Obstetric violence is a misnomer.

The term "obstetric violence" has been used in the legislative language of several countries to protect mothers from abuse during pregnancy. Subsequently, it has been expanded to include a spectrum of obstetric procedures, such as induction of labor, episiotomy, and cesarean delivery, and has surfaced in the peer-reviewed literature. The term "obstetric violence" can be seen as quite strong and emotionally charged, which may lead to misunderstandings or misconceptions. It might be interpreted as implying a deliberate act of violence by healthcare providers when mistreatment can sometimes result from systemic issues, lack of training, or misunderstandings rather than intentional violence. "Obstetric mistreatment" is a more comprehensive term that can encompass a broader range of behaviors and actions. "Violence" generally refers to the intentional use of physical force to cause harm, injury, or damage to another person (eg, physical assault, domestic violence, street fights, or acts of terrorism), whereas "mistreatment" is a more general term and refers to the abuse, harm, or control exerted over another person (such as nonconsensual medical procedures, verbal abuse, disrespect, discrimination and stigmatization, or neglect, to name a few examples). There may be cases where unprofessional personnel may commit mistreatment and violence against pregnant patients, but as obstetrics is dedicated to the health and well-being of pregnant and fetal patients, mistreatment of obstetric patients should never be an intended component of professional obstetric care. It is necessary to move beyond the term "obstetric violence" in discourse and acknowledge and address the structural dimensions of abusive reproductive practices. Similarly, we do not use the term "psychiatric violence" for appropriately used professional procedures in psychiatry, such as electroshock therapy, or use the term "neurosurgical violence" when drilling a burr hole. There is an ongoing need to raise awareness about the potential mistreatment of obstetric patients within the context of abuse against women in general. Using the term "mistreatment in healthcare" instead of the more limited term "obstetric violence" is more appropriate and applies to all specialties when there is unprofessional abuse and mistreatment, such as biased care, neglect, emotional abuse (verbal), or physical abuse, including performing procedures that are unnecessary, unindicated, or without informed patient consent. Healthcare providers must promote unbiased, respectful, and patient-centered professional care; provide an ethical framework for all healthcare personnel; and work toward systemic change to prevent any mistreatment or abuse in our specialty.

Addressing challenges related to the professional practice of abortion post-Roe.

The landmark Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 established a constitutional right to abortion. In June 2022, the Dobbs vs Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision brought an end to the established professional practice of abortion throughout the United States. Rights-based reductionism and zealotry threaten the professional practice of abortion. Rights-based reductionism is generally the view that moral or ethical issues can be reduced exclusively to matters of rights. In relation to abortion, there are 2 opposing forms of rights-based reductionism, namely fetal rights reductionism, which emphasizes the rights for the fetus while disregarding the rights and autonomy of the pregnant patient, and pregnant patient rights reductionism, which supports unlimited abortion without regards for the fetus. The 2 positions are irreconcilable. This article provides historical examples of the destructive nature of zealotry, which is characterized by extreme devotion to one's beliefs and an intolerant stance to opposing viewpoints, and of the importance of enlightenment to limit zealotry. This article then explores the professional responsibility model as a clinically ethically sound approach to overcome the clashing forms of rights-based reductionism and zealotry and to address the professional practice of abortion. The professional responsibility model refers to the ethical and professional obligations that obstetricians and other healthcare providers have toward pregnant patients, fetuses, and the society at large. It provides a more balanced and nuanced approach to the abortion debate, avoiding the pitfalls of reductionism and zealotry, and allows both the rights of the woman and the obligations to pregnant and fetal patients to be considered alongside broader ethical, medical, and societal implications. Constructive and respectful dialogue is crucial in addressing diverse perspectives and finding common ground. Embracing the professional responsibility model enables professionals to manage abortion responsibly, thereby prioritizing patients' interests and navigating between absolutist viewpoints to find balanced ethical solutions.

Association of Maternal Comorbidity Burden With Cesarean Birth Rate Among Nulliparous, Term, Singleton, Vertex Pregnancies.

IMPORTANCE: Cesarean birth rate among nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex (NTSV) pregnancies is a standard quality measure in obstetrical care. There are limited data on how the number and type of preexisting conditions affect mode of delivery among primigravidae, and it is also uncertain how maternal comorbidity burden differs across racial and ethnic groups and whether this helps to explain disparities in the NTSV cesarean birth rate. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between obstetric comorbidity index (OB-CMI) score and cesarean delivery among NTSV pregnancies and to evaluate whether disparities in mode of delivery exist based on race and ethnicity group after adjusting for covariate factors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study of deliveries between January 2019 and December 2021 took place across 7 hospitals within a large academic health system in New York and included all NTSV pregnancies identified in the electronic medical record system. Exclusion criteria were fetal demise and contraindication to labor. EXPOSURE: The OB-CMI score. Covariate factors assessed included race and ethnicity group (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, other or multiracial, and declined or unknown), public health insurance, and preferred language. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Cesarean delivery. RESULTS: A total of 30 253 patients (mean [SD] age, 29.8 [5.4] years; 100% female) were included. Non-Hispanic White patients constituted the largest race and ethnicity group (43.7%), followed by Hispanic patients (16.2%), Asian or Pacific Islander patients (14.6%), and non-Hispanic Black patients (12.2%). The overall NTSV cesarean birth rate was 28.5% (n = 8632); the rate increased from 22.1% among patients with an OB-CMI score of 0 to greater than 55.0% when OB-CMI scores were 7 or higher. On multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression modeling, there was a statistically significant association between OB-CMI score group and cesarean delivery; each successive OB-CMI score group had an increased risk. Patients with an OB-CMI score of 4 or higher had more than 3 times greater odds of a cesarean birth (adjusted odds ratio, 3.14; 95% CI, 2.90-3.40) than those with an OB-CMI score of 0. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, nearly all other race and ethnicity groups were at increased risk for cesarean delivery, and non-Hispanic Black patients were at highest risk (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.31-1.55). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study of patients with NTSV pregnancies, OB-CMI score was positively associated with cesarean birth. Racial and ethnic disparities in this metric were observed. Although differences in the prevalence of preexisting conditions were seen across groups, this did not fully explain variation in cesarean delivery rates, suggesting that unmeasured clinical or nonclinical factors may have influenced the outcome.

Anger: an underappreciated destructive force in healthcare.

Anger is an emotional state that occurs when unexpected things happen to or around oneself and is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage." It is defined as "a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism," an emotion characterized by tension and hostility arising from frustration, real or imagined injury by another, or perceived injustice. It can manifest itself in behaviors designed to remove the object of the anger (e.g., determined action) or behaviors designed merely to express the emotion. For the Roman philosopher Seneca anger is not an uncontrollable, impulsive, or instinctive reaction. It is, rather, the cognitive assent that such initial reactions to the offending action or words are in fact unjustified. It is, rather, the cognitive assent that such initial reactions to the offending action or words are in fact unjustified. It seems that the year 2022 was a year when many Americans were plainly angry. "Why is everyone so angry?" the New York Times asked in the article "The Year We Lost It." We believe that Seneca is correct in that anger is unacceptable. Anger is a negative emotion that must be controlled, and Seneca provides us with the tools to avoid and destroy anger. Health care professionals will be more effective, content, and happier if they learn more about Seneca's writings about anger and implement his wisdom on anger from over 2000 years ago.

Hidden in plain sight in the delivery room - the Apgar score is biased.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the maximum 5-min Apgar score of 10 among different U.S. races and Hispanic ethnicity. METHODS: Retrospective population-based cohort study from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and Division of Vital Statistics natality online database. We included only deliveries where the race and Hispanic ethnicity of the father and mother were listed as either Black, White, Chinese, or Asian Indian and as Hispanic or Latino origin or other. Proportions of 5-Minute Apgar scores of 10 were compared among different races and Hispanic ethnicity for six groups each for mother and father: Non-Hispanic or Latino White, Hispanic or Latino White, Non-Hispanic or Latino Black, Hispanic or Latino Black, Chinese, and Asian Indian. RESULTS: The study population consists of 9,710,066 mothers and 8,138,475 fathers from the US natality birth data 2016-2019. Black newborns had a less than 50% chance of having a 5-min Apgar score of 10 when compared to white newborns (OR 0.47 for Black mother and Black father; p<0.001). White babies (non-Hispanic and Hispanic) had the highest proportion of Apgar scores of 10 across all races and ethnicities. CONCLUSIONS: The Apgar score introduces a bias by systematically lowering the score in people of color. Embedding skin color scoring into basic data and decisions of health care propagates race-based medicine. By removing the skin color portion of the Apgar score and with it's racial and ethnic bias, we will provide more accuracy and equity when evaluating newborn babies worldwide.

Incidentally Found Midtrimester Shortened Cervical Length: Practice Patterns among American Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists.

OBJECTIVE: The management of incidentally found short cervical length (CL) without prior spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) can vary. While most agree on starting vaginal progesterone, management after CL shortens <10 mm varies. The purpose of this study was to elucidate current practice patterns amongst maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an online survey of MFM attending physicians and fellows in the United States from May 2019 to April 2020. The primary outcome was management of varying CL based on gestational age. Variations in management were assessed descriptively. RESULTS: There were 236 respondents out of 400 eligible surveyed, with a response rate of 59.2%. Universal CL screening was reported by 93.6% (49.6% abdominal and 44.1% transvaginal). Management of short CL varied based on CL measurement, rather than gestational age at presentation. At CL <10 mm, management included cerclage (17.4-18.7%), vaginal progesterone (41.3-41.7%), or cerclage plus vaginal progesterone (43.4%). Between CL of 10 to 20 mm, the majority (77.4-91.9%) would start vaginal progesterone. At CL 21 to 25 mm, management varied between expectant management (45.5-48.5%) or vaginal progesterone (51.1-52.8%). Suture material used was ethylene terephthalate (47.4%) or polypropelene (31.2). Preoperative antibiotic use was reported by 22.3%, while 45.5% used them only if the amniotic membranes were exposed, and 32.2% reported no antibiotic use. Postoperative tocolytic use varied with 19.3% reporting no use, 32.6% using it always, 8.2% only after significant cervical manipulation, 22.7% after the patient is experiencing symptoms, and 17.6% using it only if the cervix is dilated on exam. After cerclage placement, 44.5% continued CL surveillance. CONCLUSION: Substantial differences of opinion exist among MFM physicians regarding management of incidentally found short CL in patients without history of PTB. The differences in responses obtained highlight the need for evidence-based guidelines for managing this clinical scenario. KEY POINTS: · There is lack of consensus on the management of incidentally found shortened CL.. · The purpose of this study was to elucidate current trends in CL screening and management.. · Substantial differences of opinion exist regarding management of incidentally found short CL..

Nonadherence to treatment protocol for severe hypertension in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and severe morbidity. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends treatment of persistent severe hypertension because this has been shown to improve overall outcomes. Treatment remains inconsistent and may be influenced by patient-level sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify which factors are associated with nonadherence to an institutional protocol for the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of patients who had persistent severe hypertension (≥2 systolic blood pressures ≥160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressures >110 mm Hg between 15 and 60 minutes apart) during their delivery hospitalization in 3 hospitals within an integrated health system from February 1, 2018 to March 1, 2020. Adherence to an institutional protocol was defined as receiving antihypertensive medication within 1 hour of a second severe blood pressure measurement. Demographic information, medical comorbidities, and delivery hospitalization characteristics were compared between women who received treatment based on institutional protocol and those who did not. Patient zone improvement plan codes were linked to neighborhood-level data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey to extract socioeconomic characteristics. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate factors associated with delayed treatment while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Of the 996 patients included, 449 (45%) received treatment within 60 minutes and 547 (55%) did not. Having an elevated, nonsevere range blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.79) or a severe range blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.38) on admission, persistent severe hypertension ≥1 hour before or after delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.45), and chronic hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.93) were associated with timely treatment. Hospital site (adjusted odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.28) and increasing gestational age (adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.21) were associated with nonadherence to treatment protocol. A subanalysis evaluating treatment in 344 (35%) patients who had a nonelevated blood pressure on admission showed that White race, persistent severe hypertension within 1 hour of delivery, increasing gestational age, body mass index, twin gestation, preferred language other than English or Spanish, and a higher neighborhood unemployment rate were associated with nonadherence to treatment protocol. CONCLUSION: Several factors were associated with nonadherence to an institutional protocol for treatment of persistent severe hypertension. Provider bias may impact whether treatment is executed or not. Awareness of these risk factors may improve timely administration of antihypertensive medication in pregnant and postpartum patients.

Mirror syndrome in monochorionic diamniotic twins presenting as maternal hyponatremia: A case report.

This is a case report of a 39-year-old patient, G5P1031, with monochorionic diamniotic twins at 30 weeks and 1 day of gestation, who developed mirror syndrome without twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) with a unique presentation of maternal and neonatal hyponatremia. Coinciding with severe hyponatremia were maternal symptoms of edema, nausea and vomiting, hypoalbuminemia, elevated uric acid, as well as fetal selective growth restriction, polyhydramnios, umbilical artery absent end diastolic flow and prolonged bradycardia of twin B. Given the poor status of twin B and the risks to twin A, the patient underwent emergent cesarean delivery. Hyponatremia in all three patients resolved in the following 48-72 h. Mirror syndrome is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In this case, severe hyponatremia posed additional risks. Therefore, electrolyte monitoring should be considered in both mother and neonate(s).

Social determinants of health and coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: The social and physical environments in which people live affect the emergence, prevalence, and severity of both infectious and noninfectious diseases. There are limited data on how such social determinants of health, including neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, affect the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine how social determinants of health are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 illness in hospitalized pregnant patients in New York during the global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study evaluated all pregnant patients who delivered and had polymerase chain reaction testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 between March 15, 2020, and June 15, 2020, at 7 hospitals within Northwell Health, the largest academic health system in New York. During the study period, universal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing protocols were implemented at all sites. Polymerase chain reaction testing was performed using nasopharyngeal swabs. Patients were excluded if the following variables were not available: polymerase chain reaction results, race, ethnicity, or zone improvement plan (ZIP) code of residence. Clinical data were obtained from the enterprise electronic health record system. For each patient, ZIP code was used as a proxy for neighborhood. Socioeconomic characteristics were determined by linking to ZIP code data from the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey and the Internal Revenue Service's Statistics of Income Division. Specific variables of interest included mean persons per household, median household income, percent unemployment, and percent with less than high school education. Medical records were manually reviewed for all subjects with positive polymerase chain reaction test results to correctly identify symptomatic patients and then classify those subjects using the National Institutes of Health severity of illness categories. Classification was based on the highest severity of illness throughout gestation and not necessarily at the time of presentation for delivery. RESULTS: A total of 4873 patients were included in the study. The polymerase chain reaction test positivity rate was 11% (n=544). Among this group, 359 patients (66%) were asymptomatic or presymptomatic, 115 (21%) had mild or moderate coronavirus disease 2019, and 70 (13%) had severe or critical coronavirus disease 2019. On multiple logistic regression modeling, pregnant patients who had a positive test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were more likely to be younger or of higher parity, belong to minoritized racial and ethnic groups, have public health insurance, have limited English proficiency, and reside in low-income neighborhoods with less educational attainment. On ordinal logit regression modeling, obesity, income and education were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 severity. CONCLUSION: Social and physical determinants of health play a role in determining the risk of infection. The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 illness was not associated with race or ethnicity but was associated with maternal obesity and neighborhood level characteristics such as educational attainment and household income.

The Accuracy of Group Beta Streptococcus Rectovaginal Cultures at 35 to 37 Weeks of Gestation in Predicting Colonization Intrapartum.

Objective This study aims to investigate accuracy of group beta Streptococcus (GBS) rectovaginal cultures at 35 to 37 weeks in predicting intrapartum colonization. Study Design Institutional review board (IRB) approved prospective cohort study of 302 women from October 2015 to May 2017. Patients had the following tests for GBS: first trimester urine culture, rectovaginal culture at 35 to 37 weeks, and intrapartum rectovaginal culture. Outcomes included accuracy of 35- to 37-week GBS rectovaginal culture in detecting results intrapartum, and accuracy of first trimester urine culture in comparison to intrapartum rectovaginal cultures. Results There was sufficient evidence of agreement between results at 35 to 37 weeks with intrapartum cultures ( p = 0.001). However, agreement was weak, 11 patients (3.7%) were GBS positive intrapartum but negative at 35 to 37 weeks; and 33 patients (11%) were initially GBS positive but were negative intrapartum. Sensitivity and specificity of the 35- to 37-week culture was 69% (95% confidence interval [CI]:54-84%) and 87% (95% CI: 83-91%), respectively. There was also weak agreement between first trimester urine culture and intrapartum rectovaginal culture. Specificity for this assessment was 98% (95% CI: 97-100%) and was significantly different compared with antepartum GBS culture ( p < 0.001). Accuracy between antepartum GBS rectovaginal culture and urine culture was similar (85 vs. 87%, p = 0.47). Conclusion The 35- to 37-week GBS rectovaginal culture might be a poor predictor for intrapartum colonization.

Current antenatal management of monoamniotic twins: a survey of maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess current management of monoamniotic (MA) twins by US maternal-fetal medicine providers. METHODS: We conducted a mailed survey to members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine regarding fetal surveillance practices and preferred gestational age (GA) for elective delivery with respect to MA twins. RESULTS: Responses from 837 (43%) were received with most (83.9%) recommending elective admission for inpatient monitoring, 53.5% favoring 26-28 weeks as earliest GA for admission and 75% performing intermittent fetal monitoring (of these 81% monitored 2-3 times/day). Respondents in practice less than 10 years were less likely to use outpatient management (p < 0.05). Median GA for elective delivery was 34 weeks but was higher for those who favored outpatient management, admitted >28 weeks, and were private practitioners (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a paucity of evidence, most practitioners admit MA to perform daily intermittent fetal monitoring and deliver at 34 weeks. Antenatal management protocols may also influence timing of delivery. Due to their rarity, a national registry may be a better tool to analyze the outcomes of these pregnancies.

Magnesium sulfate ameliorates maternal and fetal inflammation in a rat model of maternal infection.

OBJECTIVE: Magnesium sulfate is proposed to have neuroprotective effects in the offspring. We examined the effects of maternal magnesium sulfate administration on maternal and fetal inflammatory responses in a rat model of maternal infection. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant rats were injected with saline, Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide or lipopolysaccharide with magnesium sulfate (pre- and/or after lipopolysaccharide) to mimic infection. Maternal blood, amniotic fluid, fetal blood, and fetal brains were collected 4 hours after lipopolysaccharide and assayed for tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and growth-related oncogene-KC. In addition, the effect of magnesium sulfate on cytokine production by an astrocytoma cell line was assessed. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide administration induced tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and growth-related oncogene-KC expression in maternal and fetal compartments. Maternal magnesium sulfate treatment significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced multiple proinflammatory mediator levels in maternal and fetal compartments. CONCLUSION: Antenatal magnesium sulfate administration significantly ameliorated maternal, fetal, and gestational tissue-associated inflammatory responses in an experimental model of maternal infection.

Are second-trimester minor sonographic markers for Down syndrome useful in patients who have undergone first-trimester combined screening?

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine efficacy of minor markers for detection of Down syndrome (DS) in a population prescreened with first-trimester combined screening (FTS). STUDY DESIGN: FTS was modified using established likelihood ratios to generate a new composite risk (NCR). RESULTS: Of 3845 women, 390 had ≥1 marker. There were 10/3845 cases of DS; 3 were among patients with low-risk FTS (n = 3727). In 55 patients, NCR adjusted the risk from low to high without increasing detection rate. NCR did not modify risk to allow for detection of the 3 DS among patients with low-risk FTS even though 2 of these fetuses had 1 minor marker each. There were 7 DS among patients with high-risk FTS (n = 118). Use of NCR increased positive predictive value from 7/118 (5.1%) to 7/53 (13.2%). CONCLUSION: Screening for minor markers is useful in patients with high-risk FTS. It is of questionable benefit in patients with low-risk FTS.

Prior cerclage: to repeat or not to repeat? That is the question.

Our objective was to compare obstetrical outcomes of women with a prior cerclage for nontraditional indications who in the subsequent pregnancy either received a history-indicated cerclage or were followed by transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) cervical length (CL). All women with a history- or ultrasound- indicated cerclage in a prior pregnancy and who had a subsequent pregnancy were retrospectively identified from a preexisting database of women at risk for preterm birth between 1995 and 2002. Only women who reached >or= 12 weeks of gestation were included for analysis. Women with a diagnosis other than classic cervical insufficiency were managed in the subsequent pregnancy either by history-indicated cerclage or by serial TVU CL. The primary outcome was spontaneous preterm birth < 35 weeks. We identified 56 women with a prior cerclage for nontraditional indications. In the subsequent pregnancy, 28 women were followed with TVU and 28 matched controls received history-indicated cerclage. The groups were matched for demographics and risk factors. There were no differences between the two groups in the incidence of preterm labor < 35 weeks (21% versus 11%; P = 0.5), preterm premature rupture membranes < 35 weeks (7% versus 11%; P = 1.0), spontaneous preterm birth < 35 weeks (11% versus 11%; P = 1.0), or the gestational age at delivery (36.3 +/- 6.6 versus 36.5 +/- 5.6; P = 0.5). We concluded that in women with prior cerclage for indications other than classic cervical insufficiency, repeat history-indicated cerclage may not improve outcome compared with management with TVU CL follow-up.

Uterine contractions in asymptomatic pregnant women with a short cervix on ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of uterine contractions in asymptomatic pregnant women with a short cervix on transvaginal ultrasound. METHODS: Asymptomatic women with a short cervix on transvaginal ultrasound between 14 and 23(6/7) weeks of pregnancy were instructed to undergo uterine monitoring immediately. Women without available tracings were excluded. Women with and without contractions were compared with regard to demographics, risk factors, and outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred and one women with a short cervix and available tracings were identified. Eighty-six (85%) had contractions and 15 (15%) did not have contractions immediately after identification of the short cervix. The median number of contractions per hour per woman was 4 (range 0-31). These two groups did not differ in demographics, risk factors, or outcomes, except for the fact that 33% of women with contractions versus 73% of women without uterine contractions had a prior second trimester loss (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 85% percent of pregnant women with a short cervix on transvaginal ultrasound between 14 and 24 weeks of pregnancy are having asymptomatic uterine contractions. This information is important for further investigation of the short cervix and preterm delivery.

Elective cesarean delivery and long-term motor function or ambulation status in infants with meningomyelocele.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if elective cesarean delivery, when compared with trial of labor, is associated with better long-term motor function or ambulation status in infants with myelomeningocele. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with myelomeningocele followed at the Spinal Dysfunction Program at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. Medical records were reviewed for gestational age at delivery, birthweight, anatomical level of lesion, and initial (0-6 months) and long-term (10 years or longer) motor function. Ambulation status (independent ambulation, ambulant with assistance, or wheelchair-bound) at 2 and 10 years was compared with those delivered by elective cesarean versus those delivered after trial of labor. RESULTS: Of the 106 patients with myelomeningocele that were identified, 87 (82%) had all the data required for this review. There were 44 patients in the elective cesarean group and 43 in the trial of labor group. There was no significant difference in gestational age at delivery or birthweight between the groups. There was statistical difference between the 2 groups when anatomical, initial, and current motor levels were compared. Compared with the elective cesarean group, patients in the trial of labor group were more likely to be ambulatory at 2 years (independently ambulant 7% versus 28%, ambulant with assistance 63% versus 65%, or wheelchair-bound 30% versus 7%, P =.003) and at 10 years (independently ambulant 5% versus 21%, ambulant with assistance 30% versus 54%, or wheelchair-bound 65% versus 25%, P <.001). However, when logistic regression analysis was used to control for motor level of myelomeningocele, no significant association was observed in ambulatory status at ages 2 and 10 years between infants delivered by elective cesarean or after trial of labor. CONCLUSION: Elective cesarean delivery, when compared with delivery after trial of labor, was not associated with better motor function or ambulation status in myelomeningocele patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Folic acid supplementation use among women who contact a teratology information service.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of the women who call a teratology information service who take folic acid before conception. STUDY DESIGN: A pilot-tested questionnaire was used to survey women who called a teratology information service about their use of folic acid supplementation. Frequencies were generated by pregnancy status, age, race, and parity. RESULTS: Of the 693 pregnant callers, 42% of the women initiated folic acid use 6 weeks before pregnancy, 35% of the women initiated folic acid use during pregnancy. Thirty-seven percent of the total caller population reported taking folic acid. Forty-seven percent of pregnant white women versus 27% of pregnant black women reported preconceptional folic acid use (P =.005). Thirty-nine percent of pregnant women who were <30 years old reported preconceptional folic acid use versus 48% of women who were >30 years old (P =.018). CONCLUSION: Most pregnant women take folic acid; however, only a minority of them start before conception. The use of preconceptional folic acid, although higher than the national average of 30%, was still low. Many women start taking folic acid in their pregnancy after the neural tube is closed.

Genetics and metabolic causes of stillbirth.

Approximately 25% of stillbirths have been attributed to cytogenetic, mendelian, or biochemical causes with 75% still unknown. The most common autosomal trisomies are 21, 18, and 13, and the most common karyotypic abnormality is 45x. The remaining are sporadic multiple malformation syndromes and single organ malformations. Little is known about the genetic and metabolic causes of stillbirth; however, with new cytogenetic techniques such as fluorescent in situ hybridization, comparative genomic hybridization, and telomeric probes, cytogenetic errors will be identified more accurately. Advances in diagnosis will provide additional information for appropriate genetic counseling.