Pregnancy and Birth

New research shows that babies born to mothers who exercised during pregnancy have more mature brains than babies whose mothers did not exercise.

Outcomes were similar for planned cesarean delivery and vaginal delivery of twins. Also, cesarean section does not reduce the higher risk of adverse outcomes for the second twin.

Outpatient hysteroscopic metroplasty with bipolar electrode is an effective treatment in patients with infertility related to septate uterus.

Non-white women with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to deliver preterm than white mothers, according to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

When a 35-year-old woman presented for her first ultrasound at 30 weeks’ gestation, the images revealed a very rare condition. Can you identify it?

What is your diagnosis based on these images from a young woman with irregular menses?

The risk of venous thromboembolism is increased more than 17-fold when a pregnant woman is hospitalized for reasons other than delivery, research shows.

All pregnant women should be tested for diabetes by 13 weeks’ gestation and tested again for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks’ gestation, say new guidelines.

Six states received an “A” grade on the March of Dimes’s 2013 Premature Birth Report Card but the country overall achieved only a “C.” That is despite a drop in rates of preterm birth for the sixth consecutive year.

A new study has shown that acetaminophen use in pregnancy may be associated with neurodevelopmental adverse effects in the offspring of women who used the drug.

What is your diagnosis based on these images from a 35-week fetus?

The effectiveness of lamotrigine for bipolar disorder decreases during pregnancy and requires upward dose adjustments until delivery to avoid symptom recurrence.

A small percentage of abortions in the United States are performed in the second trimester. Patients should be informed of medical and surgical options.

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

What is your diagnosis of this major pathology in a second trimester fetus?

New research underscores the need for improved awareness among caregivers about how to best protect pregnant patients from blood clots before delivery.

Delivery at or near a high-volume cardiac surgical center offers the best outcome for neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, new research shows.

A fertility pen, redesigned to incorporate updates and new features developed from patient and provider feedback, has been FDA approved and will be available December 2013.

The ethical issues between two new technologies are stark. One aims to cure disease, whereas the other threatens to alter fundamentally the parent-child relationship.

New research confirms that use of metoclopramide, commonly used for nausea and vomiting, in early pregnancy does not increase risk of major malformations.

Preterm birth increases the risk of infant mortality and autism, but poor academic and social outcomes are likely caused by confounding factors and not preterm birth itself.

What is your diagnosis in this 7-year-old girl who presented with left pelvic pain?

To better balance the use of ultrasound and the time needed to ensure that an early pregnancy is not incorrectly declared nonviable, a group of experts have introduced new diagnostic thresholds.

A new study in Anesthesia & Analgesia indicates that the incidence of severe and fatal sepsis during labor and delivery is on the rise in the United States.

Abuse inflicted during childhood is lasting. Remember that adult patients may be survivors of child abuse, which makes them at risk for being in abusive relationships and for abusing their own children.

The outcomes of infants with poor fetal growth are better than what has been historically reported, according to preliminary study results.

What is your diagnosis of this facial anomaly in a 24-week fetus?

Misoprostol for cervical ripening prior to insertion of an IUD in nulliparous women not only did not improve ease of insertion for the provider but resulted in increased procedure-related pain.

Previous studies have reported a possible link between antihistamine use and birth defects, but there is no meaningful evidence that supports this association.