Pregnancy and Birth

Risk of labor induction and cesarean delivery is increased in nulliparas who are obese, and use of misoprostol or insertion of a Foley balloon often fails in these patients, for reasons that aren’t fully understood.

Jamie Barretto is a 34-year-old first-time mother who lives on Long Island. She wrote this first-person perspective on how life has changed in her world since she found out she was expecting in October.

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.

Contemporary OB/GYN Senior Editor Angie DeRosa interviews Dr. Laura Riley, MD, a renowned obstetrician who specializes in obstetric infectious disease. Dr. Riley weighs in on COVID-19.

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

Results of a new Scottish study suggest that delivery after 37 weeks’ gestation is optimal for uncomplicated twin pregnancies.

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.

In this video, Jon Einarsson, MD, PhD MPH, discusses his work to develop a less invasive technique for removal of the transmural bowel nodules. 

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.

Dr. Melissa S. Wong demonstrates a forceps delivery from beginning to end and provides step-by-step instructions.

Dr. Wong discusses the parts of the forceps and highlights the differences between various types.

Forceps deliveries are a unique and effective tool to assist patient and provider in achieving a vaginal delivery

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.