Key Points Prenatal ultrasonography can diagnose multiple newborn conditions early. However, the natural history of many common ultrasound findings is variable, and the findings may or may not represent markers of serious disease. The short-term and long-term benefits of breastfeeding…
Key Points Preparation prior to delivery helps ensure timely and effective newborn resuscitation. Delayed umbilical cord clamping following delivery may have a significant impact on newborn outcomes. Establishing adequate ventilation is key to the perinatal transition. The laryngeal mask airway…
Key Points Labor results in significant pain for many women that is individualized, dynamic, and unpredictable. Although the effects of obstetric analgesia and anesthesia on the fetus and neonate are typically benign, there is potential for adverse neonatal effects. During…
Key Points Cesarean section occurs in approximately one-third of all births in the United States, with substantial variation among hospitals that cannot be entirely accounted for by preexisting maternal or fetal comorbidities. Multidisciplinary team training can reduce infant morbidity after…
Key Points Fetal assessment demands a view into the somewhat inaccessible intrauterine environment; the primary tools are ultrasound and fetal heart rate monitoring. It is important to make the distinction between intrapartum (during labor) and antepartum (before labor) fetal assessment;…
Key Points Substance use remains at epidemic proportions, both nationally and globally. Increasing legalization of marijuana has resulted in new concerns for fetal and infant exposure, with limited understanding of the short- and long-term effects in this population. The recent…
Key Points Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are classified as chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia with and without severe features, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. Pharmacologic management of chronic hypertension should be reserved for women with sustained elevations in blood…
Key Points Diagnostic imaging carries a risk of fetal radiation exposure. However, in most cases the actual fetal dose is low. While x-ray and computed tomography imaging should be avoided during pregnancy if possible, these studies are not contraindicated if…
Key Points The incidence of diabetes in pregnancy is steadily rising, likely in parallel with the rising incidence of obesity among pregnant patients. Pregnant patients with diabetes are at increased risk for fetal complications (such as congenital malformations, fetal growth…
Key Points Nonimmune hydrops fetalis results from many etiologies. Management involves correcting the underlying cause. The condition is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Some etiologies are amenable to treatment in utero. A newborn with hydrops has an abnormal accumulation…