Obstetrics

Opinions differ on the value of sending placentas for pathology examinations. The author calls for standardizing when, why, and how this occurs.

Drug abuse during pregnancy has become more common in recent years. Here's how to intervene in a way that will most benefit both mother and baby.

The use of forceps and the vacuum extractor shouldn't be allowed to become a lost art.

A child's disabilities are found to be unrelated to the events that occurred at her birth.

Risk of fetal and infant death is substantially increased in women with pre-existing diabetes, according to results of a new study in Diabetologia. The population-based analysis is one of few to exclude the effect of congenital anomalies and suggests that the association is largely influenced by glycemic control.

In his final editorial of 2013, Dr. Lockwood comments on the recommendations of the ACOG Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy.

According to a recent study, parity and mode of delivery do not have a significant impact on women's long-term sexual satisfaction.

Pregnant patients who have undergone some form of bariatric surgery are at greater risk of preterm birth than women who haven’t had the procedure, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. The risk of small for gestational age (SGA) was also increased in women with previous bariatric surgery.

A low-cost instrument that an auto mechanic invented to ease assisted vaginal delivery is being tested by the World Health Organization (WHO). If proven safe and effective, the Odon Device would be the first innovation in operative vaginal delivery since the forceps and vacuum extractor.

Asthmatic women may take longer to become pregnant, according to a new study published in The European Respiratory Journal.

This was the question posed by Javier F. Magrina, MD, in his presidential address at the opening ceremony of the 42nd AAGL global congress on minimally invasive gynecology on November 11. His answer to this question (which of course referred to obstetrics and gynecology) was a resounding "yes," and he backed up this conviction with statistics and anecdotes that illustrated the need for specialized training in minimally invasive gynecologic procedures.

The Foley balloon is a tried and true mechanical method for cervical ripening

A new survey reveals that the public is misinformed about the causes and prevalence of miscarriage.

Motor vehicle accidents have long been linked to serious trauma during pregnancy, but a recent study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine tied crashes to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine on managing pregnant patients who have had gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery.

Patient education handout for becoming pregnant after bariatric surgery

A plan for determining if intrauterine growth restriction is present, then monitoring and delivering when and how it's best for mother and infant.

Expectant mothers might not need to worry about a glass of wine, according to new research published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The epidemiology of racial disparity in prematurity and infant mortality is a complex problem, say the authors, and public health programs are part of the solution.

An expert commentary on ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 132: Antiphospholipid Syndrome

An ob/gyn neglects to follow a molar pregnancy to its conclusion and the patient develops choriocarcinoma. A jury found in favor of the plaintiff.

Obstetricians often see pregnant patients with psychiatric disorders, the most common being depression. Treatment includes both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic options. This article focuses on use of selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs), the drugs most often used to treat depression in pregnancy.

The common practice of clamping an umbilical cord within a minute of birth to reduce the possibility of maternal hemorrhaging may need to be revised, according to a new paper published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The study authors searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register to find 15 trials involving a total of 3911 mother and infant pairs. The risk of bias in the trials was considered by the paper’s authors to be moderate in nature.

There are 3 major patient populations affected by recurrent pregnancy loss. An editorial by Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM.

While one expert feels that the benefits for family balance outweigh potential risks, the other is concerned that sex selection will lead to a slippery slope.