Pregnancy and Birth

Pregnancy-related deaths in the United States have risen from a low of 7.2 per 100,000 live births in 1987 to a high of 17.3 per 100,000 live births in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System.

Following a cesarean delivery, a mother wonders why she hasn't become pregnant again and the neonate ends up in the NICU with skull fractures.

Preterm birth (PTB) remains the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. For the vast majority of spontaneous PTBs, the final pathway is opening of the cervix. Pessaries have been proposed since the 1950s as a possible intervention to keep the cervix closed. But are pessaries safe and do they work for prevention of spontaneous PTB?

A study examines the efficacy of lower-than-conventional doses of estrogen in relieving vasomotor symptoms. Plus: What are the latest ACOG recommendations on water births?

Preterm birth is a public health concern. Each year in the U.S., nearly one in ten babies are born preterm…meaning less than 37 weeks of pregnancy or more than 3 weeks prior to the expected due date. That’s nearly 400,000 babies every year born too early in this country.

They separated laboring women into "morning" and "afternoon" groups.

A 5-year study offers reassurance.

A 34-year-old Ohio woman was under the care of her longtime family physician, who had minor privileges to deliver uncomplicated pregnancies at a specific hospital, for her pregnancy. The woman is diagnosed with eclampsia in her third trimester and is immediately given a cesarean. After delivery, she is unresponsive having died from a massive intracranial hemorrhage. The physician is sued for fraudulently representing her abilities in obstetric care. What's the verdict?

A new study questions whether current HPV testing intervals can be extended for some. Plus: Can azithromycin prophylaxis prevent post infection in women who have undergone a cesarean?

Researchers looked at time to catheter expulsion and time to delivery.

A study in Israel compared mothers older and younger than 35.

A study looks at whether women are at greater risk of sleep problems than their male counterparts. Also, are cesarean deliveries increasing the risk of childhood obesity? Plus: A study highlights the need for further research in postpartum psychosis.

Relative risk of stillbirth and preterm birth associated with less well-known antibodies was of similar magnitude to that found for anti-D.

On L&D units throughout the country, more and more women are being admitted with birth plans. Birth plans have become an increasingly common part of women’s prenatal preparation.

A study examined the outcomes of more than 1.3 million live births in Sweden.

“Women have very polarized views about induction... some are keen to be induced near their due date ... Others, however, feel that nature knows best and induction is meddlesome."

A study examines if ospemifene is linked to increased hot flashes. Plus: Do certain cerclage sutures increase the risk of preterm birth? Also, do pregnancy delays actually decrease the risk of microcephaly as a result of congenital Zika infection?

A study in Tehran tested this noninvasive intervention on women with uncomplicated pregnancies at full term.

Two cases illustrate how jury verdicts and awards to plaintiffs may differ drastically in medical malpractice trials.

Are two balloons better than one?

Readers weigh in on the best forceps for a Scanzoni rotation and the reasons behind our high cesarean rate.

For Contemporary OB/GYN, Dr Bobby Lazzara looks at the question of whether reducing term births before 39 weeks' gestation leads to a significant increase in the rate of stillbirths and how it may impact practice.

Seven strategies to fight the rising tide.

A study in Sweden looked at safety and effectiveness.

A study looked at the outcomes for women who had prolonged premature rupture of membranes at term.

This case emphasizes the importance of keeping detailed records of each patient encounter.

A recent study in Austria looked at the results in more than 200 labor inductions.

A commentary on ACOG Practice Bulletin Number 154: Operative Vaginal Delivery by Charles J Lockwood, MD, MHCM.

Prior to the 1980s, because labor after a previous cesarean delivery was believed to be dangerous, many obstetricians recommended repeat cesareans for all subsequent births to women with a previous such delivery. Since then, TOLAC has been advocated as a reasonable alternative for women with a previous cesarean delivery via a low transverse uterine incision.

This forceps-aided rotation can be used when the fetus is occiput posterior and the head is low in the pelvis.