bed rest bye bye?

Hear are the trends we spotted this week in women’s health, and as always, scroll for the top clicked stories.

  • 🩺 Early prenatal care is slipping. First-trimester visits dropped three points from 2021–2024, possibly because maternity deserts are expanding. Access (not awareness) may be the real crisis.

  • 🚨 An autopsy on a 13-week miscarriage in SC. No trauma was found, but officials were trying to DNA-identify the mother. In a post-Dobbs environment, even a natural miscarriage can trigger law enforcement involvement.

  • 🚶‍♀️ Bed rest may not prevent preterm birth — and could make it worse. In a small randomized study, women who took fewer than 3,500 steps per day delivered earlier. Another long-standing pregnancy norm facing new scrutiny.


TOP CLICKED STORIES THIS WEEK

Trends in Comparative Growth in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs Over the Past 20 Years (2005–2024) // Obstetrics & Gynecology

The Plot Against American Women // Throughline

Activity Restriction in Pregnancy and the Risk of Early Delivery // Obstetrics & Gynecology

Birth Control Is Changing — and So Are Women’s Attitudes Toward It // Vox

Coroner Releases Autopsy Details on Fetus Found at Water Plant // WACH

Menopausal hormone therapy not linked to increased risk of death // British Medical Journal

The case for more personalized breast cancer screening // Washington Post

Meghan McCarthy

Maternie was founded in 2017 by Meghan McCarthy. Meghan has spent her career digging through information and breaking it down for readers. After spending seven years reporting on Capitol Hill, Meghan co-founded at Morning Consult, where she built and led the company's content operation. She also helped build and lead Courier Newsroom, a progressive media organization. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, and other national news outlets.