ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To assess whether application of a standard algorithm to hospitalizations in the prenatal and postpartum (42 days) periods increases identification of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) beyond analysis of…
Read More from ACOG: Using Longitudinally Linked Data to Measure Severe Maternal Morbidity
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To assess variations in low-risk cesarean delivery rates in the United States using the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) definition of low-risk for cesarean delivery and to identify…
ABSTRACT Background The onset of the term human parturition involves myometrial gene expression changes to transform the uterus from a quiescent to a contractile phenotype. It is uncertain whether the…
ABSTRACT Background Antenatal depression affects approximately 1 of 7 pregnancies, with an increasing prevalence across gestation. Data regarding the associations between antenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes yielded conflicting results….
Read More from AJOG: Trajectories of antenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes
ABSTRACT Background The rate of cesarean delivery is continuously increasing with the leading indication being a previous cesarean delivery. For women with 1 previous cesarean delivery, it is generally agreed…
Read More from AJOG: Timing of cesarean delivery in women with ≥2 previous cesarean deliveries
ABSTRACT Background Determining fetal head descent, expressed as fetal head station and engagement is an essential part of monitoring progression in labor. Assessing fetal head station is based on the…
ABSTRACT Background The safest mode of delivery to use for very preterm infants is an ongoing topic of debate. There are many reasons to perform a cesarean delivery in cases…
Read More from AJOG: Neonatal morbidity and mortality by mode of delivery in very preterm neonates
ABSTRACT Background 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate is a synthetic progestogen initially approved in the 1950s to treat gynecologic and obstetrical conditions. Despite continued concerns about safety and short-term efficacy regarding the use…
New from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) As part of their 2021 Breastfeeding Report Card, the CDC has added a new feature to their statistics. They now offer a…
Abstract Objective To use a scoping review to explore the existing literature on best practice guidelines for safe, dignified, and compassionate care in the labor and birth setting for pregnant…
Infant mortality, death in the first year of life, is a generally accepted barometer of the overall health and well-being of a population. In the United States, the infant mortality…
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–specific antibodies have been detected in human milk up to 6 weeks post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, neutralization…
Read More from PEDIATRICS: Human Milk SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies up to 6 Months After Vaccination
Abstract Objective: Severe maternal morbidity represents a “near miss” mortality and is an important measure of quality and safety. Racial inequity in maternal morbidity is stark and the reasons for…
The USBC has recently posted their 2021 Breastfeeding Reports for all 50 states which includes data from 2020. The reports feature important breastfeeding data, WIC program breastfeeding performance measurers, and information on…
Read More from Oklahoma Breastfeeding Report from US Breastfeeding Committee (USBC)
The Expert to Expert webinar series provides a deep-dive into measure intent, logic, and other clinical/technical aspects of eCQMs to assist hospitals in their efforts to improve data use for…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is taking steps to improve maternal health and support the delivery of equitable, high-quality care for pregnancy and postpartum care by proposing…
ABSTRACT In the United States, postpartum hemorrhage is a leading preventable cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. To reduce morbidity from postpartum hemorrhage, risk assessment is an important starting point…
Read More from ACOG: Current State and Future Direction of Postpartum Hemorrhage Risk Assessment
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To assess whether Pfannenstiel skin incision compared with vertical skin incision was associated with postcesarean delivery wound complications in morbidly obese women. METHODS: We assembled a retrospective cohort…
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To compare the prospective risk of stillbirth between women with and without a stillbirth in their first pregnancy. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using perinatal data from…
Read More from ACOG: Risk of Recurrent Stillbirth in Subsequent Pregnancies
INTRODUCTION Episiotomy, an incision through the perineum to facilitate delivery, is a common obstetric procedure.1 For decades, evidence has shown that routine episiotomy has unclear benefit but substantial risk of…
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate race and ethnicity differences in cesarean birth and maternal morbidity in low-risk nulliparous people at term. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized trial…
ABSTRACT This review summarizes high-quality evidence supporting delayed umbilical cord clamping to promote placental transfusion to preterm and term neonates. In preterm neonates, delayed cord clamping may decrease mortality and…
Read More from ACOG: Management of Placental Transfusion to Neonates After Delivery
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and identify characteristics associated with it 2 months after singleton vaginal delivery at or near term. METHODS: We…
Read More from ACOG: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms 2 Months After Vaginal Delivery
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA-based vaccines present in breast milk and transfer of the immune responses to breastfeeding infants. METHODS: We enrolled 30…
Abstract Background: Providing enteral feeds to preterm very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants is critical to optimize nutrition, enhance growth, and reduce complications. Protocols guiding feeding practices can improve outcomes, but…
Abstract Background: This case describes a case of vertical transmission of COVID-19 from a mother to her neonate. The neonate subsequently developed acute respiratory failure consistent with adult symptoms of…
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A medication error is any “preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with Yale New Haven Health Services Corporation/Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) to support The Joint Commission in the…
Read More from CMS has made The Severe Obstetric Complications (eCQM) Available for Public Comment:
CMQCC has released a revised quality improvement toolkit: “Improving Health Care Response to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy” This toolkit is an update to the California Department of Public Health and…
Read More from New CMQCC Toolkit Update: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can be associated with severe maternal morbidity.1 In the United States, 1 COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and 2 have been authorized for use for pregnant…
Read More from JAMA: Spontaneous Abortion Following COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy