Obstetrics | Penn Today

talicia sitting on her door step with children

Helping Black families to grow and thrive

To reverse the nationwide trend of serious harm and death before, during, and after childbirth for Black and other parents from marginalized groups, Penn Medicine is taking bold action to improve maternal health and eliminate racial disparities.

Pregnant person laying in a bed with an IV drip in their arm.

For pregnant people in states with most restrictive abortion policies, higher rates of cardiovascular complications

New research from Penn Medicine finds that states with tighter restraints on abortion may be tied to higher maternal morbidity and mortality, the effects of which may extend beyond pregnancy.

Pregnant person standing on a floor scale.

High pregnancy weight gain tied to higher risk of death in the following decades

Findings from a Penn Medicine study, which analyzed 50 years of data, highlights the health risks tied to conditions like heart disease and diabetes that can occur when more weight is gained in pregnancy than recommended.

Top row, from left to right: Kurt Thomas Barnhart, Christopher B. Forrest, and Susan L. Furth. Bottom row, left to right: Desmond Upton Patton and Robert H. Vonderheide.

National Academy of Medicine elects five new members from Penn

Kurt T. Barnhart, Christopher B. Forrest, Susan L. Furth, Desmond Upton Patton, and Robert H. Vonderheide are among 100 new Academy members elected this year, one of the highest honors in health and medicine.

African American person kisses the head of their newborn baby.

New research eyes closer integration of doulas and hospital maternity care

Projects from Penn’s new Research Center for Advancing Maternal Health Equity help determine how non-medical birth support workers can be more a part of maternal care teams.

Chester County mom, ovarian cancer survivor has miracle baby through surrogate

A Chester County woman and ovarian cancer survivor welcomed a new baby thanks to the help of a surrogate, with remarks from Clarisa Gracia of Penn Medicine.

Remote blood pressure monitoring may stave off postpartum health issues for those with preeclampsia

Penn Medicine’s remote heart-monitoring program, Heart Safe Motherhood, is likely to drive down total health care costs for the new mothers.

Medication abortion case could set up another explosive Supreme Court ruling—but it may not look like last year’s

Courtney Schreiber of the Perelman School of Medicine warns about the consequences of restricting access to the abortion drug mifepristone.

Justice Department and abortion pill manufacturer ask appeals court to freeze judge’s order that could make drug unavailable after Friday

Courtney Schreiber of the Perelman School of Medicine says that some patients are unable to have procedural abortions due to their anatomy, while others might believe that abortion is no longer available or safe.

Pregnancy complications tied to higher risk of death as long as 50 years later

Even decades after delivering pre-term or with conditions like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, those with complications in pregnancy or birth have a higher risk of death.

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