American journal of perinatology
Audio Summaries

From InSurE to MIST: A Quality Improvement Initiative in a Level IV NICU

Jun 24, 2026

The authors aimed to increase the utilization of minimally invasive surfactant therapy (MIST) in a Level IV NICU, transitioning from the traditional Intubate-Surfactant-Extubate (InSurE) method, to assess its impact on respiratory care practices and clinical outcomes. Through a structured quality improvement initiative, MIST use rose dramatically from 3% to 97%, leading to a significant decrease in pharmacologic pre-medication use and a notable shift towards noninvasive respiratory management without increasing intubation rates. This study highlights the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach in implementing MIST in a high-acuity setting.

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes by Gestational Surrogacy Status among In Vitro Fertilization Pregnancies

Jun 22, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the relationship between gestational surrogacy status and adverse perinatal outcomes in in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancies. Their findings revealed that gestational surrogacy was not associated with an increased risk of complications such as placenta previa, placental abruption, or preterm birth, and was linked to a decreased risk of gestational diabetes, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and chorioamnionitis. This information may provide valuable insights for individuals considering gestational surrogacy as a reproductive option.

The Peezy Device Compared With Midstream Clean Catch in an Obstetric Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jun 16, 2026

This study aimed to compare the rates of contamination in urine cultures collected from pregnant women using the Peezy urine collection device versus the standard clean catch midstream method. The randomized controlled trial found no significant difference in contamination rates between the two methods, with contamination rates of 61.3% for the clean catch method and 52.5% for the Peezy device, even when accounting for body mass index. Thus, the Peezy device did not demonstrate a reduction in contamination rates in this obstetric population.

Association between Gestational Weight Gain and Neonatal Hypoxic and Traumatic Events: Results from a Large Retrospective Cohort

Jun 16, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and the incidence of hypoxic and traumatic events in neonates, particularly among overweight and obese mothers. Their analysis of a large retrospective cohort revealed that while increased GWG correlated with a higher risk of neonatal morbidity, it did not effectively predict specific ischemic or traumatic outcomes. The study highlights the complexity of establishing optimal GWG recommendations and the limitations of current methodologies in predicting neonatal health based on GWG.

Gestational weight gain and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with prepregnancy bmi ≥ 50 kg/m²

Jun 15, 2026

The authors aimed to compare perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with a prepregnancy BMI of ≥50 kg/m² across different gestational weight gain categories and to identify maternal characteristics associated with preterm delivery. The study found that while birth weight increased with greater weight gain, fetal growth restriction was more common in the weight loss/no gain group, and preterm birth was linked to older age, higher prepregnancy BMI, and chronic hypertension. However, the authors noted that the independent contributions of these factors remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

The Influence of Hindsight and Outcome Bias on Fetal Heart Rate Interpretation and Judgments of Obstetric Care Quality

Jun 15, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate whether obstetricians' evaluations of care quality for abnormal fetal heart rate patterns are influenced by knowledge of neonatal outcomes. The study found that when obstetricians were informed of an adverse outcome, they were more likely to categorize the fetal heart rate tracing more severely, perceive cesarean delivery as delayed, and judge the care as below the standard, highlighting the significant impact of hindsight and outcome bias on clinical assessments.

Association between Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Early Motor Development in Chinese Infants: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

Jun 10, 2026

This study investigates the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and early motor development in infants during their first year of life. The findings indicate that higher pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased risk of motor development delays, particularly with a significant threshold at BMI ≥25 kg/m², highlighting the importance of weight management before conception for optimizing infant neurodevelopment.

Maternal outcomes associated with a statewide severe hypertension obstetric quality improvement initiative

Jun 10, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of a statewide quality improvement initiative for severe hypertension on maternal outcomes associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in New York State. Their analysis of delivery hospitalizations from 2007 to 2022 revealed an increase in HDP diagnoses, but a significant reduction in adverse outcomes such as stroke and severe maternal morbidity following the implementation of the hypertension bundle, with benefits persisting for several years.

Serial versus once-only cervical length screening in twin pregnancies

Jun 9, 2026

The authors aimed to determine the effectiveness of serial versus once-only transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening in predicting preterm birth in twin pregnancies. Their findings indicated that serial screening significantly increased the incidence of identifying short cervical lengths and improved sensitivity for predicting preterm birth compared to once-only screening. Consequently, the study suggests that serial cervical length assessments should be recommended for better outcomes in twin pregnancies.

Postpartum pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis guideline adherence and post-delivery complications: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Jun 9, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate adherence to obstetric (OB) and anesthesia (ANE) guidelines for the timing of postpartum pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis and its association with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and other complications. They found that while adherence to ANE guidelines was high (80.6%), adherence to OB guidelines was low (15.5%), and only OB guideline adherence was linked to reduced readmission rates after cesarean delivery, with no significant impact on VTE or other complications observed. Overall, the study highlights the need for improved adherence to OB guidelines despite trends showing increased compliance over time.