Pregnancy and Birth

A South Korean prospective study has concluded that an injection of port-site bupivacaine hydrochloride following gynecologic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LSSS) does not provide any additive effect in alleviating postoperative umbilical pain.

Results of new research suggest that in Canada, hypothyroidism in pregnancy may be overtreated.

Women who are deaf or hard of hearing have a higher risk of complications in pregnancy, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

As we are now incorporating the new post-COVID-19 “normal” into our routines, our editor-in-chief, Dr. Catherine Spong, reflects on parallels with changes that went into play with the identification and management of patients with HIV.

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a complication in which an early pregnancy implants in the scar from a prior cesarean delivery. Incidence and recognition of this condition appear to have increased over the past two decades, perhaps due to high worldwide cesarean delivery rates. The clinical presentation is variable, and many women are asymptomatic at presentation. CSP can be difficult to diagnose in a timely fashion. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for CSP diagnosis. Expectantly managed CSP is associated with high rates of severe maternal morbidity such as hemorrhage, placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), and uterine rupture. Given these substantial risks, pregnancy termination is recommended after CSP diagnosis. Several surgical and medical treatments have been described for this disorder, but at this time, optimal management remains uncertain.

Cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a complication in which an early pregnancy implants in the scar from a prior cesarean delivery. Incidence and recognition of this condition appear to have increased over the past two decades, perhaps due to high worldwide cesarean delivery rates. The clinical presentation is variable, and many women are asymptomatic at presentation. CSP can be difficult to diagnose in a timely fashion. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for CSP diagnosis. Expectantly managed CSP is associated with high rates of severe maternal morbidity such as hemorrhage, placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), and uterine rupture. Given these substantial risks, pregnancy termination is recommended after CSP diagnosis. Several surgical and medical treatments have been described for this disorder, but at this time, optimal management remains uncertain.

Specific interventions may be needed in pregnancy to promote early offspring psychopathology health and wellbeing.

Early-life predictors are crucial for continued development of effective preventive strategies for T2DM.

New research by Finnish investigators shows a significant link between maternal hypertension and mental health disorders in children.

New research suggests that certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as Trichomonas vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhea, may contribute to a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and preterm birth (PTB) in adolescents.

Rates of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in the United States are on the rise, but the Healthy People 2020 goal for the marker-18.3%-isn’t likely to be reached for another 10 years, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The National Institutes of Health has released a comprehensive set of guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19, which includes recommendations for the care of pregnant women.

A study published in The Lancet explored which and to what degree prenatal and perinatal factors are associated with later onset of psychosis.

New research from Pediatrics suggests that nativity and country of education are predictors of breastfeeding and should be assessed in postpartum settings to encourage breastfeeding support.

A large-scale clinical trial of dietary supplementation in couples being treated for infertility shows that taking folic acid and zinc does not increase sperm quality or live birth rates

As the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to escalate, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) has released guidance on the maternal, fetal and neonatal implications of the disease.

Finnish researchers say that maternal smoking during pregnancy leads to reduced infant body length and head circumference, effects that remain unchanged even if a woman stops smoking during the first trimester.

Women with depression are more than three times more likely to use cannabis while pregnant, according to a recent study from Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

New research indicates that unintended pregnancy is much more likely in women with than without disabilities

In-depth interviews with program administrators in Texas show that changes to Title X are decreasing access to services for teens and the quality of those services.

An analysis of Twitter postings shows that celebrity disclosures help drive discussions about pregnancy complications on social media.

A new study of nearly a quarter million women suggests that smoking during pregnancy increases risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Normal-weight women who lose body mass between the start of their first and second live pregnancies are much more likely to deliver prematurely in the latter pregnancy, according to new research from PLOS One.

Older women with preeclampsia have a 50% higher risk for spontaneous or iatrogenic preterm birth than younger women with preeclampsia, according to research from AOGS.

Research from Obstetrics & Gynecology aimed to better characterize stillbirth related to infection using clinical, histologic, and microbiologic data.

An incentive-based prenatal smoking cessation program for low-income women appears to improve birth outcomes and reduce costs.

New research from BMJ indicates that children of mothers with diabetes have higher rates of early-onset CVD.

New research shows that women with disabilities are more likely to suffer a miscarriage but are also more likely to receive preventive services.

A study published in BMJ suggests that inducing labor at no later than 41 weeks could be one of the few interventions that reduce stillbirths.