Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Select Issue In The Postpartum Period: Contraception, Whitney Cowman, Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks, Jill Endres, Colleen Stockdale

Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks

One half of pregnancies in the United States are unintended and associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The postpartum period is an important, yet underutilized, time to initiate contraception. The U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010 provides evidence-based guidelines for choosing a contraceptive method and an update in 2011 specifically addresses contraceptive method use in the puerperium. The variety of contraceptive methods include hormonal contraception, lactational amenorrhea, barrier contraception, natural family planning, and sterilization. Ideally, counseling about contraceptive choice should begin early in pregnancy care and continue postpartum; it should also include a variety of teaching modalities. Specifically we …

Effect Of Chlorhexidine Skin Prep And Subcuticular Skin Closure On Post-Operative Infectious Morbidity And Wound Complications Following Cesarean Section, Sara Tikkanen, Anna Button, Gideon Zamba, Abbey J. Hardy-Fairbanks

Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks

Abstract:

Background: The obstetrical department at University of Iowa implemented several interventions at reducing post-operative infections and wound complication rates following a cesarean delivery. We implemented subcuticular closure of the skin following all cesarean sections in February of 2011 and switched from a povidone/iodine skin prep to a chlorhexidine-alcohol prep April 19th 2011. Based on prior studies, we hypothesized a 50% reduction in post cesarean wound complications

Objective:

To determine if changes in skin prep type and closure method decreases post-operative infectious morbidity and wound complications.

Methods:

The study reviewed charts of women who underwent a cesarean …

Vaginal Misoprostol Aids In Difficult Intrauterine Contraceptive Removal: A Report Of Three Cases., Whitney Cowman, Jean Hansen, Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks, Colleen Stockdale

Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine devices are the most used long-acting reversible contraceptive method worldwide. Under normal circumstances, removal of an intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is an uncomplicated procedure requiring gentle traction on the string. STUDY DESIGN: We report three cases of nonvisible IUC strings where, following use of vaginal misoprostol, the IUC strings were visualized and the IUCs were removed intact with gentle traction. CONCLUSIONS: The uterotonic and uterocontractile effects following vaginal misoprostol facilitated removal in three cases of nonvisible IUC strings. We suggest that clinicians consider including vaginal misoprostol alone or prior to planned repeat office or procedure-clinic interventions for nonvisible IUC …

Maternal Demographic And Clinical Variables Do Not Predict Iuc Placement: Evidence For Postplacental Iuc Placement, J. Hansen, Mark Santillan, B. Stegmann, T. Foster, Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks

Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks

No abstract provided.

Asthma In Pregnancy: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis And Management., Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks, Emily Baker

Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks

Asthma is a common, potentially serious, even life-threatening, chronic medical condition seen amongst nearly all groups of patients, regardless of ethnicity and socioeconomic circumstances. This article addresses the group of pregnant women with symptomatic asthma as well as those whose asthma is asymptomatic as a result of good control. The incidence, the pathophysiologic changes of pregnancy, and the interplay between these changes and asthma are reviewed in this article. The classification of these patients and appropriate management strategies are discussed.