On-Demand Webinars

In this webinar, Dr. Gabrielle Cassir, OB/GYN and MFM, will discuss the evaluation and management of preterm labor with a focus on the following objectives: Review the incidence and etiology of preterm birth Detail the reality of preterm labor Evaluate evidence-based data on fetal fibronectin and transvaginal ultrasound and their role in evaluating preterm labor Assess the importance of reducing the number of false positive diagnoses Exemplify the importance of timing when it comes to interventions that can improve neonatal outcomes, particularly corticosteroid administration Discuss the effect of protocols on patients with preterm labor LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER

In the February 2022 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement (1), the seven days preceding preterm delivery were noted to be the optimal window for steroid administration. Steroids had the most prominent, life-saving effects on the mother and baby when used during this critical period. The webinar aims to review fetal lung development and how the timing of antenatal corticosteroids may help or harm neonatal lives when administered for this purpose. Dr. Ruma will guide the audience through historical contributions to this important topic, delve into recently published clinical studies, and discuss current recommendations and controversies. 1Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM); Rebecca Feldman Hamm, MD, MSCE; C. Andrew Combs, MD, PhD; Paola Aghajanian, MD; and Alexander M. Friedman, MD, MPH; Patient Safety and Quality Committee, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Quality metrics for optimal timing of antenatal corticosteroid administration, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.02.021 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization, preterm birth complications are the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age, responsible for approximately 1 million deaths in 20151. Antenatal corticosteroid administration, when administered properly, can reduce risks of perinatal death, respiratory morbidity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intraventricular hemorrhage, and also reduces costs of perinatal care. In this webinar, Professor Andrew Shennan discusses the use and abuse of antenatal corticosteroids, and relevant new guidance and simple solutions to provide the pest perinatal care to patients. 1.Liu L, Oza S, Hogan D, Chu Y, Perin J, Zhu J, et al. Global, regional, and national causes of under-5 mortality in 2000-15: an updated systematic analysis with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. Lancet. 2016;388(10063):3027-35. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Preterm birth remains prevalent and is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. This webinar will discuss how the burden of preterm birth is not equal among different groups. Differences in preterm birth occurrence and outcomes are noted among different groups based on race/ethnicity, age, location of residence, socioeconomic status and much more. The available strategies for preterm birth prevention and the challenges in reducing preterm birth are also discussed.

In the first half of the webinar Dr. Nathan Fox will cover twin pregnancies and potential ways to reduce risk of adverse outcomes in women pregnant with twins. It is well-known that all twin pregnancies are at increased risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and cesarean delivery. However, strategies to mitigate these risks often differ across prenatal providers including midwives, obstetricians, and maternal fetal medicine specialists. Dr. Fox plans to review the evidence supporting certain interventions intended to reduce risk in twins and provide recommendations for how to care for women with twin pregnancies, and how these interventions can be effective and practical for a wide range of prenatal care settings. He may also sprinkle in a few jokes, so be on the lookout for those! In the second half of the webinar Dr. Andrei Rebarber will cover some unique aspects in the management and treatment of monochorionic twin gestations. Additionally, we will discuss the current literature on fetal pregnancy reduction (elective and selective approaches) in dichorionic twin gestations and its impact on birth outcomes for the pregnancy.

Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman will cover the ongoing issues of preterm birth and its effects on the late preterm infant. After declining for a decade, the U.S. preterm birth rate has been rising for the last several years. Much of this increase is related to late preterm births between 34 to 36 weeks of gestation. The ability to predict preterm birth accurately remains elusive. Identification of women with preterm labor symptoms which result in late preterm versus term delivery would be of benefit to the patient, the health system and the unborn neonate. This program will enhance attendees' understanding of the importance of new research surrounding late preterm birth and its effect on maternal health, obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Dr. Brian Iriye will highlight the need for the implementation of evidence-based solutions obtained from medical research. Over the years, systems have attempted to put various care bundles and other tools in place with mixed success in actually improving healthcare outcomes on a national scale. Implementation science takes evidence-based interventions and teaches us how to put that research to purposeful use in the real world. The principles of implementation science need to be embraced in obstetric practice. This program will help attendees understand the importance of this new and changing field to further improve maternal health and obstetric outcomes

Dr. Michael Ruma will cover the management of pregnant patients with symptoms of preterm labor during the COVID-19 pandemic. He will highlight the tools available and how physicians can effectively use them to assess a patient’s risk of delivering preterm. This program will also cover the importance of screening for STIs, which are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

  In this program, Dr. Michael Ruma will cover the management of pregnant patients with symptoms of preterm labor during the COVID-19 pandemic. He will highlight the tools available and how physicians can effectively use them to assess a patient’s risk of delivering preterm. This program will also cover the importance of screening for STI’s during pregnancy which are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

This Fetal Fibronectin Testing in-service has been recorded to provide on-demand training for nurses, residents, and clinicians.

In this webinar, Michael Ruma, MD, a maternal-fetal-medicine specialist, discusses the benefits of standardized preterm labor assessment. Click below to view the webinar in this window: 

In this webinar, James Byrne, MD, Chairman of the Department of Ob/Gyn at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, will review the risk factors and mechanisms of preterm birth (PTB), discuss the clinical efficacy of diagnostic tools, and review management strategies and interventions for PTB for improved outcomes. Click below to view the webinar in this window: 

Watch the webinar, Utilizing a Standardized Approach to fFN Testing, presented by Barbara Hughes, CNM, MS, MBA, FACNM, NE-BC:  

Watch the webinar Planes, Pilots and Preterm Labor: The Role of Protocols and Standardization in Patient Evaluation, presented by Michael S. Ruma, MD, MPH, FACOG: