Labor and Delivery

One in 3 women nulliparous women with a short cervix is prescribed some type of activity restriction, despite lack of benefit in prevention of preterm birth (PTB). Those are the findings from a secondary analysis of data from the Short Cervix and Nulliparity trial. Published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, it is accompanied by a commentary titled “Bed Rest in Pregnancy: Time to Put the Issue to Rest” and an ethical argument for dismissing the practice.

Two physicians discuss the pros and cons of universal assessment for ob/gyns and their patients.

Total delivery costs are lower-and rates of vaginal delivery higher-when external cephalic version (ECV) is done with versus without neuraxial anesthesia. So say the results of a study by Stanford University researchers published online in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

In a group of diverse hospitals across multiple states, an improvement program substantially and rapidly decreased elective scheduled early-term deliveries to less than 5%.

Even after stratification by hospital size, teaching status, and geographic location, rates of cesarean delivery among hospitals across the United States vary almost 10-fold-from a low of 7.1% to a high of 69.96%.

Physicians should recommend that their patients plan for vaginal deliveries rather than cesarean deliveries if there are no maternal or fetal indications for a cesarean. This is the position stated in a new committee opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice.

When a patient’s pregnancy test is positive but ultrasound is inconclusive, a stepwise approach is essential to make an accurate-and timely-diagnosis.

A study presented on February 16 at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting in San Francisco, California, found that around-the-clock labor and delivery (L & D) coverage decreased the odds of cesarean delivery in certain populations of patients in California.

A study published online by the British Medical Journal has shown that women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) are at increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) during the first trimester.