Pregnancy

‘Just a pinch’: Women frustrated as medical community downplays pain of IUD insertion

Thousands of TikTok rants, viral tweets, petitions and peer-reviewed studies have documented the insufficient pain relief offered for IUD insertions. So, what is the response from Canadian medicine to this outcry? Practically nothing.

Accessing pregnancy care in Canada: Family physicians as part of the solution

Government and policymakers have yet to make unified efforts to address the inequity in perinatal care across Canada.

Canadian women are waiting longer than ever for gynecologic surgery: Patients and providers are calling for action.

Historically, quality-of-life procedures for women have not been prioritized and Canadians continue to pay the price. Patients and providers call for better access to urogynecologists.

Protecting pregnancy in clinical trials poses risks

Historically pregnant people have been largely excluded from clinical trials. But in the long-term, better representation in research will promote maternal and fetal well-being.

We have a tool to help prevent suicide during pregnancy and postpartum. Why does the task force recommend against using it?

In 2022, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care released recommendations against using a tool (the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale – EPDS) to screen for depression during pregnancy and the postpartum. These recommendations do not agree with those made by experts in B.C. and Ontario; and around the world in Australia, the United States, England and Scotland. It is important that we look closely at these recommendations and try to understand why they differ.

Episode 72 – Early Metformin for Gestational Diabetes and Tirzepatide versus Insulin in Type II Diabetes

Beyond birth control: The benefits of universal contraception don’t end at pregnancy prevention

Contraceptives are a key part of health care for half of Canada's population and their benefits extend beyond family planning alone. It is time to expand universal contraception to the entire country.

Breast-milk donor models are flawed: A path forward to meet demand

The three main institutions vying for breast-milk donations have demonstrated an unwillingness to collaborate with one another. As demand for donor milk increases, the downstream effects are going to be felt most by parents and their infants.

Toward a healthier pregnancy: Overcoming barriers to prenatal exercise

By participating in evidence-based prenatal physical activity, pregnant people can increase the likelihood of positive health outcomes for themselves and their babies.

Postpartum depression isn’t the biggest issue for mothers. Postpartum anxiety is

Postpartum anxiety is more than three times more prevalent than postpartum depression yet we hear about it far less often.

Uninsured health cuts and pregnancy: Why all Canadians should care

Many of the funding cuts to the uninsured will impact pregnant people. These health cuts are costly - not just to the burdens of the health-care system, but to our sense of humanity and fundamental Canadian values.

Surviving sepsis: A life and career changing experience

Before my near-death experience, I had no idea what the word sepsis meant. And I certainly didn’t know what the long-term effects would be for my family and me.

TBT – Hematology Rapid Fire!

How to keep young children with RSV out of the ICU

Nearly every child will contract RSV in their lifetime. Therefore the challenges lies not in preventing RSV infection, but in preventing infections from becoming severe. Breastfeeding may be one way to overcome this challenge.

Transitioning to inclusivity: Why OB/GYNs need trans care training

Both women and trans men may require obstetrics services. But many working in health care don't know how to appropriately treat trans patients. It is time we listen to the trans community and mandate transgender care education.

Disability and reproductive health: Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

To better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reproductive health of women, trans and non-binary people with disabilities, researchers at the University of Toronto partnered with the DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN) of Canada to conduct the ongoing Disability and Reproductive Health during COVID-19 Study.

Toward a national action plan to reduce stillbirths in Canada

Canada’s stillbirth rate has remained stagnant for more than 20 years, at a rate of more than 3,000 per year, and there are no plans in place to reduce it. The Canadian Collaborative for Stillbirth Prevention is asking the government to enact a national action plan to address the issue. Find out what you can do to get involved.

Let’s not be smug: Canada has much work to do in caring for pregnant women

At a time when there is impetus to preserve reproductive rights globally, in Canada there must be an emphasis on patient-centred approaches to education, policies and models of care for miscarriage - the most frequent complication of early pregnancy.

Episode 40 – RSV Immunization in Pregnancy and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Episode 39 – Hypertension in Pregnancy and Oral Mircrobiome Therapy in Recurrent C. difficile Infection