News

Pregnancy Experts Warn, Idaho Policies Compromise the Health of Women and Families

As organizations representing healthcare professionals that specialize in obstetrics and women’s health, we call on the Idaho State legislature to reinstate the state’s crucial Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). State and local MMRCs are widely recognized as essential bodies... Continue Reading

Time-Based E/M Coding

In our fast-paced world, it sometimes seems there is simply not enough time in a day to get everything done. For the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist encountering a patient whose care requires longer than the usual visit, time can seem like a “no-win” situation. There is a way to... Continue Reading

Pregnancy Experts Condemn Indiana Supreme Court’s Decision to Uphold Abortion Ban

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) issued the following statement in response to the Indiana Supreme Court ruling on Friday, June 30, to uphold the state’s abortion ban in the case of Members of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, et al., v. Planned Parenthood Great... Continue Reading

ACOG, SMFM Call for the Supreme Court to Restore Access to Mifepristone

The following is a statement from Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG, President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Anthony Sciscione, DO, FACOG, President of the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine: “Mifepristone is a safe, effective medication. The ongoing legal... Continue Reading

SMFM Supports Ohio Ballot Initiative to Protect Access to Reproductive Health

February 21, 2023, Washington, DC - Today, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) announced its endorsement of a ballot initiative that would protect access to evidence-based reproductive health care for individuals and families living in Ohio. “SMFM is proud to support our... Continue Reading

Being Exposed to Wildfire Smoke Increases Risk of Going into Labor Prematurely

San Francisco, Calif. ― The detrimental effects of poor air quality on a person’s health are well documented. In pregnant people, research has shown that poor air quality, such as smog, can lead to a number of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), one of the leading causes of... Continue Reading

Pregnant People who Deliver Large Babies Are At Increased Risk of Developing Diabetes Later in Life

San Francisco, Calif. ― Studies show that diabetes in pregnancy — also known as gestational diabetes — puts a pregnant person at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes is also a common cause of babies who are large-for-gestational age (LGA). LGA... Continue Reading

Study of FDA-cleared Device to Treat Postpartum Hemorrhage Finds Device Highly Safe and Effective

Novel Device Offers Care Teams Another Way to Manage this Potentially Life-threatening Condition San Francisco, Calif. ― Postpartum hemorrhage — severe bleeding after childbirth — is a leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. There have been few innovations in treatment in recent... Continue Reading

Single Dose of Antibiotic Given During Labor Significantly Reduced Risk of Maternal Death or Sepsis

San Francisco, Calif. ― Sepsis — a severe infection in the body that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death — is among the top causes of maternal deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a life-threatening emergency that is largely... Continue Reading

People Who Use Cannabis Early in Pregnancy Are At Increased Risk of Poor Pregnancy Outcomes

San Francisco, Calif. ― As more states legalize marijuana for recreational use, researchers are looking into the potential health effects of cannabis use during pregnancy. In a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy... Continue Reading

Doctors and Advocates React to Release of Texas Maternal Mortality Review Committee Report

AUSTIN, TX – Yesterday, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMMRC) jointly released a report containing the MMMRC’s findings and recommendations for addressing the state’s maternal health crisis.... Continue Reading

Updated ICD-10 Indications for The Performance Of A Fetal Echocardiogram

In the November 2021 issue of the American Journal of Perinatology, ICD-10 indications for Fetal Echocardiogram and Detailed First Trimester Obstetric Ultrasound were published. The abstract was authored by the SMFM Coding Committee and is based on indications published by AIUM and other national... Continue Reading