4.20
Obstetrics
Living in a majority-Black neighborhood linked to severe maternal morbidity
Living in a majority-Black neighborhood linked to severe maternal morbidity
Penn Medicine researchers studied the association between neighborhood-level risk factors and poor maternal health outcomes in Philadelphia between 2010 and 2017.
Doulas help families meet breastfeeding goals
Doulas help families meet breastfeeding goals
Research from the School of Nursing shows that these support professionals can be another tool to improve outcomes for newborns and parents.
Pregnant mothers’ antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 transfer to their fetuses
Pregnant mothers’ antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 transfer to their fetuses
Antibodies to coronavirus in pregnant women cross the placenta efficiently, and are found at similar concentrations in their newborns, according to a large study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Toward more optimal birth outcomes
Toward more optimal birth outcomes
A new study from Penn Nursing is the first to assess hospital vaginal birth rates rather than cesarean rates, which can further quality improvement initiatives that focus on encouraging vaginal birth rather than on decreasing the cesarean birth rate.
No change in preterm birth or stillbirth in Philadelphia during pandemic
No change in preterm birth or stillbirth in Philadelphia during pandemic
Challenging earlier reports, a CHOP-Penn Medicine study employed a rigorous analysis of a diverse, urban pregnancy cohort and found no significant changes.
Pregnant Black and Hispanic women more likely to be exposed to coronavirus
Pregnant Black and Hispanic women more likely to be exposed to coronavirus
Penn researchers found the rate of virus exposure among pregnant Black and Hispanic women to be five times higher than among white and Asian women.
Can spending time in nature prevent or lessen postpartum depression?
Can spending time in nature prevent or lessen postpartum depression?
Nurtured in Nature, a pilot project in Black communities conducted by Penn Medicine’s Eugenia South, aims to find out.
Pregnant in the pandemic: How Penn Medicine supports new and expectant parents
Pregnant in the pandemic: How Penn Medicine supports new and expectant parents
Medical staff in Penn’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are meeting the challenge of optimizing care for pregnant patients during the pandemic.
A cost-effective drug combination for women suffering miscarriage
A cost-effective drug combination for women suffering miscarriage
A pretreatment medication for women who suffer miscarriages called mifepristone is not only more clinically effective when combined with misoprostol, but also more cost effective
Penn Medicine birth marks a milestone in uterus transplant clinical trial
Penn Medicine birth marks a milestone in uterus transplant clinical trial
The birth is Penn’s first as part of its uterus transplant clinical trial, and second in the United States following a deceased donor transplant.
In the News
The New York Times
The White House issues its first-ever proclamation on Black maternal health
Elizabeth Howell of the Perelman School of Medicine said that severe maternal morbidity, in which women experience severe complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, impacts more than 50,000 U.S. women each year. “Similar to maternal mortality, Black and brown women have elevated rates of maternal morbidity,” she said.
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The New York Times
I sang through labor to manage the pain
Veena Graff of the Perelman School of Medicine weighed in on how singing may be able to aid the birth process. “Mechanistically, the act of singing helps with breathing and is a great distraction method, which in turn can relax a woman while experiencing labor pains,” she said.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Black babies are twice as likely to be born preterm. CHOP doctors are using COVID-19 to explore why
Heather Burris and Jaya Aysola of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the pandemic’s effects on preexisting preterm birth and prenatal care disparities.
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The New York Times
Evidence builds that pregnant women pass COVID antibodies to newborns
Scott Hensley and Karen Puopolo of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about their study of pregnancy and COVID-19. The team found evidence that COVID-19 antibodies can cross the placenta, though it’s still unknown if the amount of antibodies passed on can prevent newborns from contracting the virus.
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Business Insider
How to regulate your blood sugar during pregnancy with a 7-day gestational diabetes meal plan
Kimberly Trout of the School of Nursing recommended a meal plan for people with gestational diabetes. Research suggests that about 80% of people with this condition can manage it with diet alone, she said.
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The New York Times
I’m a pregnant doctor. Should I get the COVID vaccine?
Michal Elovitz of the Perelman School of Medicine said it’s possible that an mRNA-based vaccine could potentially cause harm to a developing fetus, but that there’s not enough data to know for sure. “To avoid having pregnant people guess, we should be advocating for more preclinical and clinical research focused on pregnant patients,” she said.
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