Obstetrics

Significant updates occurred in women’s health issues while the world was in survival mode.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare but potentially fatal condition characterized by hepatic failure.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) occurs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and is characterized by pruritus and elevated serum bile acid concentrations.

“My research centers on examining the intersection of policy, health and economics. In no other area of medicine is policy as critical to health as ob/gyn. It is essential to understand how policy can promote health, or perpetuate reproductive health disparities,” said principal investigator Maria Rodriguez, MD, MPH, an associate professor of ob/gyn in the Section of Family Planning at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

“GO MOMs will set the foundation for determining future approaches to the screening, diagnosis, and eventually, the treatment of elevated blood glucose during pregnancy,” said NIDDK program director Barbara Linder, MD, PHD, the project scientist for the study.

A recently updated Practice Advisory from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provides an overview of the latest guidance for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant and lactating patients.

New findings support current guidelines to avoid pregnancy for 12 to 24 months after bariatric surgery, adding emphasis on achieving gestational weight gain.

A new study, which was published in JAMA, investigated the immunogenicity in 103 pregnant and lactating individuals aged 18 to 45 years who received either the Pfizer of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

“On a national level, it was decided that in spite of the lack of information, breastfeeding women should be vaccinated,” said principal investigator Ilan Youngster, MD, MMSc. “Thus, we decided to conduct a study to examine whether anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are secreted into breastmilk and whether any infant adverse events are described.”

Breastfeeding duration among New York City Latinx mothers by their birth region significantly varies, according to a recent analysis. “Both my personal and work histories came together as motivating factors for this project,” said lead author Lauren Gerchow, MS, RN, a PhD student in nursing at the New York University (NYU) Rory Meyers College of Nursing in New York City.

Cesarean delivery is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States, with over 1 million infants delivered this way each year. Maternal morbidity and mortality rates in this country are higher in women undergoing cesarean delivery. To improve these outcomes, experts make a case for the application of several ERAS principles to obstetric-specific issues.

What every OB/GYN needs to know to manage this complication.

This informative physician fact sheet compiles steps ob/gyns can take to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

A presentation at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, which started on April 30, discussed maternal mortality in pregnancy and how physicians can reduce rates.

Most guidance recommends a delay of at least 30 seconds in cord clamping following delivery. A presentation at the virtual 2021 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting looks at the research.

Maternal asthma is a major risk factor for a child also developing asthma. A report examines whether vitamin D sufficiency in pregnancy can change that risk.

A study offers much needed information on the rate of infant mortality in infants who have prenatal exposure to opioids.

A higher risk of adult-onset heart failure was found in this Swedish study that investigated its association with singleton live births before 37 weeks gestation.

Curbside Consults delivers expert perspectives from physicians outside of the OB/GYN specialty to provide insight into various health issues affecting pregnant women. This new section is the brainchild of Editorial Advisory Board member Christine Isaacs, MD.

A study has found that caffeine consumption during pregnancy, even in amounts less than the recommended 200 mg per day, is linked to smaller neonatal anthropometric measurements.

Women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have an increased risk of premature mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease.

In this protocol, Terplan reviews screening for substance use and diagnosis and management of addiction during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. The information is presented against the backdrop of the current opioid crisis. Tables on medication choice and protocols and on risk and protective factors for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are included.

Obstetric providers can play a central role in identifying patients with opioid use disorder and linking them to life-saving treatment.

The protocol presented here provides an algorithm for the initial evaluation of anemia in pregnancy, with treatment algorithms for the most common causes in pregnancy.

The protocol presented provides an algorithm for the initial evaluation of anemia in pregnancy, with treatment algorithms for the most common causes in pregnancy.