ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care

Trends in and characteristics of drug overdose morbidity among pregnant and postpartum individuals in California, 2010-2018

Fatal drug overdoses among pregnant and postpartum individuals have risen dramatically over the past 10 years. Trends in and characteristics of nonfatal drug overdoses in this population, however, remain unknown, despite the importance of this outcome for maternal and infant health. We used statewide, longitudinally linked hospital and emergency department administrative claims data from California to characterize the incidence, trends, drug type involvement, and sociodemographic disparities in pregnancy-associated drug overdose between 2010 and 2019. Generalized linear models accounting for multiple deliveries per individual were used to test for trends; descriptive statistics were used for other study analyses. Of California individuals with a live delivery between 2010 and 2018, approximately 0.2% had a pregnancy-associated drug overdose. Nonfatal overdoses were nearly 60 times more common than fatal overdoses. Incidence of overdoses involving stimulants increased in frequency, while incidence of overdoses involving sedative/hypnotic drugs and psychotropic medications decreased in frequency. Risk of overdose was substantially higher among delivering individuals who were young, non-Hispanic Black, Medicaid patients, or who lived in nonmetropolitan areas. Ongoing public health surveillance of pregnancy-associated nonfatal drug overdose events and clinical interventions to reduce these events are critical for prevention efforts.

Tennessee Medicaid patient immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception utilization

OBJECTIVES

To understand immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (IPP LARC) desire and utilization trends among publicly insured patients delivering at one academic hospital in a state with health care barriers and high short-interval birth rates.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of electronic delivery records between March 2018 and June 2023 for publicly insured patients. Patient demographics, IPP LARC desire and utilization trends were compared using χ2 or Fisher exact tests. Binary logistic regression explored the relationship between IPP LARC utilization and demographics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed on all statistically significant variables.

RESULTS

Analysis included 10,472 delivery encounters; 2459 (23.5%) requested IPP LARC on admission and 464 (4.4%) changed contraception to IPP LARC after admission. Among those obtaining IPP LARC (n = 2523, 24.1%), 1224 (48.5%) selected arm implants and 1299 selected intrauterine devices (IUDs). Patients who self-reported as non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Other or multiple races utilized IPP LARC less (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98, aOR=0.68, CI 95%: 0.48-0.97, respectively). Patients with cesarean delivery (aOR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.31-1.61) or inadequate prenatal care (aOR=1.54, CI 95%: 1.35-1.75) were more likely to utilize IPP LARC. Maternal age and years of education were inversely associated with utilization. Primiparous patients were less likely to utilize IPP LARC.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) utilization was 24.1% during the immediate postpartum period; higher than the 11% nationally reported interval LARC use among publicly insured patients. Understanding the demographics of those desiring IPP LARC could highlight accessibility gaps. The impact of IPP LARC utilization on rates of short-interval birth is being evaluated.

IMPLICATIONS

Understanding the demographics of IPP LARC utilizers may contribute to understanding accessibility gaps and facilitate discernment of factors impacting patient initiation. Evidence suggests that comprehensive contraception access during delivery admission is feasible, patient-desired, and essential.

Effects of multilevel postpartum family planning intervention on the reduction of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion rates within 12 months of delivery: A cluster randomized controlled study in China

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a multilevel promoting postpartum family planning (PPFP) intervention on the reduction of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions in China.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a cluster randomized intervention study to assess the effects of a multilevel PPFP intervention on the rates of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion within 12 months postpartum. Thirty-six hospitals were included and randomly allocated to two groups at a 1:1 ratio, enrolling 180 pregnant women per hospital starting in January 2019. The intervention included integrated contraceptive education and counseling at three critical stages, namely, the third trimester, delivery, and several postpartum time points. We used life table and multilevel Cox regression for data analysis.

RESULTS

We recruited 6315 participants, namely, 3116 in the intervention group and 3199 in the control group. The 12-month cumulative rates of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion were significantly lower in the intervention group (2.74% [95% CI, 2.16-3.46] and 1.43% [95% CI, 1.01-2.03], respectively) than in the control group (6.99% [95% CI, 6.00-8.14] and 3.85% [95% CI, 3.09-4.79], respectively). Multilevel Cox regression revealed a 63% reduction in the risk of unintended pregnancy (hazard ratio 0.37 [95% CI, 0.19-0.71]) and a 66% reduction in the risk of induced abortion (hazard ratio 0.34 [95% CI, 0.16-0.69]) in the intervention group.

CONCLUSIONS

This multilevel PPFP intervention was effective in reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy and induced abortion within the first year after childbirth. We recommend scaling up this approach to other hospitals across the country that provide prenatal educational classes and postpartum contraceptive services.

IMPLICATIONS

Multifaceted PPFP interventions, which encompass contraceptive education during both pregnancy and the postpartum period, are effective in reducing unintended pregnancy rates in China. This strategy could be adopted in other similar health care settings worldwide.

CLINICAL TRIALS

ChiCTR1900023790.

Strategies for Recruiting a Diverse Postpartum Survey Sample

BACKGROUND

Data from diverse populations are needed to inform interventions for maternal health equity. However, research recruitment of postpartum individuals is challenging, especially in minoritized and structurally marginalized populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We developed a recruitment strategy for a cross-sectional survey among postpartum individuals at an urban safety-net hospital in New England, inclusive of those with a language preference other than English (LPOE) and those not attending scheduled postpartum visits. Recruitment was primarily conducted before, during, and after clinic visits in obstetrics or pediatrics. Surveys could be completed in-person, over the phone, or online. All study materials were trilingual (English, Spanish, Haitian Creole). After reaching our recruitment goal of 120 individuals, we analyzed our recruitment efforts to identify key recruitment strategies.

RESULTS

From April to June 2022, 245 individuals were invited to participate, and 120 (49%) completed the survey, of whom 119 contributed recruitment data to the present analysis. Most participants (83.1%) self-identified as Black or Hispanic, and 30.2% had an LPOE. Compared with the overall sample, participants with an LPOE were more likely to have been recruited in-person (73% versus 78%), while those not attending postpartum visits required more outreach attempts (mean 2.3 versus 2.6). We identified 4 key strategies contributing to recruitment success: multilingual materials, frequent assessment and adjustment of our recruitment approach, pediatrics-based recruitment, and multiple timings and modes of outreach.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a multi-stage, multilingual, and multi-method recruitment strategy including pediatrics-based outreach, we recruited a diverse postpartum sample with > 80% individuals of color and > 30% with an LPOE. Our experience can inform more inclusive postpartum research.

Patient and provider perspectives on the use of patient portals during pregnancy and the postpartum period

INTRODUCTION

Interest in the use of patient portals to support prenatal and postpartum care is growing. This study was conducted to understand patient and provider perspectives about the impact of portal use during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted with 30 pregnant or postpartum patients and 15 obstetric care providers at an academic medical center that offers its patients access to an outpatient portal. Interview transcripts were analyzed deductively and inductively to categorize findings and identify emergent themes.

RESULTS

Patients and providers described how use of a patient portal during pregnancy and postpartum impacted communication (by supporting convenient communication and access to information), care processes (by aiding appointment attendance and helping with medication management), and care experience (by reducing anxiety and promoting patient involvement). Interviewees provided suggestions to improve patient portal use in obstetric care including using portals to increase access to educational materials and supportive resources, to collect patient-generated data, and to increase patient involvement in postpartum care.

DISCUSSION

Patient portals have particular value for patients' use during pregnancy and the postpartum period due to the frequency of healthcare visits and the heightened attention to one's health during this time. There are opportunities to tailor portal content and functions to patients' needs to improve communication, care processes, and care experiences for this patient population. Further improving the functionality of patient portals for patients' use during pregnancy and the postpartum period has the potential to positively impact patient experiences and health outcomes.

Peripartum maternal outcomes in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus in a real-world electronic health record cohort

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have examined peripartum maternal outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Using a de-identified electronic health record (EHR) cohort of individuals with and without SLE, we compared rates of peripartum maternal outcomes including maternal infections, blood transfusions, hospital length of stay, and SLE flares.

METHODS

We identified deliveries among individuals with SLE and individuals without autoimmune disease using a previously validated algorithm. Peripartum maternal infection was assessed up to 6 weeks postpartum. Using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, we compared peripartum outcomes in SLE and control deliveries. We performed mixed effects models to estimate the association of SLE case status with peripartum outcomes. We assessed for SLE flares up to 6 months postpartum using chart review of rheumatology notes and the 2009 revised SELENA Flare Index. We evaluated SLE medications prescribed during pregnancy and at time of delivery on peripartum outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 185 deliveries to 142 individuals with SLE and 468 deliveries to 241 control individuals without autoimmune diseases. Mean length of hospital stay was longer for individuals with SLE compared to controls (3.1 ± 2.0 vs. 2.4 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.001). In a mixed effects model, peripartum infection was significantly associated with SLE case status (OR = 6.18, 95 % CI 2.73 - 13.98, p < 0.01), Cesarean section (OR = 5.00, 95 % CI 2.16 - 11.57, p < 0.01), and age at delivery (OR = 0.92, 95 % CI 0.86 - 0.99, p = 0.03) after adjusting for race. Transfusion was also significantly associated with SLE case status (OR = 9.05, 95 % CI 3.24-25.32, p < 0.01) and Black race (OR = 6.64, 95 % CI 1.47 - 30.02, p = 0.01) after adjusting for Cesarean section and age at delivery. We observed a postpartum flare rate of 32 % among individuals with SLE with 13 % characterized as mild, 41 % moderate, and 46 % severe. Antimalarial use in the postpartum period was associated with lower flare rate (43 % vs. 63 %, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with SLE have increased rates of blood transfusions, longer hospital stays, and more frequent infections compared to control individuals in the peripartum period. We observed a postpartum flare rate of 32 %, and antimalarial use was associated with lower flare rate. Our findings demonstrate that the peripartum period remains a high-risk time for individuals with SLE with an ongoing need for close monitoring.

Postpartum readmissions among patients with adult congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Given the risks associated with congenital heart disease in the postpartum period, epidemiologic data identifying risk factors and timing of complications may be useful in improving postpartum care.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the timing of, risk factors for, and complications associated with 60-day postpartum readmissions following deliveries with maternal congenital heart disease.

STUDY DESIGN

The 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used for this retrospective cohort study. Postpartum readmissions occurring within 60 days of delivery hospitalization discharge were ascertained. Clinical, demographic, and hospital risk factors associated with postpartum readmission were analyzed using logistic regression models, with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios as measures of association. Among patients with congenital heart disease, the role of additional cardiac risk factors in the likelihood of readmission was analyzed. Risks for adverse maternal outcomes during readmission were analyzed, including severe maternal morbidity, cardiac severe maternal morbidity, and a critical care composite.

RESULTS

Of an estimated 40,780,439 delivery hospitalizations, 35,242 had an associated congenital heart disease diagnosis (8.6 per 10,000), including 2279 (6.5%) with complex congenital heart disease and 32,963 (93.5%) with noncomplex congenital heart disease. The proportion of deliveries with a maternal congenital heart disease diagnosis increased significantly from 6.7 per 10,000 in 2010 to 11.8 in 2020. Overall risk for 60-day postpartum readmission was 1.6% among women without congenital heart disease and 3.1% among women with congenital heart disease (P<.01). Among women with congenital heart disease, 36.0% of 60-day postpartum readmissions occurred 1 to 5 days after discharge, 18.0% 5 to 10 days after discharge, and 14.5% 10 to 20 days after discharge. In adjusted models for the entire population, congenital heart disease retained a significant association with 60-day postpartum readmission (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-1.94). When the cohort was restricted to deliveries with congenital heart disease, adjusted analyses demonstrated increased odds associated with additional cardiac risk factors (congestive heart failure: adjusted odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.62; arrhythmia: adjusted odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-2.21; pulmonary circulation disorders: adjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.24; and chronic hypertension: adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.80), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.61), and cesarean delivery (primary adjusted odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-2.38; repeat cesarean: adjusted odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-2.55). The risk of adverse outcomes during readmissions was higher for women with congenital heart disease than for those without (severe maternal morbidity: 23.8% vs 16.1%; P<.01; cardiac severe maternal morbidity: 9.6% vs 4.9%; P<.01; and a critical care composite: 3.1% vs 1.8%; P<.01).

CONCLUSION

Deliveries with congenital heart disease were associated with increased odds of postpartum readmission and complications during readmissions. Most readmissions occurred soon after delivery discharge. Among patients with congenital heart disease, risk for readmission was higher in the setting of additional cardiac risk factors, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and cesarean delivery.

Association between interpregnancy interval and adverse perinatal outcomes according to maternal age in the context of China's two-child policy

BACKGROUND

Since the implementation of China's comprehensive two-child policy, the prevalence of long interpregnancy intervals (IPI) and advanced maternal age has increased. However, previous studies in China have mostly focused on the relationship between short IPIs and adverse perinatal outcomes, while neglecting maternal age as a potential confounder.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 23,899 pregnant women who delivered between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019 at Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital and West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University. IPIs were categorized as < 18 months, 18-23 months, 24-59 months, 60-119 months, and ≥ 120 months. Their relationships with clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed using chi-square tests and Cochran-Armitage test for trend. Logistic regression modeling, incorporating restricted cubic spline (RCS), was used to assess association between IPI and adverse perinatal outcomes, including full-term low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), small-for-gestational age (SGA) and adverse neonatal composite (very low birthweight, very preterm birth, severe neonatal asphyxia or death).

RESULTS

Women with longer IPIs (≥ 120 months) were more likely to be older (≥ 35 years) and had higher rates of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Compared to an IPI of 24-59 months, the risk of PTB was significantly higher with an IPI of ≥ 120 months for women aged ≥ 35 years (aOR,1.17; 95% CI, 0.89-1.55) and 30-34 years (aOR 2.17; 95% CI, 1.59-2.92), but not for those aged ≤ 29 years (aOR 1.34; 95% CI, 0.20-5.31). The risk of SGA increased with an IPI of ≥ 120 months for women aged 30-34 years (aOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 0.97-4.53) and with an IPI of 60-119 months for women aged ≤ 29 years (aOR,3.16; 95% CI, 1.62-6.30). Full-term LBW risk was elevated among women aged ≤ 29 years with an IPI of ≥ 120 months (aOR, 10.42; 95% CI, 0.55-59.52). However, there were no significant differences in the risk of adverse neonatal composite across different IPI groups with each age category (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

A long IPI increased the risk of SGA, full-term LBW and PTB, regardless of maternal age. Medical professionals should advise women an optimal IPI to mitigate these risks. With China's shift from a "one-child" to a "three-child" policy, future research will focus on analyzing this new fertility pattern to refine IPI recommendations.

Pregnancy Complications and Long-Term Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Discuss the relationship between pregnancy complications and long-term atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk.

RECENT FINDINGS

A large body of research confirms an association between pregnancy complications and increased short and long-term ASCVD risk and seeks to understand mechanisms for these associations. Social determinants of health continue to have a critical impact on the prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) and long term ASCVD risk. Of the APOs, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with the highest ASCVD risk. Additionally, recent research shows an association between APOs and microvascular coronary heart disease. APOs are associated with increased risk of ASCVD, however there is conflicting evidence on whether there is a causal relationship between APOs and ASCVD or if APOs are simply a marker of ASCVD risk. Current ASCVD risk models do not incorporate a history of APOs, therefore it is imperative that healthcare providers take a reproductive health history and account for pregnancy complications when counseling patients on long-term cardiovascular risk. Non-invasive modalities such as coronary artery calcium scoring can be considered as an adjunct, but further research is warranted to determine which patients would benefit most.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Trends in Self-Measured Blood Pressure and Derived Indices: The BOSHI Study

In this study, we aimed to reveal the trends of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) and SMBP-derived indices during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The Babies and Their Parents Longitudinal Observation in Suzuki Memorial Hospital in the Intrauterine Period (BOSHI) Study is a prospective cohort study in Japan. Participants were instructed to measure SMBP daily during pregnancy and for 1 month after delivery. Among 237 participants with normotensive blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy and the postpartum period who were analyzed using mixed-effects models for repeated measures, the SMBP was measured, on average, 14.3 times from the day before delivery to 28 days postpartum. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on the day before delivery were 110.6 ± 1.0 and 68.1 ± 0.8 mmHg (estimate ± standard error). Postpartum BP increased from postpartum Days 3-8 in SBP and from Days 3-22 in DBP, compared to that on the day before delivery. The SBP and DBP were 4.9 and 4.7 mmHg higher on postpartum Days 8 and 7 than the day before pregnancy, respectively. During pregnancy, the pulse rate (PR) showed an inverted U-shaped trend and then sharply increased rapidly until the first postpartum day after delivery. The Shock Index showed a similar trend to that of the PR, decreased from labor until postpartum Day 8, and plateaued thereafter. The double product peaked during labor, remained higher than the prelabor levels for approximately 10 days, and then decreased in the postpartum period.

Ambulatory care utilization in the first 24 months' postpartum by rurality and pregnancy-related conditions: A prospective cohort study from Maine

PURPOSE

To estimate the rate of ambulatory care use among postpartum persons by rurality of residence and pregnancy-related conditions.

METHODS

We used Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data for persons who delivered between 2007 and 2019 (N = 121,905). We estimated rates of ambulatory care (nonemergency department outpatient health care) utilization during the first 24 months' postpartum by level of rurality (urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural) and by pregnancy-related conditions (prenatal depression, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes). To estimate rate ratios (RR), we used Poisson regression with an offset for population at risk, adjusting for potential confounders and restricting the analysis to those with continuous insurance (n = 70,431).

FINDINGS

The mean monthly rate per 100 deliveries of ambulatory care visits was 86.1; the median number of visits was 12 (interquartile range = 6, 25). Persons living in rural areas had lower monthly rates of visits than persons living in urban areas (adjusted RR ranged from 0.87 [95% CI: 0.85, 0.89] in isolated rural areas to 0.91 [95% CI: 0.90, 0.93] in large rural areas). Persons with prenatal depression (aRR = 2.07; 95% CI: 2.04, 2.11), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aRR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.10), and gestational diabetes (aRR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.14) had higher rates of visits than those without these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

New practices and policies may be needed to improve postpartum ambulatory care access and utilization in rural areas. Postpartum persons with pregnancy-related conditions are accessing ambulatory care at higher rates after delivery, which may reduce their need for acute health care use.

Prenatal and Postpartum Home Visits and Postpartum Contraceptive Use: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Background: The postpartum period is a time of unmet contraceptive need for many women. Home visits by a health care worker during pregnancy or after delivery could increase postpartum contraceptive use and decrease barriers to accessing postpartum care. This study investigated the association between prenatal or postpartum home visits and postpartum contraceptive use using a large sample of U.S. women from 41 states. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using weighted survey data from the 2012-2015 Phase 7 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring Systems Core and Standard Questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression models estimated the association between having a prenatal or postpartum home visit and self-reported postpartum contraceptive use. Results: Of 141,296 women, approximately 21% received prenatal or postpartum home visits and 79% used postpartum contraception. After controlling for sociodemographic, reproductive, and health-related factors, women who received prenatal or postpartum home visits had a higher odds of postpartum contraception use (adjusted odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.15, p = 0.009). Women who were older, were minority race, had less than a high school education, received inadequate prenatal care, experienced partner abuse during pregnancy, or experienced multiple stressors during pregnancy had a lower odds of postpartum contraception use in adjusted analyses controlling for home visitation. Conclusion: Given the benefits of recommended interpregnancy intervals to both the mother and the baby, adding formal contraceptive counseling and offering a variety of postpartum contraceptive methods in the home could further strengthen home visitation programs in the United States and may support women in achieving their reproductive goals.

[De Novo Hypertensive Disorders in the Postpartum Period: Considerations on Diagnosis, Risk Factors, and Potential Intervention Strategies]

Postpartum de novo arterial hypertension (PPDNAH) is defined as blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg, without a history of hypertension during pregnancy or delivery. Its prevalence ranges from 0.3% to 27.5% of all pregnancies. Late-onset postpartum preeclampsia (LOPPP) and late-onset postpartum eclampsia (LOPPE) typically occur between 48hours and 6 weeks postpartum, although recent studies demonstrate the possibility of developing these disorders up to 12 months postpartum. While sharing risk factors with pregnancy-related disorders, they differ in some aspects such as primigravida status. Regarding prognosis, an increase in severe maternal morbidity has been observed compared to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This group of pathologies is often underdiagnosed, even in high-risk patients, making early identification along with strict blood pressure monitoring essential.

Evidence-based cesarean delivery: postoperative care (part 10)

The following review focuses on routine postoperative care after cesarean delivery (CD), including specific Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean recommendations as well as important postpartum counseling points. Following CD, there is insufficient evidence to support administration of prophylactic multi-dose antibiotics to all patients. Additional antibiotic doses are indicated for the following scenarios: patients with obesity who did not receive preoperative azithromycin, CD lasting ≥4 hours since prophylactic dose, blood loss >1500 mL, or those with an intra-amniotic infection. An oxytocin infusion for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage should be continued post-CD. While initial measures to prevent postoperative pain occur in the intraoperative period, with the consideration of 1 g intravenous (IV) acetaminophen and IV or intramuscular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (eg, 30 mg IV ketorolac), the focus postoperatively continues with this multimodal approach with scheduled acetaminophen per os (PO, 650 mg every 6 hours) and nonsteroidal agents (ketorolac 30 mg IV every 6 hours for 4 doses followed by ibuprofen 600 mg PO every 6 hours) being recommended. Short-acting opioids should be reserved for breakthrough pain. Low-risk patients should receive mechanical thromboprophylaxis until ambulation with chemoprophylaxis being reserved for patients with additional risk factors. When an indwelling bladder catheter was placed intraoperatively for scheduled CD, it should be removed immediately postoperatively. Chewing gum to aid in return of bowel function and early oral intake of solid food can occur immediately after CD and within 2 hours, respectively. For prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting, administration of 5HT3 antagonists with the addition of either a dopamine antagonist or a corticosteroid is recommended based on noncesarean data. Early ambulation after CD starting 4 hours postoperatively is encouraged and should be incentivized by pedometer. For patients that receive a dressing over the CD skin incision, limited evidence supports leaving it in place for 48 hours. Adjunct nonpharmacologic interventions for postoperative recovery discussed in this review are acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, coffee, ginger, massage, reiki, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. In the low-risk patient, hospital discharge may occur as early as 24 to 28 hours if close (ie, 1-2 days) outpatient neonatal follow-up is available due to the potential for neonatal jaundice; otherwise, patients should be discharged at 48 to 72 hours postoperatively. Upon discharge, the multimodal pain control recommendations of acetaminophen and ibuprofen should be continued. If short-acting opioids are necessary, the prescribing practices should be individualized based upon the inpatient opioid requirements. Other portions of postoperative/postpartum counseling during the inpatient stay include the optimal interpregnancy interval of 18 to 23 months, encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, quick resumption of physical activity, and vaginal intercourse guidance as tolerated. Patients should also be counseled pre-CD on the option of immediate postpartum intrauterine devices insertion, intraoperative salpingectomy, or placement of long-acting reversible contraception in the postpartum period. Implementation of such evidence-based postoperative care protocols decrease length of stay, surgical site infection rates, and improve patient satisfaction and breastfeeding rates. El resumen está disponible en Español al final del artículo.

County-Level Structural Vulnerabilities in Maternal Health and Geographic Variation in Infant Mortality

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether community factors that differentially affect the health of pregnant people contribute to geographic differences in infant mortality across the US.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective cohort study sought to characterize the association of a novel composite measure of county-level maternal structural vulnerabilities, the Maternal Vulnerability Index (MVI), with risk of infant death. We evaluated 11 456 232 singleton infants born at 22 0 of 7 through 44 6 of 7 weeks' gestation from 2012 to 2014. Using county-level MVI, which ranges from 0 to 100, multivariable mixed effects logistic regression models quantified associations per 20-point increment in MVI, with odds of death clustered at the county level and adjusted for state, maternal, and infant covariates. Secondary analyses stratified by the social, physical, and health exposures that comprise the overall MVI score. Outcome was also stratified by cause of death.

RESULTS

Rates of death were higher among infants from counties with the greatest maternal vulnerability (0.62% in highest quintile vs 0.32% in lowest quintile, [P < .001]). Odds of death increased 6% per 20-point increment in MVI (aOR: 1.06, 95% CI 1.04, 1.07). The effect estimate was highest with theme of Mental Health and Substance Abse (aOR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06, 1.09). Increasing vulnerability was associated with 6 of 7 causes of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-level social, physical, and healthcare determinants indicative of maternal vulnerability may explain some of the geographic variation in infant death, regardless of cause of death. Interventions targeted to county-specific maternal vulnerabilities may reduce infant mortality.

Patient awareness of long-term cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Japan

AIM

Given the increasing recognition of the importance of postpartum follow-up care for women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) to mitigate their future risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, here we aimed to evaluate the current status of postpartum follow-up care in Japan and explore the challenges to its implementation.

METHODS

A web-based survey was conducted using a smartphone application among postpartum women between March and May 2024 to assess their knowledge of HDP-related future risk and postpartum follow-up care.

RESULTS

A total of 880 valid responses were obtained, 73 (8.3%) of which were from women with a history of HDP. Of them, 56.2% were aware of the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and even fewer knew about the risks of metabolic syndrome (37.0%) and the preventive use of low-dose aspirin (12.3%); in fact, 31.5% reported receiving no information about their risk or preventive measures from healthcare providers. Furthermore, 43.8% did not consult specialists or attend regular checkups after their 1-month checkup. Among women with a history of HDP, those who received information and guidance were more likely to implement behavioral changes than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient awareness level of HDP-related risk was low and the information provided by their healthcare professionals was insufficient, indicating that postpartum follow-up care in Japan is not satisfactory. This study highlights the need for improved educational strategies and systematic follow-up protocols to ensure that women are adequately informed and supported in managing their long-term health risks.

Longer Interpregnancy Interval Is Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Recurrence

OBJECTIVE

 This study aimed to evaluate the effect of interpregnancy interval (IPI) on the gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) recurrence rate in the subsequent pregnancies following an initial pregnancy complicated by GDM.

STUDY DESIGN

 A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted. The study included women diagnosed with GDM during their index pregnancy who subsequently delivered between 26 and 42 weeks of gestation from 2005 to 2021. The study population was categorized into eight groups according to their IPIs: up to 3, 3-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-23, 24-35, 36-47, and over 48 months. We examined the recurrence rate of GDM in the different groups while comparing it to the 18-23-month group that was defined as the reference group. Statistical analyses included univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

 Out of 3,532 women who were included in the study, 1,776 (50.3%) experienced GDM recurrence in subsequent pregnancy. The recurrence rate was 44.6% for women IPI <6 months, 42.6% for women IPI of 6-11 months, 48.0% for women IPI of 12-17 months, 49.7% for women IPI of 18-23 months, 58.0% for women IPI of 24-47 months, and 62.6% for women IPI above 48 months. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that IPIs of 24-47 months and over 48 months were significantly associated with higher recurrence rates as compared with the 18-23-month reference group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66 [1.04-2.64] and 3.15 [1.07-9.29], respectively). This analysis also revealed other independent risk factors for GDM recurrence, including medication-controlled GDM in the index pregnancy, obesity, maternal age, parity, and gravidity.

CONCLUSION

 Longer IPIs (over 24 months) are associated with an increased risk of GDM recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. These findings suggest that clinicians should consider IPI while managing postpartum care and planning future pregnancies for women with a history of GDM.

KEY POINTS

· Longer IPIs (over 24 months) are associated with an increased risk of GDM recurrence.. · Clinicians should consider IPI while managing postpartum care for women with a history of GDM.. · GDM A1, obesity, maternal age, parity, and gravidity were found as risk factors for GDM recurrence..

Birthing parent and companion verbal reactions following interactions with inpatient postpartum health care team members: an observational study using naturalistic filming

BACKGROUND

Respectful, equitable, and supportive health care team interactions with patients and their companions are a key part of quality health care services. Despite the importance of communication and other aspects of engagement during inpatient postpartum care, little is known about how care is experienced during this period from families' perspectives.

METHODS

This study collected video and audio data with 15 birthing families (n = 9 English-speaking and n = 6 Spanish-speaking) and their health care team members during inpatient postpartum care in a southeastern United States academic medical center. This analysis quantifies health care team member presence in family hospital rooms, assesses linguistic appropriateness of health care team member verbal communication, and describes birthing parent and companion verbal reactions to health care team member interactions. A behavioral taxonomy was applied to identify these codes in the 12 h prior to hospital discharge. Additionally, we transcribed the birthing parent and companion verbal reactions for 10-minutes each time the health care team member departed their room. This content was inductively coded to identify topics and develop themes.

RESULTS

A total of 160 h of video and audio data were coded across 15 participating families for this analysis. There were 19.9 h of missing data in the 12 h prior to hospital discharge due to equipment being turned off across five participants. At least one health care team member was present in the postnatal unit rooms within the observation period in 200 instances (median 13 times, range 5 to 19 times per participating family). Communication with Spanish-speaking birthing parents was linguistically appropriate for between 20.0% and 75.0% of interactions. Following health care team member presence, birthing parent and companion reactions were indeterminate 1 time, no verbal reaction 107 times, positive 25 times, confused 38 times, and negative 52 times. Many parents expressed more than one reaction. Reaction topics included clarity of information provided, postpartum pain management, hospital discharge coordination, health care team member conduct, and access to supplies.

CONCLUSION

There are strengths in postpartum patient engagement as well as areas for health care team improvement. More appropriate communication including setting of clearer expectations surrounding various aspects of services on the postnatal unit may improve patient experiences. As a part of this improved quality of inpatient postpartum care, consistent utilization of interpretation services could decrease patient confusion, enable shared decision-making, and promote positive patient-provider relationships.

Promoting Maternal Health in the Postpartum Period to Advance Birth Equity

Black birthing people experience lower rates of postpartum follow-up care. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with postpartum follow-up care and explore suggestions for improving the quality and experience of care during the postpartum period. A survey was conducted among Black birthing people in the Boston area who had delivered an infant within two years of the study. Our survey comprised the Jackson, Hogue, Phillips Contextualized Stress Measure (JHPCSM), the Power as Knowing Participation in Change Tool (PKPCT), and demographic questions. One hundred and twenty-one self-identified Black birthing people completed the survey. One-third of participants did not attend their postpartum appointment. Those with public insurance, an educational level of less than a college degree, or were working outside the home were significantly less likely to have a postpartum follow-up visit. Participants who attended postpartum visits had higher scores on the JHPCSM (lower stress) and PKPCT. Inability to take time off from work, COVID-19 concerns, and lack of childcare were the most frequently reported barriers to attending appointments. There is a need for better institutional and policy support for Black parents in the postpartum period.

Assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms 6 weeks after delivery and the relationship of pelvic floor muscle function

Background

Studies on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women, especially in relation to different modes of delivery, are limited. The relationship between the emergence of LUTS and the decline of pelvic muscle function after childbirth remains uncertain.

Study design

This observational study was carried out at the Peking University First Hospital over a time span of 2019-2022. A total of 2,462 women were recruited and surveyed 6 weeks after delivery, utilizing questionnaires for data collection. Additionally, gynecological physical examinations and pelvic floor muscle screenings were conducted as part of the study. To assess individual LUTS and the level of discomfort caused by these symptoms, a modified Chinese version of the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire was employed. Data analysis methods such as descriptive statistics, χ 2 tests, one-way ANOVAs, and multivariate logistic regressions were used to thoroughly examine the collected data.

Results

A high prevalence of LUTS was observed in the study participants, with 70.6% experiencing any symptoms. Storage symptoms were reported by 65.4%, while voiding symptoms were reported by 23.0%. Nocturia was the most commonly reported symptom (35.4%), followed by frequency (25.6%) and urgency (25.3%). Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was reported by 20.8% of women. Interestingly, nocturia and frequency were generally perceived as less troublesome, with only a minority rating them as problematic. In contrast, urinary incontinence (UI) was frequently reported as highly bothersome, with SUI and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) accounting for significant proportions. Vaginal delivery (VD) and forceps delivery (FD) were identified as significant predictors of LUTS, with statistical significance observed (P < 0.05). Specifically, women who underwent VD, particularly FD, exhibited lower surface electromyography (sEMG) activity compared to those who had cesarean section (CS), both in terms of resting baseline and contraction amplitude (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Over half of the examined women exhibited LUTS 6 weeks postpartum, with the most common symptoms being nocturia, frequency, urgency, and SUI. Straining and urinary incontinence were commonly reported as significantly uncomfortable, particularly severe in cases of UI. Additionally, vaginal delivery methods, especially those involving the use of forceps (FD), seemed to be more likely to cause pelvic floor muscle or nerve damage, making it the key predictor of storage-related LUTS.

The ABCs of post-preeclampsia outpatient nephrology care: the Le Mans strategy

Preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate 3 to 5% of all pregnancies. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), at any stage, reportedly affects 3% of women in childbearing age but most of the time is underdiagnosed, especially in asymptomatic early stages. The link between preeclampsia/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and CKD is bidirectional and women experiencing a preeclampsia/hypertensive disorder of pregnancy episode are at higher risk for developing CKD later in life, as well as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In turn, CKD is a risk factor for preeclampsia/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Thus, it is important to follow up patients after an episode of preeclampsia/hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in order to make a timely diagnosis of CKD or reduce the risk of another episode of preeclampsia/hypertensive disorder of pregnancy during a subsequent pregnancy. In Le Mans, we set up a dedicated outpatient clinic for women who experienced an episode of preeclampsia/hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. In this point of view paper, we present how we manage post-preeclampsia, in the hope that sharing this experience can promote the creation of dedicated outpatient clinics in other settings that will contribute to women's health.

Pregnancy-Related Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Conditions: Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 32 U.S. States, 2017 to 2019

Background

Cardiomyopathy (CM) and other cardiovascular conditions (OCVs) are among the most frequent causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States.

Objectives

The purpose of this paper was to report demographic and clinical characteristics, preventability, contributing factors, and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) recommendations among pregnancy-related deaths with underlying causes of CM, OCVs, and the 2 combined (cardiovascular conditions, CV).

Methods

We analyzed pregnancy-related death data from MMRCs in 32 states, occurring during 2017 to 2019, with MMRC-determined underlying causes of CVs. We describe distributions of demographic characteristics, present the most frequent contributing factor classes, and provide example MMRC prevention recommendations.

Results

Among 210 pregnancy-related deaths due to CVs, 84 (40%) were due to CM and 126 (60%) to OCVs. More than half (51.2%) of CM deaths were among non-Hispanic Black persons. Two-thirds (66%) of all CV deaths occurred among people <35 years old. Approximately 53% of CM deaths and 31% of OCV deaths occurred 43 to 365 days postpartum. Over 75% of pregnancy-related deaths due to CVs were determined by MMRCs to be preventable. The 5 most frequent contributing factor classes accounted for 50% of the total MMRC-identified contributing factors. MMRC prevention recommendations occur at multiple levels.

Conclusions

Most pregnancy-related deaths due to CM and OCV are preventable. Example MMRC recommendations provided in this report illustrate prevention opportunities that address contributing factors, including broader awareness of urgent warning signs, improved handoffs for care coordination and continuity, and expanded accessibility of community-based comprehensive and integrated care services.

Parent-identified gaps in preparation for the postpartum period in the United States: An integrative review

BACKGROUND

In the United States, 35% of all pregnancy-related deaths occur between 24 h and 6 weeks after delivery, yet the first outpatient visit is not typically scheduled until 6 weeks postpartum. Thus, the ability to independently navigate this period is critical to maternal well-being and safety. However, previous research suggests that many women feel unprepared to manage the challenges they encounter during this time, and there is a current need to synthesize the existing evidence. Therefore, the purpose of this integrative review is to describe parent-identified gaps in preparation for the postpartum period in the United States.

METHODS

Using the Integrative Review framework by Whittemore and Knafl, a systematic search of Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Web of Science, and a hand-search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1995 and 2023. Results were reported according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies that met eligibility criteria were synthesized in a literature matrix.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Four themes were identified: Mental Health Concerns, Physical Concerns, Infant Feeding and Care Concerns, and General Concerns and Recommendations. Many women, regardless of parity, reported feeling unprepared for numerous postpartum experiences, including depression, anxiety, physical recovery, breastfeeding, and infant care. Parents reported difficulty differentiating normal postpartum symptoms from complications. Hospital discharge teaching was viewed as simultaneously overwhelming and inadequate. Parent recommendations included the need for earlier and more comprehensive postpartum preparation during pregnancy, delivered in multiple formats and settings. Parents also reported the need for earlier postpartum visits and improved outpatient support.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that many parents in the United States feel unprepared to navigate a wide variety of emotional, physical, breastfeeding, and infant-care experiences. Future research should explore innovative educational approaches to postpartum preparation during pregnancy as well as outpatient programs to bridge the current gaps in postpartum care.

Trajectory of Postpartum Cervical Remodeling in Women Delivering Full-Term and Spontaneous Preterm: Sensitivity to Quantitative Ultrasound Biomarkers

OBJECTIVE

Women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) face an increased risk of recurrence. Yet, the factors contributing to the increased risk are unknown, hampering the development of targeted interventions. Noninvasive quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been validated in the characterization of cervical tissue and has the potential to provide information about postpartum cervical remodeling. The objective of this study was to determine the postpartum cervical remodeling trajectories of women over 12 mo post-delivery and to determine whether there were differences between women who delivered full-term and spontaneous preterm that were sensitive to QUS biomarkers.

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively from 55 women: 41 who delivered full-term and 14 who delivered spontaneously preterm at 6 wk, 3, 6, 9 and 12 mo (±2 wk) postpartum. Data from QUS biomarkers: Attenuation Coefficient; Backscatter Coefficient; Shear Wave Speed; and Lizzi-Feleppa Slope, Intercept and Midband were analyzed from the acquired radiofrequency data using a Siemens S2000 ultrasound system with a transvaginal MC 9-4 MHz probe. The biomarkers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

QUS biomarkers, Backscatter Coefficient and Lizzi-Feleppa Intercept showed significant differences during the year after delivery between women who had a full-term birth and sPTB (p < 0.05), suggesting that there are differences in the cervical remodeling trajectories between the two groups. All QUS biomarkers demonstrated significant variations between the full-term birth and sPTB groups over time (p < 0.05), indicating ongoing cervical remodeling for both groups during the 12-mo postpartum period.

CONCLUSION

QUS biomarkers identified cervical microstructure differences and trajectories in the year after delivery between women who delivered full-term and spontaneous preterm.

Birthing parent postpartum acute care use: Multilevel opportunities for strengthening healthcare

BACKGROUND

Two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths occur from 1 day to 1 year after birth, and medical complications frequently occur after birth. Postpartum health concerns are often urgent, requiring timely medical care, which may contribute to a reliance on acute care. One approach to improving postpartum health is to investigate birthing parents' accounts of acute care use in the months after birth, which is what we did in this study.

METHODS

This mixed-methods study included questionnaire responses, semi-structured interviews, and chart review of 18 English-speaking individuals who used acute care in the 90 days after birth in the southeastern United States. Interviews were conducted remotely, recorded, and professionally transcribed. Qualitative data were inductively coded to iteratively develop categories and themes with respect to contributors and barriers to postpartum acute care use.

RESULTS

Birthing parents engaged in complex decision-making processes to decide where and when to seek postpartum acute care in response to their urgent health concerns. Many described fear and uncertainty about their postpartum health. Most participants contacted a healthcare practitioner before using acute care, followed their guidance, and were treated or otherwise reassured at the acute care visit.

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest multilevel opportunities for strengthening healthcare systems, including better-preparing individuals for the postpartum period and structuring care to accommodate birthing parents and include their support systems. The insights from this study can inform multilevel strategies for strengthening healthcare so that birthing parents are safe and well postpartum.

Early discharge in health facilities following vaginal delivery and its associated factors among mothers in four African countries: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of early discharge among women who gave vaginal delivery in health facilities.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Four African countries.

PARTICIPANTS

A total weighted sample of 14 942 women who delivered vaginally in health facilities.

METHODS

In this study, data were obtained from the recent Demographic and Health Survey data from four African countries. A total weighted sample of 14 942 women who delivered vaginally in a health facility was included. A multilevel mixed effect binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify significant factors associated with early discharge following health facility vaginal delivery. Statistical significance was determined using adjusted OR (odd ratio) with a 95% CI.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of early discharge following health facility vaginal delivery in four African countries was 30.91% (95% CI: 30.18% to 31.66%). Overall, first-born babies (AOR=0.7; 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.85), women with a high maternal body mass index (AOR=0.8; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.89), women with multiple pregnancies (AOR=0.48; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.74), women who reside in Burkina Faso (AOR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.18) and women who reside in Ghana (AOR=0.28; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.33) had lower odds of early discharge following health facility vaginal delivery. On the other hand, women having no difficulty accessing health facilities (AOR=1.18; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.33) and women delivering in private health facilities (AOR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.99) had higher odds of early discharge following health facility vaginal delivery.

CONCLUSION

Overall, in four African countries, a higher proportion of women who gave birth vaginally in health facilities were discharged home early without optimum immediate postpartum care. As a result, legislators, programmers and other stakeholders should make every effort to lessen the burden of early discharge, with a special focus on women who deliver in private health institutions.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Obstetricians with Personal Experience of Birth Trauma

OBJECTIVE

 Psychological birth trauma (BT), defined as an event that occurs during labor and delivery involving actual or threatened harm or death to the pregnant person and/or their baby, has been reported in up to one-third of births. Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OBGYNs) who personally experience BT are at a unique risk of re-traumatization upon return to work. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of personal BT among obstetricians and their perceptions of how personal BT impacts their experience of caring for obstetric patients.

STUDY DESIGN

 We performed a web-based survey of OBGYNs who had given birth. Participants were recruited from the "OMG (OBGYN Mom Group)" on Facebook. The questionnaire assessed individuals' personal experience of childbirth using items adapted from the "City Birth Trauma Scale" to assess posttraumatic symptoms related to their childbirth and patient interactions following the personal experience of BT. Responses were categorized by whether or not the participant considered one or more of their own births to be traumatic. Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and symptoms of occupational re-traumatization were compared by reported BT. Bivariable analyses were used.

RESULTS

 Of the 591 OBGYNs who completed the survey, 180 (30.5%) reported experiencing BT. Ninety-two percent of OBs cared for birthing patients after giving birth. There were no differences in demographic or clinical practice characteristics between those with and without BT. OBGYNs with BT experienced PTSSs including flashbacks (60.6% vs. 14.4%), amnesia (36.7% vs. 20.9%), and insomnia (24.4% vs. 1.2%) at higher rates than those without BT (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

 Almost one-third of OBGYNs in this sample reported personally experiencing BT, mirroring data from reported BT rates in the general population. Given that OBGYNs are at high risk for occupational re-traumatization, initiatives focused on improving support for birthing OBGYNs upon returning to work should be studied to assess the impact on emotional wellness among practicing OBGYNs.

KEY POINTS

· Birthing OBGYNs experience psychological BT at similar rates to the general population.. · OBGYNs who experience personal BT may experience PTSSs at work.. · Further research on the prevalence of personal BT among OBGYNs is needed..

Mothers prefer a hybrid model of postpartum care: a pilot mixed method study

BACKGROUND

Telehealth, including video consultation (VC), has become prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the experience and concern of women using VC for postpartum care has yet to be adequately studied but is crucial for their adoption. The study aimed to assess the experience and attitude of postpartum mothers (PPM) towards using VC as a novel model of care delivery and the factors that could potentially affect their adoption.

METHOD

Data were gathered from PPM participating in VC using Zoom platform for postpartum care using mixed method. In-depth interviews (IDI) of twenty-five PPM were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and audited for accuracy. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes relating to perceived threat, usefulness, ease of use, and attitudes toward using VC in postpartum care. The themes are reported based on the "Health Information Technology Acceptance Model" framework. Preliminary quantitative data on the acceptability of VC were collected using structured surveys.

RESULTS

PPMs valued convenience, accessibility, and personalised care VC offered to address their immediate postpartum concerns. They perceived VC as suitable for seeking medical opinions, improving confidence in parent crafting, and providing better care access. They recognised the lack of physical examination as a major limitation in VC and proposed a hybrid postpartum care model, combining VC and in-person consultation to cater to individual needs and preferences. PPMs alluded to trust in the care providers, flexibility in VC appointment timings and enhanced interface of remote platforms as enablers for VC adoption. Preliminary quantitative data shows that PPMs found VC saved time (100%), energy (98%), and money (90%) and was appropriate (94%), easy to use (96%), acceptable (96%) for postpartum care.

CONCLUSION

PPMs favoured combining VC and in-person consultation to mitigate their concerns and personalise their care needs.

Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Postpartum Nurse Home Visit Service to Improve Health Equity

OBJECTIVE

To describe how a college of nursing and urban academic medical center partnered with the local health department to plan, implement, and evaluate a universal nurse home visit service to improve health equity in the postpartum period.

DESIGN

Evidence-based practice.

SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM

Wide health disparity in rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in Chicago, Illinois.

PATIENTS

All patients who gave birth at the medical center and lived in Chicago.

INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS

A nurse home visit was offered after birth to all eligible patients beginning in March 2020. We used data from a Web-based platform to determine key performance indicators for the program and examined patient demographics to determine equitable delivery of the service for all visits provided in 2022.

RESULTS

There were 1,488 patients eligible for a home visit and 714 who received a home visit. The average contact rate was 76%, the scheduling rate was 63%, the completion rate for scheduled visits was 76%, and the population reach was 48%. Sixty-eight percent of families visited were from high-economic-hardship zip code areas of the city. Eighty-one percent of visits resulted in at least one referral to meet a family's need, and 98% of patients surveyed rated their visit as "very helpful."

CONCLUSION

The successful implementation of this public-private partnership was due in part to an organizational culture that supports health equity initiatives, the inclusion of system-wide stakeholders, having a process in place to monitor outcomes, and hiring a diverse team of nurses who prioritize respectful patient-centered care.

Exploring the impact of integrating telehealth in obstetric care: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

The use of telemedicine has spread to all areas of medicine, including obstetrics, over the last few decades.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and map the diversity and applicability of telemedicine in the obstetric literature, in the antenatal, intrapartum or postnatal period. To assess patient satisfaction and possible areas for future development.

METHODS

This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidelines for scoping reviews and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and its extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We searched the databases PubMed (Medline), CINAHL, CENTRAL (Cochrane Library), EMBASE Ovid and Scopus. We also searched Google Scholar, clinicaltrial.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP-WHO) and the reference lists of the included studies. We included any primary study design that focused on a population of women in the antenatal, intrapartum or postnatal period. Studies selection and data extraction were performed blindly and independently by two authors. We summarised the results narratively and used graphs and tables to present key concepts thematically.

RESULTS

We included 66 studies. We categorised the studies according to population, type of intervention, outcomes and user satisfaction. Most of the studies involved pathological (36%) and physiological (30%) pregnancy management, the type of intervention was mainly divided into televisits or video calls with professionals (43%) and the use of specific apps or devices (40%). The maternal outcomes studied were mainly quantitative, i.e., improvement in blood chemistry tests or vital parameters (65%) and treatment adherence (frequency of follow-up visits or keeping appointments, 27%). Patient satisfaction was positive in the majority of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

There is still little international agreement on the concept and possible applications of telemedicine in obstetrics, although it is increasingly being used in clinical practice. Studies have shown positive results in terms of improved care, particularly in terms of treatment adherence and as an alternative strategy in the management of pregnancy, postpartum and abortion care. Both patients and health professionals were satisfied with it, especially when offered as a complement or alternative to the traditional method of face-to-face visits. Future developments seem to be the time and cost-saving potential of telemedicine and its application to couples' infertility.

Low Social Support is Associated With Postpartum Depression Symptoms Among Illinois Postpartum Women

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs after delivery, with severity and onset varying by individual. Women with low social support may be at higher risk for PPD. This study examined the association between social support and self-reported postpartum depression symptoms (PDS) among Illinois postpartum women.

METHODS

Using 2016-2020 data from the Illinois Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) (n = 5886), instrumental support (physical, hands-on support) and partner emotional support were each categorized as high/low and were combined in a composite measure (high = high on both types, moderate = high on one type, and low = low on both types). PDS were self-reported. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 9.6% (95% CI = 8.8-10.4) of Illinois postpartum women experienced PDS. Of Illinois postpartum women, 63.5% (95% CI = 62.1-64.9) had high composite support, 29.3% (95% CI = 28.0-30.6) had moderate composite support, and 7.1% (95% CI = 6.4-7.9) had low composite support. After adjustment for maternal characteristics, instrumental support, partner emotional support, and a composite measure of support were each significantly associated with PDS. Compared to women with high composite support, women with low composite support had six times the odds of PDS (aOR = 6.1, 95% CI = 4.5-8.2), and women with moderate composite support had nearly three times the odds of PDS (aOR = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.2-3.4).

CONCLUSION

PDS was associated with instrumental support, partner emotional support, and a composite measure of support in Illinois postpartum women. This suggests the importance of addressing social support for postpartum individuals.

Postpartum Management of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Six Large U.S. Hospital Systems: Descriptive Review and Identification of Clinical and Research Gaps

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) are a key contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Several gaps in knowledge remain regarding best practices in the postpartum management of HDPs. In this review, we describe postpartum HDPs management among six large academic U.S. hospital systems: Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, and Boston Medical Center. We identified that all six health systems discharge patients with HDPs diagnosed with a blood pressure (BP) cuff and use the same two antihypertensive medications, nifedipine and labetalol, as first- and second-line treatment of HDPs. Northwestern University routinely adds oral furosemide for 5 days for patients with BP that exceeds 150/100 mm Hg. Most hospital systems administer magnesium sulfate routinely when readmission for HDPs occurs. In contrast, there was variation in BP threshold for antihypertensive treatment initiation, use of remote BP monitoring program, use of a transition clinic, delivery or lack of education on long-term cardiovascular disease risk, and BP management through the first 6 weeks postpartum and beyond. Based on the clinical review, we identified clinical gaps and formulated considerations for research priorities in the field of postpartum HDPs management. KEY POINTS: · Several gaps in knowledge remain regarding best practices in postpartum management of HDPs.. · There is a variation in the BP threshold for antihypertensive treatment initiation.. · Data are lacking on the reduction in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and racial disparities in SMM with remote monitoring..

Experiences accessing nutritious foods and perceptions of nutritional support needs among pregnant and post-partum mothers with low income in the United States

Access to nutritious foods, a social determinant of health, contributes to disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes such as mental health, breastfeeding intensity and cardiometabolic risk. This study explored perceived nutrition access and intake among pregnant or post-partum women eligible for Medicaid. Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 women who were either currently pregnant (n = 4) or up to 12 months post-partum (n = 14) in 2021-2022. Mothers spoke English (n = 11) or Spanish (n = 7) and lived in the Texas Panhandle. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated (Spanish to English) and verified. Two or more researchers coded each interview until consensus was reached using thematic analysis with ATLAS.ti software. The study revealed five drivers for nutrition access. (1) Social factors influenced nutrition; those with less support expressed limited ability to eat healthfully. (2) The Women, Infants and Children program was perceived as a helpful resource for some, while others faced challenges obtaining it. (3) Stress was bidirectionally related to unhealthy food choices, with food sometimes used as a coping mechanism. (4) Mothers prioritized their babies and others and had limited ability and time to prepare healthy meals. (5) Most participants felt they received inadequate nutrition guidance from their healthcare providers. Participants provided positive responses to a proposed nutritious home-delivered meal intervention. Low-income women may experience nutritional challenges specific to this life stage. Interventions that reduce stress and burden of household tasks (e.g. cooking) and improve education and access to nutritious foods may improve mothers' ability to consume nutritious foods.

Linking Inter-professional Newborn and Contraception Care (LINCC) trial: Protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial to link postpartum contraception care with routine Well-Baby Visits

BACKGROUND

Pregnancies conceived within 18 months of a prior delivery (termed short inter-pregnancy interval [IPI]) place mothers and infants at high risk for poor health outcomes. Despite this, nearly one third of U.S. women experience a short IPI.

OBJECTIVE

To address the gap in the current model of postpartum (PP) contraception care by developing and implementing a novel approach to link (co-schedule) PP contraception care with newborn well-baby care to improve access to timely PP contraception.

METHODS

The LINCC Trial will take place in seven clinical locations across five community health centers within the U.S. PP patients (planned n = 3150) who are attending a Well-Baby Visit between 0 and 6 months will be enrolled. The LINCC Trial aims to leverage the Electronic Health Record to prompt providers to ask PP patients attending a Well-Baby Visit about their PP contraception needs and facilitate co-scheduling of PP contraception care with routine newborn care visits. The study includes a cluster randomized, cross-sectional stepped wedge design to roll out the intervention across the seven sites. The outcomes of the study include receipt of most or moderately effective methods of contraception by two and six months PP; and rate of short IPI pregnancies. Implementation outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 6 months after site enters intervention period.

CONCLUSIONS

The LINCC Trial seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a linked care model in comparison to usual care.

Identification of postpartum symptom informedness and preparedness typologies and their associations with psychological health: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Birthing parents, defined as postpartum women and people with various gender identities who give birth, commonly experience challenging postpartum symptoms. However, many report feeling uninformed and unprepared to navigate their postpartum health.

OBJECTIVE

To identify typologies of postpartum symptom informedness and preparedness using latent class analysis (LCA) and to examine the associated patient and healthcare characteristics.

METHODS

We used survey data from a large, multi-method, longitudinal research project Postnatal Safety Learning Lab. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling and enrolled between November 2020 and June 2021. LCA was used to identify subgroups of birthing parents with different symptom informedness and preparedness using 10 binary variables (N = 148). Bivariate analysis was conducted to examine the association between characteristics and each typology.

FINDINGS

The 3-class models had better fit indices and interpretability for both informedness and preparedness typologies: High, High-moderate, and Moderate-low. The sample characteristics were different by typologies. In the modified discrimination in medical settings assessment, we found higher discrimination scores in the moderate-low informedness and preparedness typologies. The moderate-low preparedness typology had a higher percentage of birthing parents who did not have private insurance, underwent cesarean section, and planned for formula or mixed infant feeding. The median PHQ-4 scores at 4 weeks postpartum were lower among those in high informedness and preparedness typologies.

CONCLUSION

In our sample, 18 to 21 % of birthing parents were in the moderate-low informedness or preparedness typologies. Future research and practice should consider providing tailored information and anticipatory guidance as a part of more equitable and supportive care.

Effectiveness of Psychosocial Interventions in Preventing Postpartum Depression Among Teenage Mothers-Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Postpartum depression is a significant public health issue that occurs within the first 12 weeks after childbirth. It is more prevalent among teenage mothers compared to adults. However, the findings of the existing interventional studies cannot be readily applied to teenage mothers due to their unique psychosocial concerns. Furthermore, these findings have shown inconsistencies regarding the benefit of psychological and psychosocial interventions in reducing the incidence of postpartum depression. The current review is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in preventing postpartum depression, specifically among teenage mothers. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis manuals were utilized to identify and select relevant articles for this review. The articles were retrieved using population, intervention, control, and outcome models. The quality of each article was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA version 17. The effect size of the intervention was estimated using the standard mean difference in depression scores between the intervention and control groups. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I2 statistic and Q statistic, while publication bias was evaluated through funnel plot asymmetry and Egger's test. A total of nine eligible articles were included. While psychosocial interventions have been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of postpartum depression compared to usual maternal health care, it is worth noting that the mean difference in depression scores was significant in only three of the included studies. The meta-analysis revealed that psychosocial interventions were effective at preventing postpartum depression, with a pooled effect size of - 0.5 (95% CI: - 0.95, - 0.06) during the final postpartum depression assessment. The heterogeneity was substantial, with an I2 value of 82.3%. Although publication bias was not observed, small studies had a significant effect on the pooled effect size. The findings of this review suggest that psychosocial interventions can effectively prevent PPD, particularly within the first 3 months of the postpartum period. This review highlights the scarcity of interventional studies in low-income countries, indicating the need for further research in diverse communities.

Adolescents' Intention to Use Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Postpartum

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Multiparous teens, compared to primiparous teens, are at increased risk for adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is infrequently used among postpartum teens. This study identifies predictors of teens' intentions to use LARC postpartum when it is widely available.

METHODS

Colorado teens who were patients during their pregnancy in an adolescent-centered clinic where all common methods of contraception were easily accessible were surveyed in clinic during their third trimester and following delivery regarding life circumstances (relationships, stress, and family function) and intended method of postpartum contraception. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of intended postpartum contraceptive method: LARC, non-LARC effective (condoms, birth control pills, shot, patch, or ring), or low-effective method or no contraception (abstinence, no method, or undecided).

RESULTS

A total of 1203 patients were enrolled. Greater life stress was associated with greater likelihood of intending to use low-effective contraception versus LARC postpartum. Teens in a longer relationship with their baby's father (versus those never in a relationship with the baby's father) were less likely to intend to use low-effective contraception or non-LARC effective methods and more likely to intend to use LARC postpartum.

CONCLUSION

When structural barriers are minimized, non-clinical factors such as relationship context and life stress are most associated with postpartum LARC use intentions. Health care providers can help teen patients obtain the postpartum contraception the patients believe is best by employing developmentally appropriate, person-centered care that is sensitive to life stressors and relationship context.

Factors Associated with the Uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception and Contraceptive Use in Postpartum People with HIV at a Single Tertiary Care Center

OBJECTIVE

 This study aimed to elucidate factors contributing to uptake of highly effective contraception, including permanent contraception, and no contraceptive plan among postpartum people with HIV (PWHIV).

STUDY DESIGN

 A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to correlate postpartum birth control (PPBC) with sociodemographic and biomedical variables among postpartum PWHIV who received care at The Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center and delivered at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, from 2012 to 2020.

RESULTS

 Earlier gestational age (GA) at initiation of prenatal care, having insurance, and increased parity are associated with uptake of highly effective contraception. Meanwhile, later GA at presentation increased odds of having no PPBC plan.

CONCLUSION

 Early prenatal care, adequate insurance coverage, and thorough PPBC counseling are important for pregnant PWHIV.

KEY POINTS

· Contraceptive use among PWHIV is poorly understood.. · Having insurance and increased parity are associated with long-acting reversible contraception use.. · Earlier GA at first prenatal care visit is associated with increased PPBC uptake..

Global research trends and hotspots in gestational diabetes and long-term cardiovascular health: A bibliometric analysis

AIMS

To identify emerging trends and hotspots in research regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk linked to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

A systematic bibliometric review of the literature on the risk of long-term CVD in patients with GDM between 1990 and 2022 from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was performed by using Citespace and VOSviewer.

RESULTS

This analysis gathered a total of 1185 articles, with 77 publications in 2019 and 119 in 2022, demonstrating a steady growth in the amount of research on the relationship between GDM and CVD in recent years. The United States of America (USA) led in national publications, followed by the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada. Key institutions included Harvard University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Oslo, with Prof. Ravi Retnakaran and Prof. Jane W. Rich-Edwards being prominent figures. The most productive journal was the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &Metabolism, while Diabetes Care was the most influential and most co-cited journal. Common terms over the last 20 years included "risk," "type 2 diabetes," "cardiovascular disease," and "gestational diabetes," with recent focus shifting towards "prevention," "gene expression," and "DNA methylation".

CONCLUSION

This is the first bibliometric analysis linking CVD and GDM. Future research should investigate pathways between GDM and CVD, emphasizing gene expression and inflammation, while advocating for collaborative prevention strategies.

Public health and system approach in eliminating disparities in hypertensive disorders and cardiovascular outcomes in non-Hispanic Black women across the pregnancy life course

Hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The ACC/AHA/Multisociety hypertension guideline covered all aspects of the recommendations for optimal blood pressure diagnosis and management to improve cardiovascular outcomes. Despite this, there remains a growing prevalence of hypertension within the United States, largely in non-Hispanic Black women at earlier stages of their life course. This highlights the evident racial disparities, but offers a targeted opportunity for improved outcomes. With hypertension increasingly seen in the antenatal and immediate postpartum period, and obstetrics societies weighing in on the need to alter pharmacotherapy initiation goals, national initiatives have purposefully targeted pregnant and postpartum women in an effort to improve outcomes. This same energy must also re-focus health care efforts across the entire health continuum. Public health and system strategies are in place to do so, with the strongest enforcing initiatives as early as childhood with a greater focus on primordial prevention.

Perinatal care among Hispanic birthing people: Differences by primary language and state policy environment

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to examine maternal care among Hispanic birthing people by primary language and state policy environment.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING

Pooled data from 2016 to 2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System surveys from 44 states and two jurisdictions.

STUDY DESIGN

Using multivariable logistic regression, we calculated adjusted predicted probabilities of maternal care utilization (visit attendance, timeliness, adequacy) and quality (receipt of guideline-recommended care components). We examined outcomes by primary language (Spanish, English) and two binary measures of state policy environment: (1) expanded Medicaid eligibility to those <133% Federal Poverty Level, (2) waived five-year waiting period for pregnant immigrants to access Medicaid.

DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS

Survey responses from 35,779 postpartum individuals with self-reported Hispanic ethnicity who gave birth during 2016-2020.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Compared to English-speaking Hispanic people, Spanish-speaking individuals reported lower preconception care attendance and worse timeliness and adequacy of prenatal care. In states without Medicaid expansion and immigrant Medicaid coverage, Hispanic birthing people had, respectively, 2.3 (95% CI:0.6, 3.9) and 3.1 (95% CI:1.6, 4.6) percentage-point lower postpartum care attendance and 4.2 (95% CI:2.1, 6.3) and 9.2 (95% CI:7.2, 11.2) percentage-point lower prenatal care quality than people in states with these policies. In states with these policies, Spanish-speaking Hispanic people had 3.3 (95% CI:1.3, 5.4) and 3.0 (95% CI:0.9, 5.1) percentage-point lower prenatal care adequacy, but 1.3 (95% CI:-1.1, 3.6) and 2.7 (95% CI:0.2, 5.1) percentage-point higher postpartum care quality than English-speaking Hispanic people. In states without these policies, those same comparisons were 7.3 (95% CI:3.8, 10.8) and 7.9 (95% CI:4.6, 11.1) percentage-points lower and 9.6 (95% CI:5.5, 13.7) and 5.3 (95% CI:1.8, 8.9) percentage-points higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal care utilization and quality vary among Hispanic birthing people by primary language and state policy environment. States with Medicaid expansion and immigrant Medicaid coverage had greater equity between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Hispanic people in adequate prenatal care and postpartum care quality among those who gave birth.

Postpartum Emergency Care Visits Among North Carolina Medicaid Beneficiaries, 2013-2019

Objective: To describe the rate, timing, and primary diagnosis codes for emergency care visits up to 8 weeks (56 days) after live birth among Medicaid beneficiaries in North Carolina (NC). Materials and Methods: Using a linked dataset of Medicaid hospital claims and certificates of live birth, which included Medicaid beneficiaries who had a live-born infant in NC between January 1, 2013, and November 4, 2019, and met inclusion criteria (n = 321,879), we estimated week-specific visit rates for emergency care visits that did not result in hospital admission (outpatient) and those that did (inpatient). We assessed the 10 leading diagnosis code categories for emergency care visits and described the characteristics of people with 0, 1, or ≥2 outpatient emergency care visits. Results: One in eight (12.4%) Medicaid beneficiaries had an emergency care visit that did not result in inpatient hospital admission during the first 8 weeks postpartum. Visit rates peaked in postpartum week 2. Diagnosis codes for nonspecific symptoms and substance use were the two leading diagnosis code categories for outpatient emergency care visits. Respiratory concerns and gastrointestinal concerns were the two leading diagnosis code categories for inpatient emergency care visits. Compared with those with zero outpatient emergency care visits, a greater proportion of people with ≥2 visits had less than a high school education, used tobacco during pregnancy, had Medicaid insurance outside of pregnancy, had mental health as a medical comorbidity, and/or had ≥2 medical comorbidities. Conclusions: These findings support scheduling health care visits early in the postpartum period, when emergency care visits are most frequent, and point to unmet needs for substance use support.