Pregnancy and Birth

With a US cesarean rate of more than 30%, strategies to lower the primary cesarean rate are needed, experts say. One simple change: avoid practices that increase the potential for unneeded first cesarean deliveries.

High body mass index (BMI) and short stature are risk factors for cesarean delivery across all racial/ethnic groups, according to a study to be presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine: The Pregnancy Meeting on February 7, 2014 in New Orleans.

A reader writes regarding the November 2013 article "The transcervical Foley balloon." Are there any data that this method of induction is connected to higher rates of umbilical cord prolapse?

The increased risk of infant persistent pulmonary hypertension from SSRI use in late pregnancy is minimal and should not deter use in women with depression.

The exposure of adolescent rats to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can alter neurobehavioral pathways in the next generation of offspring, even without direct exposure of progeny to the drug.

Text messaging appointment reminders led to more flu shots among low-income pregnant women, researchers found.

The use of text messages for appointment reminders led to more flu shots among low-income pregnant women, researchers found.

A diagnosed fear of childbirth in expectant mothers nearly tripled the risk of postpartum depression among women with no history of depression.

Higher levels of vitamin D in expectant mothers during late pregnancy was associated with improved muscle strength in children at age 4.

Changes in cardiac blood flow in embryos exposed to alcohol may lead to the formation of cardiac defects often seen in babies with fetal alcohol syndrome, study finds.

The available evidence on the benefits and risks of planned cesarean or vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean section is a poor guide for delivery decisions.

More Ob/Gyns are probably discussing sex with teenage patients than pediatricians, but a new study serves as a good reminder that physicians need to initiate these conversations.

Babies whose mothers did not gain enough weight during pregnancy are at increased risk for death within their first year of life, new study findings show.

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.

Children whose mothers ate peanuts and tree nuts while pregnant were less likely to have nut allergies than children whose mothers avoided nuts, research shows.

Whole genome sequencing of single egg cells for IVF to detect genetic defects could increase the chances of a healthy child if the results hold up in clinical trials.