Pregnancy and Birth

Routine antibiotic prophylaxis for women undergoing operative vaginal birth is not currently recommended, but results from a recent study may compel a change to that guidance.

Older age in men may impair conception and it can also have implications for fetal wellbeing, birth outcomes, and long-term health of offspring.

Ashley S. Roman, MD, MPH, reviews some of the new updates discussed in ACOG Practice Bulletin #203: Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy.

Faced with the rapid increase in a potentially deadly-but preventable-congenital disease, it’s time for states to take action to require appropriate screening

Ob/gyns, support staff, and patients all need to be educated about the needs of the mother/child dyad during the “fourth trimester.”

A recent study aimed to provide the first national estimate of e-cigarette use among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age.

A recent course at the 2019 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) annual meeting in Nashville described three areas of reproduction that ob/gyns need to be well versed in.

Initial excitement about vaginal microbial seeding of cesarean-born babies to bolster their microbiome and future health is under scrutiny, due to the uncertainty of benefits and potential for risk.

Ob/gyns should be familiar with strategies to prevent two of the most common problems associated with vaginal delivery. 

A recent study examines whether expanding Medicaid coverage has impacted rates of low birthweight and prematurity among infants.

A new analysis shows that in half of the United States, an incapacitated woman’s advanced directive about health care can be invalidated if she is pregnant.

Review the steps in a cesarean and take a moment to examine the best available evidence for performing the procedure.

Review the steps in a cesarean and take a moment to examine the best available evidence for performing the procedure.

Incidence of maternal sepsis appears to be increasing. Here's what ob/gyns need to know about identification and treatment.

Failure to recognize the warning signs led to poor outcomes for mother and child.

A study looks at two decades worth of data to test whether metformin reduces late miscarriage and PTB in women with PCOS.

The Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) advocacy campaign can be a part of helping women reach their reproductive goals.

Earlier trials are contradicted by the results of a new study, and ob/gyns may want to rethink their prescribing habits.

Rising incidence rates of hepatitis C virus among pregnant women could indicate the need for universal screening, but as always, everything comes down to cost.

New research attempts to quantify the effects of maternal smoking, smoking cessation, and smoking reduction in pregnancy on SUID rates.

BRCA mutation carrying mothers may have different risks depending on whether the mutation is BRCA1 or BRCA2.

The much-anticipated results of an injectable progestin clinical trial did not align with previous research.

Maternal and fetal outcomes complicated by SLE require that patient, rheumatologist, and ob/gyn work as a team.  

A new study suggests that changes in the fetal brain caused by infections during pregnancy may be linked with autism and possibly depression.

As more states turn to punitive policies to discourage OUD among pregnant women, Dr. Lockwood and Dr. Wolfson examine what the ob/gyn's role in the debate should be. 

Molar pregnancies may be associated with serious morbidity so prompt diagnosis, appropriate management, and follow-up are essential.

A recent study examined associations between IPI after stillbirth and the risk of birth compliations in the subsequent pregnancy. 

Sometimes out-of-hospital births are a necessity, but a recent presentation examined the safety and outcomes of these types of deliveries.

A case-control study using blood samples, rather than self-reports, provides new data on the link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and ADHD in offspring.

New international research offers data that ob/gyns can use to better manage cholestasis in pregnancy and counsel patients about risk of stillbirth associated with the condition.