Suboxone may be safer for women in pregnancy

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter See the Original Article In a recent study examining the safety of addiction treatment medications, West Virginia University faculty found that Suboxone may be safer for pregnant women and their babies than methadone or Subutex. Faculty members Laura Lander and Patrick Marshalek examined the medical records of 26 pregnant women who were prescribed Suboxone, a ... Read More

Joint Commission will require hospitals to use specific naming conventions for newborns

By Maria Castellucci | June 27, 2018 (Click for original article) The Joint Commission starting next year will cite hospitals if they fail to use specific naming conventions to identify newborns. The new requirement, which will begin Jan. 1, is intended to mitigate the possibility of misidentifying newborns, which can lead to serious medical errors. Misidentification of newborns can result ... Read More

Closing of oil and coal power plants linked to drop in preterm births

Shereen Lehman | (June 8, 2018  -  See Original article) (Reuters Health) - The shuttering of eight oil- and coal-fueled electric plants in California was associated with a sizeable decrease in preterm births among women living nearby, researchers say. Their study took advantage of a “natural experiment” when six oil-fueled electricity-generating plants and two coal-powered plants were retired. Using data ... Read More

Camden Clark hosts seminar about drug-affected newborns

By Brandon Lewis | Posted: Fri 11:56 PM, Jun 08, 2018 | Updated: Sat 7:20 PM, Jun 09, 2018 Click for Original Article and Video PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Candy Cooley, a recovery coach at West Virginia University's Drug Free Moms and Babies Project, told her story of overcoming addiction at the "Caring for Babies Who are Drug Affected - ... Read More

Spring Certified Lactation Counselor Training readies 50 participants to help WV mothers succeed with their breastfeeding goals

Community members participate in a breastfeeding training course Original video from WBOY-TV at this link. Related Resources Recent news HRSA Updates Maternal Mental Health Hotline – 833 TLC MAMA (833 852 6262)April 2, 2024Weave West Virginia – Training Series AnnouncementFebruary 21, 2024WVU Study Recruitment – Mental Health During PregnancyFebruary 21, 2024WV Releases Health Advisory on Perinatal HIVSeptember 22, 2023 Contact ... Read More

West Virginia now has its 2nd Baby Friendly designated hospital – St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington WV

St. Mary’s Maternity Services receives prestigious international award FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (HUNTINGTON)— St. Mary’s Maternity Services has received prestigious international recognition as a Designated Baby-Friendly birth facility from Baby-Friendly USA. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their ... Read More

Marijuana shops recommend products to pregnant women, against doctors’ warnings

By Michael Nedelman, CNN Updated 6:05 AM ET, Thu May 10, 2018 | See original article at CNN (CNN) A majority of cannabis dispensaries in Colorado recommended their products to women posing as pregnant customers with morning sickness, clashing with doctors' warnings about the potential harms, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Of 400 ... Read More

Stumping Out Prenatal Smoking in West Virginia

from NICHQ (National Institute for Children's Health Quality) website | Read original article here Not only does smoking make it harder for a woman to conceive, tobacco use during pregnancy increases the rate of stillbirth, preterm birth, birth defects, low birth weight and infant mortality. Despite this information, some states have consistently high rates of women who smoke while pregnant. ... Read More

DHHR Press Release – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Data Released

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 11, 2018 DHHR Releases Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Data for 2017 CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today released county-level Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) data for 2017 showing the overall incidence rate of NAS was 50.6 cases per 1,000 live births (5.06%) for West Virginia residents. NAS is a withdrawal ... Read More