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PURPOSE Physically or psychologically distressing birth experiences can influence postpartum health, parenting efficacy, and future pregnancy plans. Communication deficits contribute to negative birth experiences. This qualitative analysis explored themes related to communication and negative birth experiences among Black birthing people who experienced preterm birth. METHODS We conducted qualitative interviews with non-Hispanic Black, English language-proficient birthing people with Medicaid-insured preterm infants. Interviews were designed to explore experiences with health care access and well-being after birth. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded following an integrated approach where we applied a priori codes and captured emergent themes from the data. RESULTS We interviewed 30 participants from October 2018 to July 2021. Median gestational age at birth was 30 weeks (range 22-36 weeks). Interviews occurred a median of 7 months postpartum (range 2-34 months). Themes emerged related to negative birth experiences and communication: (1) communication gaps during urgent or emergent intrapartum procedures contributed to negative birth experiences; (2) postpartum opportunities to share birth experiences, particularly with peers, sometimes mitigated the psychological consequences of negative birth experiences; (3) participants did not consistently discuss concerns about future pregnancy risk related to negative birth experiences with clinical teams. CONCLUSIONS Themes from this sample of Black birthing people who experienced preterm birth suggest 3 ways health systems might intervene to improve communication to mitigate the consequences of negative birth experiences. Improvement efforts in these areas may improve postpartum health, future pregnancy outcomes, and long-term health. Key words: African American; birth trauma; Black; Black birthing people; interconception care; intrapartum care; negative birth experience; preconception care; reproductive justice; health communication; postpartum care, INTRODUCTION Birth experiences sometimes cause psychological distress, persistent feelings of anger or loss, or depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. (1-4) These negative birth experiences and their sequelae can influence women's [...]

Objective While there are known racial disparities in cesarean delivery (CD) rates, the exact etiologies for these disparities are multifaceted. We aimed to determine if differences in induction of labor (IOL) management contribute to these disparities. Study Design This retrospective cohort study evaluated all nulliparous patients with an unfavorable cervix and intact membranes who underwent IOL of a term, singleton gestation at a single institution from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2020. IOL management was at clinician discretion. Patients were classified as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) or White based on self-report. Overall rates of CD were compared for BIPOC versus White race. Chart review then evaluated various IOL management strategies as possible contributors to differences in CD by race. Results Of 1,261 eligible patients, 915 (72.6%) identified as BIPOC and 346 (27.4%) as White. BIPOC patients were more likely to be younger (26 years interquartile range (IQR): [22–30] vs. 32 years IQR: [30–35], p < 0.001) and publicly insured (59.1 vs. 9.9%, p < 0.001). Indication for IOL and modified Bishop score also differed by race (p < 0.001; p = 0.006). There was 40% increased risk of CD for BIPOC patients, even when controlling for confounders (30.7 vs. 21.7%, p = 0.001; adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.06–1.86]). Despite this difference in CD, there were no identifiable differences in IOL management prior to decision for CD by race. Specifically, there were no differences in choice of cervical ripening agent, cervical dilation at or time to amniotomy, use and maximum dose of oxytocin, or dilation at CD. However, BIPOC patients were more likely to undergo CD for fetal indications and failed IOL. Conclusion BIPOC nulliparas are 40% more likely to undergo CD during IOL than White patients within our institution. These data suggest that the disparity is not explained by differences in IOL management prior to cesarean, indicating that biases outside of induction management may be important to target to reduce CD disparities. Key Points The etiologies for racial disparities in cesarean are likely multifaceted. In this work, there were no differences by race in measures of labor induction management. Biases outside of induction management during labor may be targeted to reduce CD disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to determine the impact of pregnancy weight gain above National Academy of Medicine (NAM) guidelines on cesarean delivery rates following induction. Study Design This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of patients who underwent induction at a single tertiary care center between July 2017 and July 2019. Included in the primary study were patients undergoing term (≥37 weeks) labor induction with a singleton gestation, intact membranes, and unfavorable cervical examination (Bishop score of ≤6 and cervical dilation ≤ 2 cm). Eligibility for this analysis was limited to patients with a documented prenatal body mass index (BMI) < 20 weeks' gestation. The primary exposure was gestational weight gain greater than NAM guidelines (WGGG) for a patient's initial BMI category. The primary outcome was cesarean delivery for any indication. Results Of 1,610 patients included in the original cohort, 1,174 (72.9%) met inclusion criteria for this analysis and 517 (44.0%) of these had weight gain above NAM guidelines. Of the entire cohort, 60.0% were Black and 52.7% had private insurance. In total, 160 patients (31%) with WGGG underwent cesarean compared with 127 patients (19.3%) without WGGG (p < 0.001), which equates to a 59% increased odds of cesarean when controlling for initial BMI category, parity, gestational diabetes, and indication for induction (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–2.12). Among only nulliparous patients, WGGG was associated with an increased odds of cesarean (26.4 vs. 38.2%, aOR 1.50, 95% CI 1.07–2.10). In multiparous patients, however, there was no difference in cesarean between those with and without WGGG (8.8 vs. 14.1%, aOR 1.85, 95% CI 0.96–3.58). Conclusion This study demonstrates that weight gain above NAM guidelines is associated with more than a 50% increased odds of cesarean. Patients should be informed of this association as gestational weight gain may be a modifiable risk factor for cesarean delivery. Key Points Weight gain above NAM guidelines was associated with a 59% increased odds of cesarean delivery. Nulliparous patients with weight gain above NAM guidelines are at higher risk of cesarean delivery. No difference in cesarean delivery among multiparous patients regardless of gestational weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Our prior work demonstrated decreased birth satisfaction for Black women undergoing labor induction. We aimed to determine if implementation of standardized counseling around calculated cesarean risk during labor induction could reduce racial disparities in birth satisfaction. Study Design We implemented use of a validated calculator that provides an individual cesarean risk score for women undergoing induction into routine care. This prospective cohort study compared satisfaction surveys for 6 months prior to implementation (preperiod: January 2018–June 2018) to 1 year after (postperiod: July 2018–June 2019). Women with full-term (≥37 weeks) singleton gestations with intact membranes and an unfavorable cervix undergoing induction were included. In the postperiod, providers counseled patients on individual cesarean risk at the beginning of induction using standardized scripts. This information was incorporated into care at patient–provider discretion. The validated 10-question Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) subdivided into three domains was administered throughout the study. Patients were determined to be "satisfied" or "unsatisfied" if total BSS-R score was above or below the median, respectively. In multivariable analysis, interaction terms evaluated the differential impact of the calculator on birth satisfaction by race (Black vs. non-Black women). Results A total of 1,008 of 1,236 (81.6%) eligible women completed the BSS-R (preperiod: 330 [79.7%] versus postperiod: 678 [82.5%], p = 0.23), 63.8% of whom self-identified as Black. In the preperiod, Black women were 50% less likely to be satisfied than non-Black women, even when controlling for differences in parity (Black: 39.0% satisfied vs. non-Black: 53.9%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–0.79). In the postperiod, there was no difference in satisfaction by race (Black: 43.7% satisfied vs. non-Black: 44.0%, aOR = 0.97. 95% CI: 0.71–1.33). Therefore, disparities in birth satisfaction were no longer present at postimplementation (interaction p = 0.03). Conclusion Implementation of standardized counseling with a validated calculator to predict cesarean risk after labor induction is associated with a decrease in racial disparities in birth satisfaction. Key Points Preintervention, Black women were less likely to have above-median birth satisfaction. We implemented standardized counseling around cesarean risk with labor induction. Implementation was associated with reduced racial disparities in birth satisfaction scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]