Fetal Heart Monitoring During Labor Revisited

One of the most common obstetrical procedures that occur is Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring using the electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) techniques during labor – these are the straps with a probe wrapped around the mother to monitor fetal heart rate and contractions of the uterus.It was introduced in hopes that it would reduce the incidence of ischemic (lack of oxygen) injury to children during labor. It was introduced in 1980 and it was quickly implemented as policy by the American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

But as with many procedure in the medical field, I believe it was implemented more to avoid lawsuits than due to medical necessity.

Vaginal Delivery Increases Maternal Responsiveness to Newborns and Postpartum Depression

New research suggest that women who deliver vaginally may be more responsive to their newborns and less likely to develop postpartum depression than those who delivered via cesarean section.

IV tubing contributes to preemie liver problems

In a newsletter about 6 months ago I reported on the research indicated that phthalates in plastics were associated with reproductive abnormalities – particularly sterility in men. Recently a new study has come to light showing that phthalates are now associated with liver problems, particularly in preemie babies whose only source of phthalates are from the IV tubing.

The Real Risk for Cesareans: An Expert Interview

Cesarean section (c-section) is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States.

Exclusive prolonged breast-feeding linked to improved cognitive development

The Archives of General Psychiatry just published results from the largest randomized trial ever conducted in the area of human lactation.

Pregnancy and Psychiatric Drugs

Very often in my office, when doing an intake on a child with a developmental disorder, I find that the mother was on a psychiatric drug during pregnancy. I’ve had an underlying suspicion that there has to be some association – Well a new study has just shed some new light on that.