Nursing Shortages Affect Safety During Labor and Delivery

Nursing shortages are the biggest safety risk for patients in labor and delivery units, according to a recent survey of obstetricians. Just over 58% of the 1,130 respondents put nursing shortages ahead of physician support and backup (39.0%), inconsistent standards of care (38.5%), and nursing education (31.1%) as the most…

COVID-19 During Pregnancy Can Lead to Preterm Birth, Study Says

Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 face significantly higher risks for complications, including preterm birth, according to a new study of births in California during the second half of last year. The risk of “very preterm” birth…

Study: Want to Have a Baby? Mind Your Alcohol

Most women know that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can endanger the fetus before they know they’re pregnant and that there’s no established safe amount while pregnant. What women may not know is that drinking even moderately in the middle and the latter half of the menstrual cycle may reduce the…