Pregnancy and Birth

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Pregnancy in deaf and hard of hearing women

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.

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.

Trichomonas vaginalis

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).

Latina breastfeeding

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.

Coronavirus

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.