Labor and Delivery

Longitudinal data from a prospective cohort study indicate that being born early term may negatively affect a child’s cardiorespiratory fitness. Plus: Is there a difference in PTB rate between branded and compounded 17P? Also, a review analyzes whether or not there are any benefits to placentophagy.

A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that in pregnancies conceived via assisted reproduction, risk of adverse perinatal outcomes may be higher with donated than with autologous oocytes. Plus: Do post-cesarean antibiotics reduce infections in obese women? Also: Researchers believe they have identified the genes associated with preterm delivery.

This article reviews complications that may occur following perineal trauma, techniques to help prevent these complications, and best practices for management using case vignettes.

PTB can be readily separated into spontaneous and indicated PTB, and, thus, treatment or prevention for one might be counterproductive for the other.

A new study looks at whether midpelvic operative deliveries have greater trauma than other delivery forms. Plus: A look at the long-term effects of using bisphosphonates. Also, is lithium use in early pregnancy as dangerous as previously thought?

The latest on testing guidelines for Zika from the CDC. Plus: Are corticosteroids effective when administered only hours before delivery? Also, a look at the prevalence of hepatitis C among pregnancy women in the United States.

Case rests on physician’s ability to inspire confidence in choices made in the OR.

A debate at ACOG 2017 looks at whether cervical insufficiency should be abandoned as a diagnosis. Plus: A study presented at ACOG 2017 examines whether human papillomavirus is linked to preterm birth?

Expert commentary on Practice Bulletin No. 161: External Cephalic Version

Dr Greenberg reports his thoughts on the Sureglide device and preventing lacerations during cesarean, Überlube and helping women with vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, and TruClear ULTRA Mini tissue removal device for mechanical morcellation.

Too many ob/gyns believe that doing something is better than doing nothing, says this reader.

EPF diagnosis can cause harm, so 100% specificity is the goal.

A new study looks at whether who begin menarche early in life are more likely to develop GDM. Plus: USPSTF issues their final recommendations on pelvic exams. Also, a look at the efficacy of vaginal progesterone in preventing preterm birth in twin pregnancy.

A study looks at the impact of a preterm birth on the mother's future risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus: Do shift work and physical labor negatively impact a woman's fertility? Also, are women who get a false-positive mammogram more likely to delay their future screenings?

Readers write in about their thoughts on the annual labor force survey, the conundrum presented by cesarean delivery and defensive medicine, more information on treating women who have been the victim of sexual assault, and what is adding to the stress of the job.

Can adopting quality measures decrease the cesarean rate? Plus: The Government Accountability Office issues a report on power morcellators and the FDA's system of evaluation. Also, does the volume of one type of heart fat indicate the risk of heart disease?

Susan C Olmstead and Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD, discuss birth plans and whether there is a place for them.

The plaintiff asserted that during the diagnostic laparoscopy, Dr A and Dr B should have detected the ectopic pregnancy in the right fallopian tube. Her attorneys claimed that based upon the plaintiff’s abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and β- hCG levels, and absent evidence of intrauterine pregnancy on ultrasound, the defendants should have presumed ectopic pregnancy and adequately evaluated the fallopian tube before discharging the patient, thus avoiding rupture.

Research looks at the science showing associations between microcephaly and Zika virus. Plus: Can cervical pessaries help prevent preterm birth? Also, a study examines whether inadvertent HPV vaccination during pregnancy leads to adverse outcomes for mother and baby.

Pregnancy-related deaths in the United States have risen from a low of 7.2 per 100,000 live births in 1987 to a high of 17.3 per 100,000 live births in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System.

Following a cesarean delivery, a mother wonders why she hasn't become pregnant again and the neonate ends up in the NICU with skull fractures.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. For the vast majority of spontaneous PTBs, the final pathway is opening of the cervix. Pessaries have been proposed since the 1950s as a possible intervention to keep the cervix closed. But are pessaries safe and do they work for prevention of spontaneous PTB?

A study examines the efficacy of lower-than-conventional doses of estrogen in relieving vasomotor symptoms. Plus: What are the latest ACOG recommendations on water births?

A 34-year-old Ohio woman was under the care of her longtime family physician, who had minor privileges to deliver uncomplicated pregnancies at a specific hospital, for her pregnancy. The woman is diagnosed with eclampsia in her third trimester and is immediately given a cesarean. After delivery, she is unresponsive having died from a massive intracranial hemorrhage. The physician is sued for fraudulently representing her abilities in obstetric care. What's the verdict?

A new study questions whether current HPV testing intervals can be extended for some. Plus: Can azithromycin prophylaxis prevent post infection in women who have undergone a cesarean?

A study looks at whether women are at greater risk of sleep problems than their male counterparts. Also, are cesarean deliveries increasing the risk of childhood obesity? Plus: A study highlights the need for further research in postpartum psychosis.

Relative risk of stillbirth and preterm birth associated with less well-known antibodies was of similar magnitude to that found for anti-D.

On L&D units throughout the country, more and more women are being admitted with birth plans. Birth plans have become an increasingly common part of women’s prenatal preparation.

“Women have very polarized views about induction... some are keen to be induced near their due date ... Others, however, feel that nature knows best and induction is meddlesome."

A study examines if ospemifene is linked to increased hot flashes. Plus: Do certain cerclage sutures increase the risk of preterm birth? Also, do pregnancy delays actually decrease the risk of microcephaly as a result of congenital Zika infection?