Prelabour rupture of the membranes(PROM) is generally defined as rupture of the membranes prior to the onset of labour. When this occurs at term (greather than/equal 37 weeks of pregnancy) it is referred to as term PROM (to distinguish it from preterm PROM). The time interval between membrane rupture and the onset of labour is termed the latent period. The duration of this period is known to vary inversely with the gestational age at membrane rupture.

The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy remain a significant problem in antenatal care. The measurement of blood pressure in pregnancy is fundamental in diagnosing and managing these conditions. The introduction of technology in the form of ambulatory automated blood pressure monitors has allowed multiple, standardised measurements to be made away from the clinical environment, and has addressed many of the errors associated with conventional sphygmomanometry. This article explores the potential role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and, as yet, there is no effective treatment. Most fetuses with ultrasound evidence of moderate to severe IUGR do not grow better out of the womb than in, despite early enteral feeds and subsequent calorie supplementation. Research into possible therapies for growth restricted babies has thus also been directed towards the fetus. Major advances have been made in recent years in the understanding of the physiology of fetal growth, and it has become clear that fetal nutrition is the determining factor.

Most transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occurs around the time of delivery through contact with contaminated vaginal secretions or blood. Hence, interventions to reduce vertical transmission of HBV depend on identification of the infected woman during pregnancy so that the newborn infant exposed to infection can be given immunoglobulin immediately after birth, and a course of immunization can be started.