, 71.4 and 67.0% at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum, respectively. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding through the 6 month postpartum period was 39.8%. Exclusive breastfeeding during days 2 to 4 postpartum was positively influenced by factors such as a natural childbirth, the practice of breastfeeding on demand and maternal self-confidence in breastfeeding. Subsequently, exclusive breastfeeding on demand in the immediate postpartum period and exclusive breastfeeding for up to 3 months were associated with successful exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. However, the adverse factors that limited the success and duration of exclusive breastfeeding included free samples of human milk substitutes or advertising at primary healthcare centers 6 weeks after childbirth, pacifier use 6 months after childbirth, as well as amniotomy for labor induction. Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that exclusive breastfeeding is impacted in both directions by a range of factors during particular periods after delivery. One of the novel findings was the adverse influence of amniotomy for labor induction on exclusive breastfeeding rates. Taking into account diverse factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding and the absence of a single way to promote it, there is a crucial need to increase the incidence of exclusive breastfeeding until infants reach the age of 6 months.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH), are major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. This review elucidates the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the immunological aspects of HDP and explores their therapeutic potential. Tregs, known for maintaining immune tolerance, are crucial in pregnancy to prevent immune-mediated rejection of the fetus. In HDP, Treg numbers and function imbalance are observed, correlating with disease severity. The review highlights that Tregs contribute to immunological adaptation in normal pregnancy, ensuring fetal acceptance and placental development. In contrast, HDP is associated with Treg dysfunction, marked by decreased numbers and impaired regulatory capacity, leading to inadequate immune tolerance and abnormal placental development. This dysfunction is particularly evident in PE, where Tregs fail to adequately modulate the maternal immune response against fetal antigens, contributing to the pathophysiology of the disorder. Therapeutic interventions aiming to modulate Treg activity represent a promising avenue for HDP management. Studies in animal models and limited clinical trials suggest that enhancing Treg functionality could mitigate HDP symptoms and improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the review acknowledges the complexity of translating these findings into effective clinical therapies, given the multifactorial nature of HDP and the intricate regulatory mechanisms of Tregs. In conclusion, while the precise role of Tregs in HDP is still being unravelled, their central role in immune regulation during pregnancy is indisputable. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms by which Tregs contribute to HDP and to develop targeted therapies that can safely and effectively harness their regulatory potential for treating hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.

To study the true determinants of adverse perinatal outcome (APO) in term healthy mothers with normal cardiotocograph (CTG), evaluating the real influence of maternal age.In a retrospective study, ...

Letter to the Editor, BJOG Exchange