What You May Have Missed Last Week – December 4, 2021

INFERTILITY

Parenting is a challenging and often exhausting experience. Why it’s OK, and even good, for parents to complain, even if they have struggled with infertility. (New York Times)

 

CONTRACEPTION

Women with opioid use disorder often avoid visiting contraceptive counseling because of their fear of stigma and judgment. The Sex and Female Empowerment (SAFE) intervention helps this at-risk group receive evidence-based contraceptive information safely and without risk of stigma. (Relias Medical)

 

PERINATAL SUBSTANCE USE

Fetal MRI study observes structural changes in the brains of children exposed to alcohol in utero. (MedPage Today)

 

AUTISM

Preterm and early birth is associated with an increased risk of autism independent of genetic or environmental factors. (Medscape)

Signs of autism are apparent as early as infancy. (Medical Bag)

 

PREGNANCY LOSS

Women who have experienced pregnancy loss are twice as likely to experience depression or anxiety. (Medical Xpress)

 

COVID-19

Just in time for the holidays, a new variant. What you need to know about Omicron. (MedPage Today)

A large new study comparing vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna found that both vaccines are very good, but Moderna’s was better at preventing infection, symptoms, hospitalization, ICU admission, and death. (New England Journal of Medicine)

Will kids also need COVI boosters? (MedPage Today)

In a recent survey, two-thirds of reproductive health workers reported feelings of stress, and one-third experienced increased feelings of anxiety and depression. (Relias Medical)

 

COVID AND PREGNANCY

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may trigger prenatal immune activation that may protect the infant from infection (vertical transmission) but may also lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. (Healio)

In a small MRI study, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection appeared to have no effect on the brain development of the unborn child. (MedPage Today)

 

PARENTING

We are definitely seeing stress and strain in parents these days. COVID parenting is reaching a breaking point. (The Atlantic)

How did virtual learning impact youth? (Contemporary Pediatrics)

The SPARK Lab at Stanford University created this one-minute video which teaches kids how to use deep breathing to calm themselves.

 

MENOPAUSE

Postmenopausal women who engaged in 4 hours of standing plus 3 hours of walking per day had similar metabolic benefits to those who engaged in one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise. That’s a pretty big time commitment.

 

BREAST CANCER

It is imperative to address the psychosocial support needs of breast cancer patients who have younger children. (Contemporary ObGyn)