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To counsel women about risks and benefits of depression treatment during pregnancy, clinicians must appreciate the potential consequences of untreated depression on the mother and her unborn child. Many studies have demonstrated associations between untreated depression during pregnancy and a range of adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, emergent operative delivery, postpartum depression, and both cognitive and behavioral deficits in the child. Although most of these associations are marked by low odds ratios and a host of potential confounding issues, they collectively provide considerable rationale for identifying depression in pregnancy and offering treatment for mothers at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women receiving an epidural for labor analgesia are at increased risk for intrapartum fever. This relationship has been supported by observational, before and after, and randomized controlled trials. The etiology is not well understood but is likely a result of noninfectious inflammation as studies have found women with fever have higher levels of inflammatory markers. Maternal pyrexia may change obstetric management and women are more likely to receive antibiotics or undergo cesarean delivery. Maternal pyrexia is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. With these consequences, understanding and preventing maternal fever is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal malpresentation is an important cause of the high cesarean delivery rate in the United States and around the world. This includes breech, face, brow, and compound presentations as well as transverse lie. Risk factors include multiparity, previously affected pregnancy, polyhydramnios, and fetal and uterine anomalies. Appropriate management can reduce the need for cesarean delivery in some cases. This review discusses management options and focuses specifically on external cephalic version and vaginal breech delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent level I evidence from a single randomized-controlled trial has shown that there is no difference in fetal or neonatal outcomes (composite of fetal/neonatal death or serious neonatal morbidity) between planned cesarean delivery and planned vaginal delivery for twins between 32 and 38 6/7 weeks. As long as the presenting twin is vertex, vaginal delivery should be considered regardless of the presentation of the second twin. To avoid unnecessary cesarean deliveries and maternal morbidity, it is important to continue to train residents to perform obstetrics maneuvers necessary for vaginal delivery of twins such as vaginal breech extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various factors related to the cesarean delivery (CD in the U.S. including its increased rate, its impact on postpartum hemorrhage and decreased use of operative vaginal delivery. As mentioned, rate of CD has increased to 60 percent from 20 percent in the U.S. Other topics discussed includes improved neonatal results of CD, amnioinfusion and trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC).