Perinatology News and Research

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Traumatic childbirth may impact healthcare professionals' mental health

When complications arise in the delivery room that lead to traumatic childbirth, clinicians providing care may feel upset and experience secondary traumatic stress. A new study published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that feelings of blame and guilt dominate when midwives and obstetricians struggle to cope with the aftermath of a traumatic childbirth, but such events also made them think more about the meaning of life and helped them become better midwives and doctors.

11 Apr 2016

Incidences of preeclampsia dramatically increase in the U.S.

A study published recently in the American Journal of Perinatology reports a dramatic increase in the incidence of preeclampsia in the United States. Preeclampsia and early onset preeclampsia have grown 67 percent and 140 percent respectively over the past two decades.

26 Oct 2015

Study: Biomarkers in maternal blood may predict risk for adverse outcomes in pregnant women with SLE

Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are at higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, placental insufficiency, fetal death, miscarriages, and other complications.

29 Sep 2015

Delayed umbilical cord clamping may benefit extremely preterm infants

Clamping and cutting of the umbilical cord happens within 10 seconds after birth in most cases, in part so members of a medical team can more quickly begin caring for a newborn. But research from Nationwide Children's Hospital shows that waiting 30 to 45 seconds to clamp could have advantages for extremely preterm infants.

25 Sep 2015

Study: Cervical pessary does not reduce preterm births, neonatal complications in twin pregnancies

Having twins accounts for only 1.5% of all births but 25% of preterm births, the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Successful strategies for reducing singleton preterm births include prophylactic use of progesterone and cervical cerclage in patients with a prior history of preterm birth.

28 Aug 2015

Study looks at infant mortality rates of extremely preterm infants

About 500,000 babies are born premature in the United States each year, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Those infants, born before 37 weeks of gestation, will likely deal with the threat of numerous complications or even death.

15 Aug 2015

New moms don't receive advice on infant care from physicians, study finds

Many new mothers do not receive advice from physicians on aspects of infant care such as sleep position, breastfeeding, immunization and pacifier use, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

28 Jul 2015

Study: Umbilical cord milking improves blood pressure, red blood cell levels in preterm infants

A technique to increase the flow of blood from the umbilical cord into the infant's circulatory system improves blood pressure and red blood cell levels in preterm infants delivered by Cesarean section, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

29 Jun 2015

Study identifies new biomarkers for prenatal risk assessment

NX Prenatal Inc., a privately held women's healthcare molecular diagnostic company, announced today that the American Journal of Perinatology has published the results of a blinded, retrospective study of 48 asymptomatic, healthy pregnant women that demonstrates the feasibility of assessing biomarkers associated with blood based microvesicles/exosomes for spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) risk.

18 Jun 2015

NIH researchers develop 'placenta-on-a-chip' to study role of placenta in pregnancy

National Institutes of Health researchers and their colleagues have developed a "placenta-on-a-chip" to study the inner workings of the human placenta and its role in pregnancy. The device was designed to imitate, on a micro-level, the structure and function of the placenta and model the transfer of nutrients from mother to fetus. This prototype is one of the latest in a series of organ-on-a-chip technologies developed to accelerate biomedical advances.

18 Jun 2015

Neonatal abstinence syndrome on the rise in U.S.

The number of infants born in the United States with drug withdrawal symptoms, also known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), nearly doubled in a four-year period. By 2012, one infant was born every 25 minutes in the U.S. with the syndrome, accounting for $1.5 billion in annual health care charges, according to a new Vanderbilt study published in the Journal of Perinatology.

30 Apr 2015

Study reports 10% reduction in overall C-section births in Portugal

A new study reports a significant decline in the rate of cesarean section (C-section) births in Portugal. Findings published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate a 10% reduction in overall C-section rates between 2009 and 2014, with a 14% reduction in state-hospitals during the same time period.

2 Mar 2015

Multiple factors influence survival of extremely premature infants

Multiple factors influence how well a severely premature infant (23 weeks gestation) will do after birth and over the long-term, according to researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. These findings were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Perinatology.

10 Dec 2014

Study: Critically ill newborns may be exposed to DEHP chemicals in medical products

Hospitalized premature infants are exposed to unsafe levels of a chemical found in numerous medical products used to treat them, raising questions about whether critically ill newborns may be adversely affected by equipment designed to help save their lives.

14 Nov 2014

Epidurals and reduced postpartum depression: an interview with Dr. Zakowski

The “maternity blues”, which resolve within 10 days of giving birth, occurs in up to 80% of new moms. A major depressive episode, by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria, is defined as having at least a 2-week period of persistent depressed mood ...

23 Sep 2014

Research reveals that unplanned births out-of-hospital linked with higher infant mortality

New research reveals that unplanned births out-of-hospital in Norway are associated with higher infant mortality.

3 Sep 2014

Breech births increase fetal mortality rate compared to elective vaginal delivery

While a rise in cesarean section (C-section) delivery rates due to breech presentation has improved neonatal outcome, 40% of term breech deliveries in the Netherlands are planned vaginal deliveries.

11 Aug 2014

Researchers recommend iron supplementation to women with heavy menstrual bleeding

A study by researchers from Finland found that diagnosis and treatment of anemia is important to improve quality of life among women with heavy periods.

9 Jun 2014

Serious complications due to anesthesia during childbirth are very rare

Expectant mothers concerned about receiving an epidural, spinal or general anesthesia during childbirth can breathe a little easier. According to a study published in the June issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, serious complications due to anesthesia during childbirth are very rare, occurring in one out of every 3,000 deliveries.

21 May 2014

Managing pregnancy-related complications: an interview with Dr. Mark Zakowski

Pregnancy-related mortality has increased over the last 25 years. Ten years ago the top three pregnancy-related mortality diagnoses were hemorrhage, preeclampsia, and embolism (includes thrombotic and amniotic).

2 Apr 2014