Pregnancy and Birth

Gone are the days of little guidance for weight gain during pregnancy, but determining the best weight range has been elusive. A new study provides some helpful advice.

Researchers presented a study at the SMFM 42nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting to assess if early gestational diabetes (GDM) screening is associated with improved perinatal outcomes.

Researchers presented their oral abstract on the association between lactation and the gut microbiome during the SMFM 42nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting.

Together, the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists (ACOG) and the University of Michigan developed MiPATH recommendations (Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare) to create comprehensive, tailored prenatal care plans for patients.

The use of hair dyes, bleach, relaxers, and mousse was associated with lower levels of sex steroid hormones in pregnant women, according to a new Rutgers study.

With growing public endorsement of the potential benefits of marijuana, it is important for health care providers to effectively counsel patients regarding its effects on fertility and future offspring.

An unplanned pregnancy can translate into a multitude of health factors and risks for both the mother and the baby.

With the Delta variant, there was an increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations by more than one-third among these individuals.

Healthy diets are known to reduce risks of chronic diseases, but what is known about their impact on common pregnancy complications?

The investigators’ findings appear to indicate that eviction occurring during pregnancy was linked to adverse outcomes. Advocating for housing assistance for pregnant women could be an important way to improve infants’ health.

Marijuana use may make conception more difficult for women who smoke than those who don’t, according to a prospective cohort study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Researchers suggest that administering antibiotics after the incision may even benefit the child’s immune development later in life.

Allegations in this case include negligence in performing a McRoberts maneuver and unnecessary vacuum-assisted extraction.

All healthcare providers attending vaginal deliveries must be prepared to handle this unpredictable obstetric emergency. Knowledge of the maneuvers employed for alleviation of shoulder dystocia is relevant not only for obstetric residents and attending house staff, but also for family practitioners, nurses, and nurse midwives. The reported incidence varies in the literature, ranging from 0.2% to 3.0%.

The results of this retrospective study reflect experience with both vaginal and cesarean deliveries early in the pandemic, in comparison with similar periods in 2018 and 2019.

Pregnant women with autoimmune-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) can have safe pregnancy outcomes if closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of physicians.

An analysis of CDC data presented at American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2020 suggests rates of high blood pressure complications during pregnancy nearly doubled during a period lasting from 2008-2017.

This case presents a unique dynamic involving certified nurse midwives; following protocols enhanced defensibility.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Here are a few quick facts.

On Friday, Oct. 30, Elizabeth A. Howell, MD, MPP, led a presentation on the intertwined racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health that exist for women and babies of color.

Principal investigator Johanna Quist-Nelson, MD, was inspired to complete the study during her training after observing how difficult it was for patients who experienced wound infections after cesarean.

New research suggests that postpartum depression may persist for 3 years following birth.

Is 39 the new 41 when it comes to weeks of gestation for induction of labor?

A baby’s gender is often detected via ultrasound around 20 weeks of pregnancy. What if there was a way to know sooner?

New research suggests that air pollutant particles and metals are reaching the placenta.

Over the past decade, efforts to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) have increased. A new report delivered results of a comprehensive quality improvement run in a level 4 NICU with the goal of decreasing antibiotic use by 20%

Each year, approximately 24,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S, and as many as half of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage.

New research suggests that placental DNA may have potential as a biomarker for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs).

Although previous research has shown preterm (PTB) and post-term births to result in adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes in children little research had been done on the outcomes of at-term deliveries.

A new study in JAMA Pediatrics analyzed the number of microcephaly cases that resulted from congenital microcephaly and how it may be a larger cause than the 2016 Zika epidemic.