A recent systematic review (a study of studies) challenges current wisdom that inducing at 39 weeks reduces cesareans and improves newborn outcomes.5 Reviewers pooled data among 16 randomized controlled trials (studies in which participants are assigned by chance to one form of treatment or [...]

A study reports that both healthy diet and mindfulness training can reduce the incidence of babies born small-for-gestational-age (SGA), that is, at birthweights in the bottom 10% for their age. This is important news because SGA babies are more likely to experience adverse outcomes, and there [...]

Progesterone injections have never unambiguously been shown to prevent recurrent preterm birth. Nevertheless, in 2011, the FDA thought the evidence sufficiently promising to grant preliminary approval for their use.5 The FDA wasn’t entirely convinced and required a follow-up trial as a [...]

A large Washington State study affirms that planning birth in a free-standing birth center or at home (community birth) can be as safe as planned hospital birth provided: Women are at low-risk for complications. Births are attended by a professional midwife. Midwives are integrated into the [...]

Anesthesiologists have long known that accidental puncture of the dural membrane during epidural administration causes severe postpartum headache. They believed, however, that once the woman recovered, that’s the end of it. It turns out that’s not true. Evidence is mounting that dural puncture [...]

Routine continuous electronic fetal monitoring, a.k.a., cardiotocography, during labor continues to be the norm in labor & delivery units despite being a colossal failure, and the obstetric community knows it. This is a shocking, but provable, statement. To do that, this post will: [...]

In a recent post, we discussed evidence-based practices that maximize your chances of avoiding an avoidable cesarean, but not all cesareans can or should be avoided. This post covers evidence-based practices that enhance cesarean recovery. They come from a set of guidelines issued by the [...]