Labor and Delivery

A study looks at a possible connection between dilatation and curettage (D&C) and preterm birth.

A look at the evidence shows that a program using ob/gyn hospitalists makes sense for many facilities and may improve outcomes.

Hands-on ratings of a patient-controlled inhaled analgesia system and a bag for contained tissue extraction.

New research looks at the possibility that women who were themselves born prematurely are at greater risk of delivering their children prematurely. Also research on how much women worry about the genetic risks of their breast cancer and a new algorithm for stratifying breast cancer prevention.

A high/low agreement usually is done to prevent a “runaway” jury from coming back with an unreasonably high award, but ensures the plaintiff of something because they are agreeing to a lower amount than what the jury might have awarded.

Hospital births and obstetricians are not the enemies of low-intervention spontaneous vaginal delivery.

In the latest volley in the ongoing controversy regarding the safety of some forms of hysterectomy, the country’s largest insurer will soon begin requiring prior authorization for many of the procedures. The action, taken by UnitedHealthCare, takes effect April 6, 2015 and does not apply to outpatient vaginal surgeries.

Knowledge of fetal lung maturity provides useful adjunctive information that is unique and relevant to a patient.

Contemporary OB/GYN provides information on the latest research on the possibility of a link between cardiovascular disease and spontaneous preterm birth; whether or not contraceptive expiration dates might be conservative; and helping answer the question of whether or not the HPV vaccine causes more sexual activity.

Contemporary OB/GYN provides information on the latest research from SMFM's annual Pregnancy Meeting.

A first-of-its-kind prospective study by researchers from Australia shows that women who have operative deliveries may be at increased risk of dyspareunia during the postpartum period.

Analysis of data from more than 2.2 million vaginal deliveries shows that episiotomy declined between 2006 and 2012 and nonmedical factors may have been at play. The findings were published in a Research Letter in JAMA.

A study by researchers from Yale University and Brown University suggests that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy may not increase risk of birth outcomes such as low birthweight.

Prevalence of opioid abuse during pregnancy has more than doubled over the past 14 years, according to a new study in Anesthesiology.

Understanding the usual clinical course of periviable PROM helps physicians guide families who are making difficult decisions.

Women who receive the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) may not be at increased risk of preterm birth or other adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study in JAMA.

The 7th annual March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card shows that in 2013, the preterm birth rate fell to its lowest in 17 years-11.5%--meeting Healthy People 2020 goals. That number, however, still earns a “C” grade from the organization, which has set a goal of 9.6% of all live births by 2020.

A patient handout prepared by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine to aid in understanding of periviable rupture of membranes.

A recent population-based study showed a lack of correlation between Joint Commission indicators of elective delivery at 39 weeks’ gestation and cesarean delivery and rates of maternal and neonatal complications in deliveries at New York City hospitals in 2010.

A study of nearly 1.5 million births in the United States shows that while rates of cesarean delivery vary widely from hospital to hospital, identifying the underlying cause with existing data is difficult. The findings underscore a need for collection by hospitals of comprehensive patient data in order to fully understand and optimize use of cesarean delivery.

When a jury sees a big corporation in the defendant’s chair, it can have an effect, although it is never a jury’s job to “punish” a corporation.

An expert commentary on ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 130: Premature Rupture of Membranes.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the number of induced deliveries is on the decline after almost 20 years of increases. The data are taken from the Natality Data File from the National Vital Statistics System and represent births in singleton deliveries, which are the majority of newborns.

“Dosing of oxytocin and timing of level of increase in dose has been the subject of many scientific publications,” noted study coauthor and Contemporary OB/GYN editorial board member Haywood Brown, MD.

A history of at least 1 major depressive episode and a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk of preterm birth (PTB) 4-fold, according to a recent study in JAMA Psychiatry.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of women undergoing induced labor is finally on the decline after many decades on the rise. One benefit is that the number of deliveries before 39 weeks has similarly fallen.

Women with interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) of less than 18 months may be at increased risk of preterm delivery, according to a new study in BJOG.

According to a new retrospective study in Obstetrics & Gynecology, second-stage labor that lasts more than 2 hours may increase the risk of complications.

The correct response to oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios hinges on timing, severity, and comorbidity.

A study of a nationally representative sample of hospitalized women who were pregnant or gave birth shows a link between obstructive sleep apnea and maternal death. The findings, published in SLEEP, point to a need for targeted interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes in women with apnea.