We are now 5 years into the publication of the Arrive trial (2018) which opened the door to elective induction of labor at 39 weeks in an otherwise low risk pregnancy. But five years later authors and researchers are still debating whether a 39 week elective induction is helpful or not. Yep, the rebuttals and retorts against the ARRIVE trial began shortly after its publication, and they are still active even now- with a recent publication, from February 2023, having an opposing view. Yep…While some have called for universal adoption of the “39 week IOL rule“, others have put the brakes on the plan. in this episode, we’re going to dive into this persistent on again off again dilemma of elective induction at 39 weeks. This podcast idea comes from one of our podcast family members who sent me this message on May 27: “Hey Dr. Chappa, what are your and your team's thoughts on elective induction at 39 weeks? I've had multiple discussions with my co-fellow about how it may not be the best option for some of our pregnant folks, especially those who have had a successful un-induced vaginal delivery. My attending sent me an interesting article from the Journal of Perinatology which questions the validity of the Would love any input you have on this. Thanks!” What a great topic to discuss. There’s so much to unpack here and we’re going to summarize that article which came out in print in February 2023, and we will also discuss a separate study that followed in March 2023 on this very issue. And…Is 39 week eIOL cost effective? Lots of angles to examine here and we will do all of that in this episode. And- as always- you’ll want to stay with us until the end of the episode because I’ll provide my personal perspective and typical practice regarding eIOL at 39 weeks.

The fetal heart rate is controlled by various integrated physiological mechanisms, most importantly by a balance of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve impulses. Intrapartum, fetal bradycardia may be in direct response to an evolving or acute hypoxic event, including tachysystole, uterine rupture, or placental abruption. Antepartum, excluding acute events like maternal trauma which could lead to an acute hypoxic episode, most fetal brady arrhythmias will be nonhypoxia related. We recently evaluated and cared for a patient at 23 weeks gestation with the incidental finding during her routine prenatal visit of a fetal HR of 90. This was confirmed by bedside ultrasound, and then noted to be in the 70s on reexamination in L&D. There was no fetal hydrops, no evidence of maternal injury, no maternal connective tissue disease, normal amniotic fluid, and a normal fetal movement seen on ultrasound. What are the possible causes of antepartum fetal bradyarrhythmia? What’s the work-up? What is the fetal Long QT syndrome? And when is delivery recommended? Listen in and find out.

On May 19, 2023, the FDA cleared a novel biomarker serum test for the risk stratification for severe preeclampsia in hypertensive pregnant women. This clearance is the first given to any blood-based biomarker test for assessing preeclampsia risk. The company is Thermo Fisher Scientific (no disclosures). But what does this test actually check for? Who qualifies for this? And what was the clinical investigation that the FDA based its clearance decision on? And most importantly…what do we do with this result?! We will answer all of these questions- the what, why, how, and what now- in this episode.

The 3rd stage of labor is the time from child's birth to delivery of the placenta. Delayed placental separation and expulsion is a potentially life-threatening event because it hinders expected postpartum uterine contraction, which can lead to PPH. The concept of umbilical vein injection of a variety of substances (saline, pitocin, plasma expanders) is nothing new. It is first described in the 1930s! This had found new life in the 1980s and 1990s but soon thereafter again fell into ambiguity. What is the theorized MOA of this intervention? Does oxytocin injection into the umbilical vein help prevent PPH? Is this an effective management option in the 3rd stage? We will walk down history's timelime and find out. We will also summarize the data of 2 Cochrane Reviews that have twice looked at this technique, with the last published report in 2021. Thank you Haley for the podcast topic suggestion!

Although labor epidural remains the gold standard for labor analgesia, some patients may opt for a trial of a less invasive analgesic agent. While IV/IM narcotics are an option, others may prefer a trial of nitrous oxide (N2O). In this episode, we will review the crazy history of this useful inhalational agent, and how it has ties to the manufacturing of the Colt45 handgun, how it transformed dentistry, and review the contribution to medicine by Dr. Horace Wells. We will review N2O's current application in obstetrics, and summarize statements from the ACNM and the ACOG. And…What does this gas have to do with vitamin B12? Are there any safety warnings out there regarding its use? And does it even work? Let’s answer these questions, and more, in this episode.