Dr. Chapa’s OBGYN Clinical Pearls

This is Part 2 where we will wrap up our review of commercially available screening tests for ROM. Do you know what each test specifically checks for? Which test seems to outperform the others? And what about ferning and pH testing? Are those still done? Let’s wrap up our 2-part series with these answers and more.

PROM is a common diagnosis in Labor and Delivery. However, making a false positive diagnosis OR a false negative one may place the pregnancy at risk of either unnecessary interventions or adverse perinatal outcomes- or both. In this session, we will review best practices for exam based diagnosis. Are you aware of the FDA “Dear Doctor” letter regarding ROM biomarker testing (2018)? This session is...

Some things in medical practice stem more out of tradition than true clinical evidence. Such is the case for histological examination of the placenta. When is pathological examination of the placenta actually helpful? Should we send of the placenta in cases of multifetal birth? What about meconium or chorioamnionitis? In the session, we will review a soon to be released clinical brief from Obstetr...

There is a recommendation for universal screening of Hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnancy. Which antiviral medication is recommended for prevention of Hep B vertical transmission in pregnancy? Is there a antiviral medication approved for Hepatitis C in pregnancy? In this session, we will review new data which is soon-to-be released in the American Journal of OB/GYN (Gray Journal) reviewing ant...

Why is Magnesium Sulfate the first-line medication for preeclampsia/eclampsia? How did that arise into the current, international, standard-of-care regiment for that condition? Is 24 hours of Postpartum Mag evidence-based? In this episode we will review the evolution of magnesium sulfate for eclampsia prevention/treatment. We will also summarize a soon to be released systematic review and meta-ana...

Pregnancies that arise after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are at higher risk of maternal, fetal, and even placental complications. In this session we will summarize and highlight key prenatal management pearls for pregnancies that arise after ART. This is a summary of the SMFM consult series # 60, from March 2022.

Preeclampsia occurs in 3 to 5% of the general OB population. It has even higher prevalence among those with high-risk conditions. Currently, aspirin stands alone as the most evidence-based pharmacological option for preeclampsia prevention (risk reduction). But over the last decade new interest has arisen for the use of statins for preeclampsia prevention. Well, do statins work? What is the state...

Couples trying to conceive often ask questions like these: When is the best time to have sex to get pregnant? Is there a better sexual position to have sex in order to conceive? Is one type of over the counter lubrication better than the other? Well despite weird myths and misperceptions about these subjects, there are firm answers we can give. In this podcast we will cover the January 2022 ASRM B...

Hydrotherapy (water immersion) has a proven safety record and proven benefits in the first stage of labor. But what about actually delivering with water immersion? In January 2022, the AAP released a Committee Opinion regarding water immersion delivery. The AAP echoes the words from the ACOG regarding water immersion births. However, the ACNM does not agree. In this session, we will review the est...

The old adage, “Too much of anything is a bad thing”, is traditionally credited to Mark Twain. Was he right? Does the same apply to medical information? What about finding incidental genetic carrier states from online companies like “23AndMe”? In a patient with no personal or family history of any medical complication or malignancy, is this information helpful or more psychologically harmful? In t...

Semen allergy is a real (although rare) immune reaction. Do you know what the presenting signs/symptoms are? The ISSM has established diagnostic criteria for this. In this session, we will review the diagnostic algorithm for a patient presenting with possible semen allergy.

Postpartum hemorrhage continues to be a worldwide leaning cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. In May 2021, the WHO updated it’s global recommendations for the use of “uterine balloon tamponade” in the management of PPH. Did the WHO ban the Bakri? In the session we will review the May 2021 WHO updated guidance and summarize a soon to be released guideline commentary from the ACOG (proposed r...

Globally, more than 200 million infants have been born since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been unclear whether fetal exposure to maternal SARS-CoV2 infection can adversely affect the child’s neurodevelopmental progress. Does having Covid during pregnancy affect the child’s neurodevelopment? The answer is intriguing! This is a tale of a pandemic, psychosocial stress response, and epig...

In the ACOG Practice Bulletin #106, which was released in 2009, the use of maternal supplemental oxygen for fetal heart rate tracing correction is mentioned. In that original bulletin, it states “despite inadequate data to support its use” consideration can be given to supplemental maternal oxygen for category II or III fetal heart rate tracings. However, within the last 7 years, an ever-growing b...

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a large contributor to maternal mortality. Maternal mortality rates for chronic hypertension in pregnancy have increased 15-fold over the last 4 decades! The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) has been a leading authority in the Pregnancy Hypertensive space. In the session, we will review BIG updates from the CMQCC. Should we aggressively...

Concerns about a possible association between COVID-19 vaccination and abnormal menstrual cycles may lead to vaccine hesitancy. Social media sites have claimed that cycles are affected, although temporarily, after vaccination. Is this true? In the session, we will summarize a soon to be released publication out of Obstetrics and Gynecology which helps clarify this issue. We will also highlight a p...

Women with multiple prior low-transverse CSs show a trend toward increased risk of rupture compared with a single prior CS. While some have advocated planned repeat CS at 39 weeks as in patients with a SINGLE previous cesarean, planned repeat CD at 38 weeks is likely to be associated with a lower risk of uterine rupture. Yet, there is no consensus on best practice. In this session, we will summari...

In 1997, Mercer et al first published their data on antibiotic use for PPROM latency. With IV Erythromycin shortages, Zmax is a known substitute. New data (EPUB December 2021) now points to Zithromax’s validated clinical advantage over Erythromycin in this protocol. In this session, we will review this soon to be released publication in AJOG.

Traditionally, physicians have informed patients that long acting reversible contraceptives are “just as effective“ as female sterilization. While as a Class that statement is correct, not all individual LARCS have the same efficacy; one in particular beats all other birth control methods, hands-down. Do you know which one? In this session we will review key facts regarding female sterilization an...

As of December 23, 2021 the FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization to 2 different oral medications (Pfizer; Merck) in the fight against Covid-19. Do you know the differences between PAXLOVID and molnupiravir (LAGEVRIO)? What are their indications for use? Are both allowable in pregnancy? This information is “hot off the press” and will update you on these 2 new, novel therapies.

In our previous podcast, we stated that – due to lack of data – early cord clamping may be considered with nonvigorous neonates. However, the babies that may benefit the most (preterm or extremely pre-term) are often “nonvigorous” at birth. So how do we reconcile this issue? This podcast will answer this dilemma, summarizing points from the January 2022 CME publication on “Placental Transfusion of...

There are 3 umbilical cord management strategies at time of delivery: (1) Early cord clamping, (2) Delayed clamping, and (3) Cord milking. How long should umbilical cord clamping be delayed? Is cord milking beneficial or potentially harmful? Are you familiar with the contraindications to delayed umbilical cord clamping? In this session, we will review this soon to be released CME article from Obst...

The clinical gold standard for the diagnosis of ruptured membranes is the sterile speculum examination (SSE). Tests like Amnisure or ROM+ are considered ancillary and supplemental. What is best clinical practice for performing a SSE? In the session we will review this procedure, discuss ancillary testing, and answer the age-old-question… “To lube or not to lube”.

Postpartum neuropathies are an infrequent occurrence but can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Are you familiar with “strawberry picker’s” neuropathy? It is the most common type of nerve injury during vaginal delivery. In the session, we will review safe maternal positioning during vaginal delivery.

New onset hypertension in the postpartum period should be assumed to be preeclampsia until proven otherwise. Up to 26% of eclamptic seizures occur beyond 48 hours and as late as 4-6 weeks after delivery. However, most of eclamptic seizures occur within the first 7 days after birth. In this session, we will review the recently updated CMQCC healthcare provider toolkit focusing on delayed postpartum...