Maternal–Fetal Medicine

Uterine Tachysystole, Part 2: Reducing Diagnosis-to-Treatment Time

One in three pregnant patients run the risk of experiencing uterine tachysystole (UT) during labor augmentation or induction with oxytocin. Reducing UT diagnosis-to-treatment time can avert adverse patient outcomes and decrease the risk of an obstetric malpractice claim. This two-part…

Uterine Tachysystole, Part 1: Guidelines & Identification

One in three pregnant patients run the risk of experiencing uterine tachysystole (UT) during labor augmentation or induction with oxytocin. Reducing UT diagnosis-to-treatment time can avert adverse patient outcomes and decrease the risk of an obstetric malpractice claim. This two-part…

EFM Case Study #19 & #20: The Influence of SUD on EFM

When a pregnant patient misuses or becomes dependent on any addictive substance during pregnancy, two people are exposed: the pregnant patient, and the fetus/newborn. It is estimated that approximately 5% to 7% of pregnant persons use addictive substances. Among these,…

Substance Use Disorder in Postpartum Patients

Postpartum is a stressful time for this high-risk population as relapse rates are high and pain tolerance is low. Special considerations should be given to pain control, sedation risk, breastfeeding, contraception, and safe transition of the newborn to extrauterine life….

Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy, Part 2

In the US, drug and opioid overdose deaths have nearly quadrupled over the last decade. Synthetic opioid-related deaths increased 850% in women. Nearly 85% of pregnancies in women with opioid use disorder are unintended. During pregnancy, chronic untreated substance and…

Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy, Part 1

In the US, drug and opioid overdose deaths have nearly quadrupled over the last decade. Synthetic opioid-related deaths increased 850% in women. Nearly 85% of pregnancies in women with substance use disorder (SUD) are unintended. During pregnancy, chronic untreated substance…

Promoting Vaginal Birth, Part 3: Interventions

Cesarean delivery rates have steadily increased over the past few decades without an equivalent improvement in maternal or neonatal outcomes and the use of non-invasive interventions to promote vaginal birth seems to be a lost art. This is part 3…

Promoting Vaginal Birth, Part 2: Professional Recommendations

Concerns related to the high cesarean birth rate in the United States have driven the development of safety initiatives that focus on promoting vaginal birth. Knowledge of current professional recommendations and guidelines related to the safe promotion of vaginal birth…

Promoting Vaginal Birth, Part 1: Overview

Cesarean delivery rates have steadily increased over the past few decades without an equivalent improvement in maternal or neonatal outcomes. A large percentage of Ob/Gyn malpractice claims are related to cesarean delivery. This activity is the first of a 3-part…