C- Sections a Critical Factor in Preterm Birth Increase is the title of a press release sent out by the March of Dimes today. It will undoubtedly been the subject of articles and commentary over the next fews days. It will not be surprising if lay people misunderstand the implications of the study on C [...]
?>Cesarean delivery as a result of maternal request is increasingly popular, leading to important ethical questions.
One of the challenging issues is balancing respect for the autonomy of a pregnant woman with concerns of beneficence and nonmaleficence for her and the fetus. The perceived benefit of cesarean section is protection of the pelvic floor.
Increased rates of [...]
A new report says Cesarean sections (C-sections) have helped increase the number of premature infants born in the United States. To those who follow news about prematurity, it’s no secret the number of preemies born each year is on the rise, and this new report by the March of Dimes, the U.S. Centers for Disease [...]
?>The rate of cesarean deliveries has increased dramatically over the past decade. Studies to date have highlighted a number of factors on the part of the treating physician and the expectant mother contributing to this increase.
Maternal infections are not a major cause of this increase. There are a limited number of infections in a pregnant [...]
Physiologic events in the last few weeks of pregnancy coupled with the onset of spontaneous labor are accompanied by changes in the hormonal milieu of the fetus and its mother, resulting in preparation of the fetus for neonatal transition.
Rapid clearance of fetal lung fluid is a key part of these changes, and is mediated in [...]
This article explores the effects of elective cesarean delivery (ECD) at term on neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Available data have limitations, and do not provide conclusive evidence regarding the safety of planned elective cesarean delivery versus planned vaginal delivery. Some data suggest an association between elective cesarean delivery and increased neonatal respiratory morbidity and lacerations, and [...]
Stretching exercises may be more effective at reducing the risk of preeclampsia than walking is for pregnant women who have already experienced the condition and who do not follow a workout routine, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing.
Preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension, is a condition that [...]
FDA proposed major revisions to the physician labeling for prescription drugs (including biological products) to provide better information about the effects of medicines used during pregnancy and breast-feeding.
The proposed changes to prescription drug labeling would give health care professionals more comprehensive information for making prescribing decisions and for counseling women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or [...]
The increasing trend of delivering at earlier gestational ages has raised concerns of the impact on maternal and infant health.
The delicate balance of the risks and benefits associated with continuing a pregnancy versus delivering early remains challenging. Among singleton live births in the United States, the proportion of preterm births increased from 9.7% to 10.7% [...]
A new study provides the most direct evidence that there exists a causal link between smoking during pregnancy and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Clinicians have long considered prenatal cigarette smoke exposure a major contributing risk factor for SIDS, but researchers had not proved a casual relationship. Other contributing factors include disturbances of breathing and [...]
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