The effects of offering immediate postpartum placement of IUDs and implants to pregnant patients with heart disease

Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Rates in Patients with Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate racial disparities in breastfeeding rates in patients with heart disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort of pregnant patients with maternal cardiac disease managed by a Cardio-Obstetrics program. Patients self-identifying as Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Non-Hispanic White (NHW), who attended ≥ 1 prenatal visit at the Cardio-Obstetrics Program and delivered at the same hospital between March 2015 and June 2019 were included. The primary outcome was breastfeeding rate at discharge from the delivery-associated hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included breastfeeding intent on admission and breastfeeding rates at the postpartum visit among patients who initiated breastfeeding.

RESULTS

138 pregnant patients with cardiac disease were included: 58 (42%) NHB and 80 (58%) NHW patients. Parity, marital status and insurance were statistically different between groups. NHB patients were more likely to have government insurance compared to NHW patients (77.6% vs. 40%; p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the intent to breastfeed upon admission for the delivery-associated hospitalization (74.2% NHB vs. NHW 91.3%; p = 0.01), but not at hospital discharge (84.5% NHB vs. 93.8% NHW; p = 0.08). However, breastfeeding rates were significantly lower among NHB patients at the postpartum visit among the entire cohort (38.2% in NHB vs. 61.1% in NHW women; p = 0.036) and among those who initiated breastfeeding (35.3% NHB vs. 61.1% NHW, p = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite similar breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge, NHB patients with maternal cardiac disease were less likely to intend to breastfeed at admission and/or continue breastfeeding by the postpartum visits. Qualitative studies understanding these differences are crucial to improve breastfeeding rates, especially for NHB patients with maternal cardiac disease.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Consult Series #68: Sickle cell disease in pregnancy

Pregnant individuals with sickle cell disease have an increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, prepregnancy counseling and multidisciplinary care can lead to favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. In this consult series, we summarize what is known about sickle cell disease and provide guidance for sickle cell disease management during pregnancy. The following are Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommendations.

Contraceptive counseling and choices in pregnancies with maternal cardiac disease

OBJECTIVE

Unplanned pregnancies in women with maternal cardiac disease (MCD) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but the majority of these individuals do not use highly reliable contraception on postpartum hospital discharge. Contraceptive counseling in this population outside of pregnancy is incomplete and counseling during pregnancy remains poorly characterized. Our objective was to evaluate the provision and quality of contraceptive counseling for individuals with MCD during pregnancy.

METHODS

All individuals with MCD who delivered between 2008 and 2021 at a tertiary care institution with a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team were sent a 27-question survey. A subset of questions were derived from the validated Interpersonal Quality in Family Planning (IQFP) survey, which emphasizes interpersonal connection, adequate information, and decision support for the individual. Each participant received a $15 gift card for survey completion. We performed chart review for clinical and demographic details, including cardiac risk score.

RESULTS

Of 522 individuals to whom the survey was sent, 133 responded and met inclusion criteria. Overall, 67% discussed contraception with their general obstetrician, 36% with their maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, and 24% with their cardiologist. Compared to individuals with low cardiac risk scores, those with high cardiac risk scores had a nonsignificant trend toward being more likely to discuss contraception with a MFM provider (52% vs 33%, p = .08). 65% reported that their provider was 'excellent' or 'good' in all IQFP domains. Respondents valued providers who respected their autonomy and offered thorough counseling. Respondents disliked feeling pressured or uninformed about the safety of contraceptive options.

CONCLUSION

Most individuals with MCD reported excellent contraceptive counseling during pregnancy. Additional work is needed to understand barriers to and enablers for effective, patient-centered contraceptive counseling and use in this population.

Utilisation, effectiveness, and safety of immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are highly effective contraception. IUDs inserted directly following delivery provide immediate birth control and may decrease unintended pregnancies, including short-interval pregnancies, thereby mitigating health risks and associated economic burden.

METHODS

This systematic literature review included published global data on the utilisation, effectiveness, and safety of postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUDs) of any type. English language articles indexed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane from January 2010-October 2021 were included.

RESULTS

133 articles met the inclusion criteria (46% interventional studies; 54% observational; n=87 from lower-income countries; n=46 from higher-income countries). PPIUD use was low in higher-income countries (6/10 000 US deliveries in 2013-2016) and varied widely in lower-income countries (2%-46%). Across both higher- and lower-income countries, in most studies (79%), >80% of women with PPIUDs had an IUD in place by 3 months; at 6 and 12 months, 76% and 54% of included studies reported that >80% of women had an IUD in place; reason for discontinuation was infrequently reported. Pregnancies were rare (96 pregnancies across 12 191 women from 37 studies reporting data) and were generally unrelated to device failure, but rather occurred in women no longer using a PPIUD. Expulsions occurred mainly in the early outpatient period and ranged widely (within 3 months: 0-41%). Abnormal bleeding, infections, or perforations were rare.

CONCLUSIONS

PPIUDs are safe and effective. Long-term follow-up data are limited. Future research elucidating reasons underlying lack of PPIUD use is warranted.

Optimizing postpartum contraception for high-risk obstetric patients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will focus on those who are at greatest risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity from a subsequent unplanned or short interval pregnancy and the interventions to increase contraceptive uptake in the postpartum period.

RECENT FINDINGS

Populations at highest risk of maternal or neonatal morbidity - those with a history of preterm birth or those with complex medical conditions - are also those at the highest risk for unintended pregnancies attributed to low-efficacy contraceptive failure/ noncontraceptive use, and many are discharged from birth hospitalization without understanding the importance of birth spacing related to their high-risk pregnancies. Current innovative strategies to improve postpartum contraception access and uptake among high-risk populations include utilizing the antenatal period to initiate contraception counseling, developing multidisciplinary teams, and incorporating multimedia-based educational tools. However, ongoing challenges that continue to pose barriers to contraception access include racial and economic disparities and the restructuring of obstetric care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUMMARY

Preventing an unintended short interval pregnancy by providing contraception in the postpartum period is one of the most modifiable risk factors for those at highest risk of subsequent maternal or neonatal morbidity and therefore should be prioritized by clinicians, hospitals, and insurance coverage.