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She joined the MJH Life Sciences team in December 2019. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Prior to graduating, Morgan worked as the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper. She went on to work as an assignment editor at a broadcast news station in Youngstown, Ohio, before joining 

 You can reach her at mebert@mjhlifesciences.com.

A thoughtful approach to behavioral change.

Guiding ob-gyns back to evidence-based care

Karyn S. Eilber, MD, is chair of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group department of surgery and professor of urology, and associate professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

In this Q&A, Karyn S. Eilber, MD, shares some of the biggest takeaways from the new AUA/SUFU/AUGS 2025 Guidelines on Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.

Karyn S. Eilber, MD, discusses updates on management of genitourinary syndrome of menopause 

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary OB/GYN website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

Contemporary OB/GYN week in review: ACOG 2025, prenatal diabetes, and more

Joshua Fitch is an editor for Contemporary Pediatrics. Previously, he worked at 21 WFMJ as a sports anchor and videographer, as well as a national content writer for Weigel Broadcasting Company. 

A new study finds that Texas' restrictive abortion law significantly increased rates of mental distress among reproductive-aged women, especially those aged 18 to 29 years.

Texas abortion law linked to spike in mental distress

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A Psychedelic to Treat Postpartum Depression?

CMV: In the Know

RSV Roundtable

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Supplement: Closing the Gap in Cervical Cancer Screening

Vaginismus: Managing a Misunderstood and Underdiagnosed Condition

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Nicky Herrick, MD, is a cardiovascular disease fellow at UC San Francisco.

The BRITE-MOM study at UCSF uses wearable ECGs to detect arrhythmias in pregnant women, aiming to improve early diagnosis and maternal cardiac outcomes.

Nicky Herrick MD; and Anushree Agarwal, MD, MBBS, highlight their study on cardiac arrhythmias in pregnancy

Saying "obstetrician-gynecologist" is a mouthful for most people, and it's probably the most abbreviated specialty in medicine, both spoken and written. However, there doesn't seem to be a consensus on how to pronounce OB-GYN. First, is it the two-syllable "O-B" or the monosyllabic "Ob"? Second, is it "gin" or "gyne" (like "Lyme")? I wonder if you have a preference. I know I do.

Almost nobody says "obstetrician-gynecologist" when speaking about these specialist physicians. But what's the "correct" way to pronounce OB/GYN?

Is It Ob-Gin or Ob-Gyne?

In the first season following the rollout of a novel maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, new data presented at the 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting suggest that uptake of RSV immunization during pregnancy remains uneven and may be influenced by both systemic and educational factors.

The retrospective cohort study examined 1,059 pregnant individuals who delivered at a tertiary referral center between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. During that period, pregnant patients between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks’ gestation were eligible to receive the RSV vaccine, which protects infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—a leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States. Alternatively, families could choose neonatal monoclonal antibody treatment for their newborns.

Overall, 68.5% (n=725) of the patients received some form of RSV protection. Those who received the maternal RSV vaccine were significantly less likely to deliver preterm (defined as before 37 weeks’ gestation), with a rate of 9.9% compared to 17.8% in those who did not receive the vaccine (

However, the study found notable disparities. Patients with Medicaid insurance were significantly less likely to receive RSV protection compared with those holding commercial insurance (63.6% vs. 71.3%, 

=.037). Uptake of RSV protection also closely mirrored acceptance of other routine prenatal immunizations, such as Tdap, COVID-19, and influenza vaccines. Patients who declined RSV immunization were also more likely to have declined these other vaccinations, all with 

These findings come as many health care professionals still report limited confidence and inconsistent practices regarding RSV immunization discussions. According to a recent Contemporary OB/GYN survey of 72 health care providers, most of them practicing ob-gyns, only 19.05% said they were “extremely familiar” with RSV and its impact on infants. While 38.10% reported always discussing RSV immunization with their patients, a combined 40% said they did so only “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never.”

Confidence in counseling was also variable: only 23.81% of respondents felt extremely confident in their ability to advise patients on RSV immunization. Nearly 1 in 4 respondents (23.81%) said they believed it is “extremely important” for pregnant patients to receive the RSV vaccine, while others noted moderate or low importance.

A recurring barrier to vaccine uptake was patient education. A majority of providers (61.90%) identified lack of awareness as the top obstacle, followed by safety concerns (54.76%), time constraints (23.81%), and questions about efficacy (14.29%). Many patients reportedly entered appointments with little to no prior knowledge about RSV; 38.10% of providers said that 0–20% of their patients were aware of RSV immunization options before discussion.

To support better patient communication, 85.71% of providers said educational brochures or pamphlets would help them improve counseling, while others cited the need for better online resources, association support, and more structured training.

Cost and insurance coverage also emerged as common discussion points. Several survey respondents highlighted insurance as a deciding factor in where and how patients could access the RSV vaccine—a dynamic reflected in the cohort study’s finding that commercial insurance was associated with higher protection rates.

Providers also weighed a number of factors when recommending RSV immunization, including vaccine efficacy, potential side effects, fetal safety, and personal anecdotes. One physician noted that many patients are more motivated to receive the RSV vaccine if they or someone they know has had a child severely affected by the virus.

Ultimately, both the clinical data and survey responses point to the importance of proactive, informed conversations in driving uptake of RSV protection. The authors concluded, "In the inaugural season of prenatal RSV vaccination, receipt of other routine prenatal vaccinations and commercial insurance support were associated with receipt of RSV protection. These data will inform ongoing system-wide quality improvement initiatives."

1. Boller MJ, Ward LR, Gibbins KJ, Valent AM, Bayer LL. Uptake of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Protection in the Inaugural Prenatal Vaccination Season: A Tertiary Referral Center Experience. Abstract. Presented at: 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. May 16-18, 2025. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2. Krewson C. Practitioner attitudes toward RSV counseling revealed. Contemporary OB/GYN. September 30, 2024. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/practitioner-attitudes-toward-rsv-counseling-revealed

A new study presented at 2025 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting found disparities between RSV uptake in pregnant patients. 

Clinical

Early data show disparities in RSV vaccine uptake among pregnant patients

What is your diagnosis of this placental lesion in a late second trimester pregnancy?

Daily Dx: Placental Lesion

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occipital meningocele and umbilical hernia

DailyDx: 3D Images of a 14-week fetus

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Challenge your diagnostic skills. What's your diagnosis based on these abdominal images of a late second trimester fetus?

Image IQ: The Fetal Bowel

There is a link between taking longer to eat an initial meal after waking up and increased caloric intake later in the day in pregnant women, along with taking longer to sleep after the last meal, according to a recent study published in 

Increasing research has been performed about the link between the timing of food intake and metabolic health, with investigators noting that eating and sleep behaviors should not occur at the same time of the day. This makes the time between awakening and the first meal as an important health factor, with increased health risks reported form skipping this meal.

“It is inferred that the timing of maternal food intake has the potential to influence maternal and fetal circadian rhythms, fetal development during pregnancy, and the subsequent metabolic health of the offspring, though this is still not fully understood,” wrote investigators.

Data has also indicated a link between sleep quality and weight gain distribution during pregnancy. Therefore, investigators conducted the longitudinal study to determine the impact of sleep-eating intervals on eating and sleeping times and food consumption among pregnant women.

Adult patients at the Integrated Care Units of Uberlândia and the Prenatal Service of the Teaching Hospital of Universidade Federal de Uberlândia who agreed to participate were included in the analysis. Exclusion criteria included prior chronic noncommunicable disease, not providing required information, and using illicit substances.

Data was obtained in all 3 trimesters. Initial sociodemographic data, medical history, physical activity, and gestational data were obtained through a questionnaire following the retrieval of consent. Three 24-hour dietary recalls were completed each trimester to assess food intake and meal timing.

Dietary recalls included details about consumed foods and beverages, with common household measures used to determine portion sizes. Anthropometric variables such as pre-pregnancy weight, current weight, and height were also measured.

Participants also reported their habitual sleeping pattern and aske times in a version of the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire. The mean sleep time on free days was used to determine the chronotype. The time between waking and initial eating was calculated to evaluate sleep-eating interactions.

Associations between wake-eating time and sleep behavior

Waking up earlier on work and free days and going to sleep later on free days was reported in pregnant women with a longer waking time to first eating episode vs those with a shorter waking time to first eating episode. A reduced chronotype value was also reported in these individuals.

Six percent, 6%, and 7% of pregnant woman skipped breakfast in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Waking time to first eating episode was negatively correlated with waking time on workdays, with values of β = -0.509, β = -0.503, and β = -0.423 during the first, second, and third trimester, respectively.

For sleep duration on workdays, these values were β = -0.427, β = -0.483, and β = -0.445, respectively, also highlighting a negative association. Finally, a value of β= -0.344 was reported for sleep duration on free days in the first trimester and β= -0.235 for chronotype in the third trimester.

Bedtime and last meal timing correlations

Additional associations included the last eating episode to bedtime interval with sleep duration on workdays, with values of β = -0.391, β = -0.293, and β = -0.288 during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively, Additionally, a link with sleep duration was noted in the second trimester.

On workdays, positive associations were reported between the last eating episode to bedtime interval and bedtime, at β = 0.394 in the first trimester, β = 0.542 in the second, and β = 0.551in the third. Similar associations were reported on free days.

The waking time to first eating episode interval was also linked to the percentage of calories eaten at dinner in the first and second trimesters, with values of β = 0.266 and β = 0.269, respectively. Links for the percentage of calories in the first meal were reported in the first and third trimesters, at β = 0.404 and β = 0.432, respectively.

Finally, a positive association was reported between the timing of the first meal in the first trimester and the last eating episode to bedtime interval. This showed significant associations in early and mid-pregnancy between delaying the first meal after waking up with both higher calorie intake and shorter sleep duration.

“Additional studies are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of this subject,” wrote investigators.

Pereira CS, Balieiro LCT, Teixeira GP, et al. Association between eating-fasting and sleep-wake cycles with eating times and food consumption throughout the day: Longitudinal study with pregnant women. 

 2024;18(1):e44-e55. doi:10.1055/s-0044-1787276

Ma X, Chen Q, Pu Y. Skipping breakfast is associated with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 

. 2020;14(1):1-8. doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2019.12.002

A new study found that prolonged time between waking and eating in pregnancy is associated with increased calorie consumption and disrupted sleep patterns.

Nicky Herrick, MD

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