Fetal Heart Monitoring During Labor Revisited

One of the most common obstetrical procedures that occur is Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring using the electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) techniques during labor – these are the straps with a probe wrapped around the mother to monitor fetal heart rate and contractions of the uterus.It was introduced in hopes that it would reduce the incidence of ischemic (lack of oxygen) injury to children during labor. It was introduced in 1980 and it was quickly implemented as policy by the American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

But as with many procedure in the medical field, I believe it was implemented more to avoid lawsuits than due to medical necessity.

Vaginal Delivery Increases Maternal Responsiveness to Newborns and Postpartum Depression

New research suggest that women who deliver vaginally may be more responsive to their newborns and less likely to develop postpartum depression than those who delivered via cesarean section.

The Real Risk for Cesareans: An Expert Interview

Cesarean section (c-section) is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States.

Pregnancy and Psychiatric Drugs

Very often in my office, when doing an intake on a child with a developmental disorder, I find that the mother was on a psychiatric drug during pregnancy. I’ve had an underlying suspicion that there has to be some association – Well a new study has just shed some new light on that.