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It is estimated that over 1 billion people worldwide have a disability. In Australia, 9% of women of childbearing age have a disability, but data on disability status for women accessing maternity services are not routinely collected and data collection processes are inconsistent. Maternal disability may affect perinatal outcomes, but to understand what factors might be amenable to interventions to improve outcomes, accurate data collection on disability status is essential. This opinion piece reflects on disability identification within maternity services in Australia, identifying areas for policy and practice change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is published on cytomegalovirus (CMV) serological screening at the first antenatal visit or the contemporary CMV seroprevalence rates among the Australian pregnant population. We performed a retrospective analysis of public hospital births in a major tertiary centre (n = 840) over a two month period. We found that 13.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.4–16.1%) of women had been screened for CMV at their first antenatal visit with their general practitioner. Of these, 43.0% (95% CI 34.3–52.1%) were CMV seronegative and therefore susceptible to primary infection. Seronegative women were also more likely to have been born in an economically developed country, to live in a socio‐economically advantaged postcode and to be nulliparous. The information from this study may help guide future studies of congenital CMV risk reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this clinical review we highlight aspects of the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy and post‐partum and how this may impact on antenatal and postnatal management. Investigation for PE in pregnancy is challenging and includes appropriate patient selection and knowledge of the risks and benefits of pulmonary imaging modalities. The complete Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post‐Partum comprehensively reviews all aspects of diagnosis, investigation and management and is accessible at https://www.somanz.org/guidelines.asp. It includes a summary of all recommendations and a guide to developing a management plan for birth in women on anticoagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the full version of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) 2020 guideline for pre‐existing diabetes and pregnancy. The guideline encompasses the management of women with pre‐existing type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in relation to pregnancy, including preconception, antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care. The management of women with monogenic diabetes or cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes in relation to pregnancy is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of overweight and obese women in the antenatal and perinatal periods, in rural hospitals; and to evaluate neonatal and maternal outcomes, including transfer to larger birthing centres. Design: A retrospective clinical chart audit. Setting: Rural maternity services in five Queensland rural hospitals. Participants: Data were collected from 250 women presenting to participating rural hospitals, with an estimated due date in 2016. Main outcome measures: Obstetric and neonatal data, whether transfer occurred, mode of delivery and any complications, and neonatal outcomes including birth weight and complications were collected. Demographic information collected included maternal age, gravidity and parity, race, smoking status and pre‐pregnancy body mass index. The main outcome measures of interest were birth weight, Caesarean rate, transfer rate and diagnosis of gestational diabetes in relation to the body mass index. Results: Over 50% of women were overweight or obese while entering pregnancy, with 5.2% of mothers in the morbidly obese category. There was an increase in the birth weight of mothers with a body mass index of more than 25. The increasing body mass index was associated with an increased likelihood of transfer, diagnosis of gestational diabetes, elective and, especially, emergency Caesareans performed at the hospital. Twenty‐four percent of women continued to smoke throughout pregnancy. Conclusion: A high prevalence of obesity was found in the rural obstetric population. As the body mass index increases, so too does birth weight, gestational diabetes, transfer rate and Caesarean section rate. The rates of smoking throughout pregnancy were higher than the average metropolitan rates. These findings have implications not just for rural hospital operation and resources, but also for preventive health activities in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SOMANZ (Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand) has written a guideline to provide evidence-based guidance for the investigation and care of women with sepsis in pregnancy or the postpartum period. The guideline is evidence-based and incorporates recent changes in the definition of sepsis. The etiology, investigation and treatment of bacterial, viral and non-infective causes of sepsis are discussed. Obstetric considerations relevant to anaesthetic and intensive care treatment in sepsis are also addressed. A multi-disciplinary group of clinicians with experience in all aspects of the care of pregnant women have contributed to the development of the guidelines. This is an executive summary of the guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pregnant women have been identified as high users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, no research to date has provided a detailed analysis of the prevalence and determinants of CAM consumption amongst pregnant women. Aim To examine the prevalence and determinants of CAM use by pregnant women, utilising a national representative sample. Methods The study sample was obtained via the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. This paper is based on a sub-study of 1,835 pregnant women, administered in 2010. The women answered questions about CAM use, demographics, pregnancy-related health concerns and health service utilisation. Results Complementary and alternative medicine use was found to be high with 48.1% ( n = 623) of pregnant women consulting a CAM practitioner and 52.0% ( n = 842) of women using CAM products (excluding vitamins and minerals) during pregnancy. CAM practitioner visits were more likely for selected pregnancy-related health concerns, namely back pain or back ache, neck pain and labour preparation. Women were less likely to consult a CAM practitioner if they suffered with headaches/migraines. Employment was also found to be predictive of pregnant women's visits to a CAM practitioner. Significant health history and demographic predictors of CAM product use were tiredness and fatigue, embarking on preparation for labour and having a university education. Conclusion Most pregnant women are utilising CAM products and/or services as part of their maternity care and obstetricians, general practitioners and midwives need to enquire with women in their care about possible CAM use to help promote safe, effective coordinated maternity care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]