Electronic fetal monitoring, widely used in American hospitals, has been criticized for its flawed technology that fails to accurately predict fetal distress. Studies indicate that the tool is no more effective than traditional stethoscope checks and frequently results in unnecessary cesarean sections due to misinterpretation of heart patterns. Despite these issues, the technology remains prevalent in practice, influenced by guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as legal and business factors, experts say.

"We may be the only specialty that continues to do major abdominal surgery without a shred of evidence of benefit," said Dr. Steven L. Clark, an obstetrician at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas who has extensively studied electronic monitoring. "We just plow blithely on."

The US received a D+ for its 10.4% preterm birth rate for the fourth consecutive year, according to a March of Dimes report. The report highlighted significant disparities, with a 9.5% preterm birth rate for babies born to white mothers, compared with 14.7% for babies born to Black mothers. Data showed improved preterm birth rate percentages in 19 states, while the numbers worsened in 21 states, according to the CDC.

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Homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women, with a new study in JAMA Network Open revealing that pregnant women face a 37% higher risk of firearm-related homicide compared to nonpregnant women. The study highlights the role of firearms in intimate partner violence and suggests that policy changes, such as safe storage laws and stricter firearm prohibitions for domestic violence offenders, could mitigate this risk.

Epileptic seizures during pregnancy are linked to higher risks of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, with women experiencing seizures having increased odds of cesarean birth, peripartum depression and preterm birth, according to a study in PLOS Medicine. The analysis of 25 observational studies also showed that women from low-income backgrounds and those with focal epilepsy are at greater risk for seizures.

A retrospective cohort study presented at Obesity Week shows that women who used GLP-1 receptor agonists before pregnancy had a significantly lower risk for gestational diabetes but a higher incidence of pre-eclampsia. Researchers found that 11% of women who used GLP-1s before pregnancy developed gestational diabetes, compared with 53% who did not. However, 68% of GLP-1 users experienced pre-eclampsia, compared with 32% of nonusers.

HHS has decided to remove the black box warnings associated with estrogen hormone therapy for menopause. These warnings previously highlighted risks such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, probable dementia and stroke. This change is part of a broader effort to update the labeling based on recent evidence and expert recommendations.

While HHS and FDA leaders hailed the removal of the black box warning from hormone therapy for menopause, citing benefits like reduced risks of heart disease and dementia, some physicians expressed concerns about overselling the benefits and downplaying risks. "Like all medications, systemic estrogen products are not without risk, and their use should be based on an individualized conversation between patients and their clinicians," said Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which supported the change.