This is the second in a series of reports on current events and research reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology. We hope you like the new format for Medical Mondays and invite you to comment.
A recent study showed that about 50% of women gain more weight than they should in pregnancy. This has serious effects on the health of the newborn as well as the mother. Institute of Medicine guidelines indicate weight should be about 30 pounds if pre-pregnancy weight is average, less if the patient is obese, and more if the patient is underweight.
Maternal mortality in the US is on the rise, sitting at 18.5 per 100,00 births. This is against the trend of most developing countries. The conditions most likely to cause maternal death are hemorrhage, severe hypertension and preeclampsia, and venous thromboembolism ( abnormal clotting).
There is an effort to make birth control pills available over the counter, without a prescription. This is already the case in Oregon and California. The interesting thing is that this is a bipartisan effort. These efforts come in the wake of the accomplishment making birth control "no- cost" under the Affordable Care Act.
Speaking of the Affordable Care Act, it is currently not true that patients can see whoever they want. A recent analysis indicates patients insured through the ACA chose from one third fewer doctors and hospitals than patients insured otherwise.
Plans were confirmed by the House last week to approve the creation of a commemorative gold coin and to donate the proceeds to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Susan G. Komen foundation was originally to have also been a beneficiary, but GOP members required they be removed to due their "funding" of Planned Parenthood. It turns out Komen does not fund Planned Parenthood.
Ob/gyns the world over disapprove of douching since it disrupts normal vaginal flora. However now it appears that common commercially available douches contain a chemical known to be an endocrine disruptor, diethyl phthalate.
For this and more medical news from the world of Ob/Gyn, tune in every monday for Medical Mondays.