In a statement issued earlier today, the American College of Nurse-Midwives calls for concerted efforts to expand access to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in the U.S. ACNM's statement comes in response to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) recent revised practice bulletin on VBAC, which is likely to play a key role in continuing to limit access to VBAC in the U.S...

A new study to be published in BJOG: The British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology shows how the use of epidurals during birth may have a protective effect on the levator ani muscles, which hold up the pelvic floor. The levator ani muscle is found in the pelvis attached to its sidewalls and forming a platform holding up the internal organs; in women this includes the uterus...

Physical abuse and maltreatment by in-laws is not uncommon among pregnant and postpartum women in India, and may be compromising maternal and child health, according to a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher...

The state of Florida cannot compel a pregnant woman to comply with medical treatment to protect the fetus unless the state shows a compelling interest that overrules the woman's constitutional right to make her own decisions about medical care, a state appellate court ruled Aug. 12, BNA reports...

The struggle to balance profitability and employee benefits during the economic recession has led many companies to reduce their maternity leave offers, the Boston Globe reports. A 2010 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 17% of employers offer paid maternity leave, but 7% plan to reduce or eliminate the benefit...

The U.S. "has the stingiest maternity leave almost anywhere in the world," Boston Herald columnist Margery Eagan writes in reaction to the Massachusetts Supreme Court's ruling that state law does not protect women from job loss after more than eight weeks of maternity leave, "even if bosses promise more time" (Eagan, Boston Herald, 8/10)...

Relieving poverty during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of low- birth-weight babies and may help break the succession of childhood poor health, a study published in the August 2010 issue of the American Sociological Review (ASR) has found...

In a bid to bring down the high rate of cesarean delivery in the US, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has eased the guidelines on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC, pronounced "veebac") and declared it is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a cesarean, and even for some who have had two...

The African Union (AU) Pre-Summit on Gender concludes Wednesday after three days of discussion about how African countries could improve progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targeting women and children's health, the Independent reports...

Attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and appropriate choice for most women who have had a prior cesarean delivery, including for some women who have had two previous cesareans, according to guidelines released today by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists...