From NPR, “Only 17 of 54 of Alabama’s rural counties have hospitals that offer obstetrics services. It’s one of the state’s greatest healthcare challenges. …Imagine you’re about nine months pregnant, and you start to fill those twinges – contractions – that indicate your baby’s on the way. As the contractions get stronger, you have to consider what to do. If … Read More
Dr. Robert C. Nerhood Receives the 2015 Outstanding District Service Award
From ACOG.com, “Dr. Nerhood’s outstanding contributions to District IV are invaluable and instrumental to ACOG’s mission of advancing women’s health care. Dr. Nerhood has made significant contributions to District IV. His ACOG activities include serving as the West Virginia Section vice chair/chair (1992–1998), chair (2001–2004), and District IV Graduate Medical Education Committee chair. His greatest achievement, however, is his work … Read More
Protecting Our Infants Act Co-Sponsored by Sen. Ayotte
From Political News, “U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced that she is co-sponsoring legislation being introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a strategy to address the alarming number of infants diagnosed with newborn withdrawal after being exposed to opioids while … Read More
Brancazio named WVU School of Medicine chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology
From WVU Healthcare, “Leo R. Brancazio, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., has been named professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, according to Clay Marsh, M.D., vice president and executive dean of health sciences. “We are delighted to welcome back Dr. Brancazio to his alma mater,” said Dr. Marsh. “His broad-based clinical, … Read More
Lily’s Place Offers Love, Treatment for Drug-Addicted Newborns
From The Charleston Gazette: “Four years ago, Mary Brown held a drug-addicted infant in her arms for the first time while volunteering at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Afterward, she asked herself what she was doing with her life and decided to devote herself to a mission: helping newborns who are addicted to drugs. On Saturday, Brown hosted community members at Lily’s … Read More
Education Essential to Cutting Drug Use In Pregnancy
From The Charleston Gazette: “Education is key to reversing the state’s growing problem of drug use among pregnant women, a state advocate for healthy childbirth said Wednesday. “I think a lot of it has to do with education,” said Sandy Young, a member of the Drug Use in Pregnancy committee of the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership. “We educate the communities, … Read More
Research Finds Smoking As Risky As Alcohol, Drugs During Pregnancy
From The Charleston Gazette: “Getting pregnant women to stop smoking is just as important as getting them to stop using alcohol and illicit drugs, a researcher and psychologist told health-care providers Friday morning. Beth Bailey, a psychologist who serves as program director for the Tennessee Intervention for Pregnant Smokers, said doctors sometimes tend to prioritize having pregnant women stop using … Read More
The Benedum Foundation Awards West Virginia Perinatal Partnership Grant
From the Charleston Daily Mail: “The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation is helping, once again, to improve the lives of babies in West Virginia. The Benedum Foundation has awarded the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership a grant to improve the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of babies born to mothers addicted to drugs during pregnancy. The grant will help care for babies … Read More
Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Against Charleston Abortion Clinic
From the Charleston Gazette: “A Kanawha County judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed in 2013 by a woman who claimed her abortion was botched at a clinic on Charleston’s West Side. Kanawha Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit entered an order Monday dismissing the lawsuit filed by the Family Policy Council of West Virginia on behalf of Itai Gravely. The judge … Read More
Pain medications and pregnancy
Several new reports examine the use of opioids and other pain medications by women of reproductive age and the risks such medications have on pregnancy. Opioid Prescription Claims Among Women of Reproductive Age — United States, 2008-2012 FDA reviews risks of pain meds during pregnancy-2012 Painkiller-addicted babies a painful, costly problem