Key Points In Roe v. Wade (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court determined that a fundamental “right to privacy existed in the Fourteenth Amendment’s concept of personal liberty” that is “broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to…
Key Points A proportion of adverse obstetric events have been shown to be preventable; this proportion varies with the clinical circumstances. Although multiple factors have been associated with the occurrence of adverse obstetric events, issues with communication have been implicated…
Key Points Mental health is fundamental to health. To the extent that maternal biopsychosocial exposures with negative impact on pregnancy outcomes can be diminished, eliminated, or replaced with positive factors, the risk of poor pregnancy outcome can be reduced. Major…
Key Points Overall, without screening and treatment, 85% of neonatal GBS infections are early in onset and result from transmission from a colonized mother. All pregnant women should be cultured for cervicovaginal GBS at 35 to 37 weeks’ gestation. Culture-positive…
Key Points Rubella immunization and HBV and HIV infection screening is standard. HIV screening should be performed via an “opt out” approach, and in high prevalence areas, repeat screening in the third trimester should be considered. Varicella screening may be…
Key Points All pregnant women younger than 25 years or those at increased risk should be screened for Chlamydia and gonorrhea during pregnancy. Women younger than 25 and those at high risk for sexually transmitted infections should be rescreened for…
Key Points With the physiologic skin changes of pregnancy, no risks are incurred for the mother or fetus. The changes should be expected to resolve postpartum. Preexisting melanocytic nevi may show mild changes in pregnancy, but no increased risk for…
Key Points Because many of the common complaints of pregnancy are also early symptoms of metastatic cancer, pregnant women with cancer are at risk for delays in diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. The safest time for most cancer therapies in pregnancy…
Key Points Epilepsy affects approximately 1% of the general population and is the most frequent neurologic complication of pregnancy. Prepregnancy counseling is imperative in the patient with epilepsy. Valproic acid has been associated with a significantly increased risk of major…
Key Points The differential diagnosis of GI symptoms and signs such as abdominal pain is particularly extensive during pregnancy. Aside from GI and other intraabdominal disorders incidental to pregnancy, the differential includes obstetric, gynecologic, and GI disorders related to pregnancy.…