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PREGNANCY+ POSTPARTUM
A Hyperemesis Gravidarum Suicide
What: A British mother is speaking out about losing her pregnant daughter to suicide, due to hyperemesis gravidarum that went untreated. Jess Cronshaw was 28 weeks pregnant when she died, and had experienced constant nausea and couldn’t eat or drink without vomiting throughout her entire pregnancy. A call to a local hospital led to her getting incorrect advice to wean herself off anti-nausea medication. Jess’ baby, Elsie, was born via C-section but died four days later.
Key line: “At the inquest into Jess and Elsie’s deaths in January 2024, coroner Kate Bissett concluded that failings in Jess’ care contributed to the deterioration in her mental health. She highlighted a lack of mental health exploration at routine antenatal appointments and the incorrect advice to wean off anti-sickness medication.”
Source: iTV News
Vitamin D Linked to Fetal Growth in First Trimester
What: An NIH-funded study found a positive link between higher vitamin D levels and infant length during the first trimester. Looking at blood samples from 351 first-time mothers, researchers found for every increase in vitamin D marker in the blood, the fetus had a higher “fetal length z-score.”
Key line: “’Testing for vitamin D status is not currently part of standard prenatal care in the United States. If you are pregnant, consider talking with your health care provider for advice at your first prenatal visit,’ said [Alison D. Gernand, Ph.D., of Pennsylvania State University]. ‘This study provides evidence that vitamin D early in pregnancy appears to be an important part of nutritional health.’”
Source: NIH
ABORTION ACCESS
CDC Nominee Has Amendment Restricting Abortion Access…Named After Him
What: The National Women’s Law Center explains how CDC Director nominee Dan Weldon may be better known as a vaccine skeptic, but he also has decades of experience restricting abortion access, too. NWLC notes there is a 2005 amendment in federal law named after him, which allows health care providers to not provide abortions due to their beliefs. As the head of the CDC, Weldon could require states provide detailed abortion data. (Currently it’s optional.)
Key line: “David Weldon’s record demonstrates his willingness to put his personal beliefs above the health and safety of others. Despite his extensive anti-abortion, anti-health, and anti-science record, David Weldon has somehow managed to slip under the radar of public awareness. Personally, I don’t want an anti-abortion supervillain overseeing a nationwide abortion patient database, nor am I cool with an avid anti-vaxxer being the chief health officer in the U.S. tasked with protecting the country from the spread of infectious diseases.”
Source: National Women’s Law Center
Trump Admin Moves to Drop Idaho Emergency Abortion Case
What: The Trump administration DOJ signaled that it will drop a case brought by the Biden administration that aimed to enforce a federal law requiring hospitals provide adequate care for patients who arrive in the emergency department. Idaho hospitals are trying to get clarity on whether doctors can perform emergency abortions under the state’s extremely restrict abortion ban. They argue that Idaho’s existing law forces them to fly women out of state.
Key line: “The Supreme Court stepped into the Idaho case last year and ultimately handed down a narrow ruling that allowed hospitals to continue performing emergency abortions as doctors deemed necessary. The high court did not, however, resolve key legal questions in the case, and it was argued before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in December. The appeals court has not yet ruled.”
Source: AP
MENOPAUSE
Why Is Menopause Training So Challenging?
What: Axios provides a good overview of where things stand on menopause care in America – including stats on the lack of training available to health care providers.
Key line: “Required medical school curriculum dedicated to menopause and hormone therapy is limited and, when it is offered, it is often folded into broader courses. ‘Most continuing education courses have an hour on menopause, like in a weeklong course, or even some of the OB-GYN and the women’s health courses have one hour on menopause hormone therapy,’ [Deborah Gomez Kwolek of Mass General Women’s Health and Sex and Gender Medicine Program] said. ‘That’s really not enough.’”
Source: Axios
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