Prenatal Care Bibliography

Annotation: This document presents clinical practice guidelines for the oral health care of pregnant women in South Carolina. The document contains data on infant mortality and preterm birth, oral health care and counseling utilization. It includes recommendations for health professionals and for oral health professionals, referral forms for oral health care, and dentists' reports for prenatal care professionals. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, Telephone: (803) 898-3432 Fax: (803) 898-3323 E-mail: info@dhec.sc.gov Web Site: http://www.scdhec.gov Available from the website.

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Keywords: Dental care, Disease management, Forms, Guidelines, Oral health, Pregnant women, Prevention services, Referrals, Resources for professionals, Service coordination, South Carolina, State programs

Annotation: This resource presents recommendations for interventions during pregnancy and after birth to promote and support breastfeeding. Contents include the recommendation statement, evidence review and summary, a clinical summary, and related information for health professionals.

Contact: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, Telephone: (301) 427-1584 Web Site: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Breastfeeding, Counseling, Literature reviews, MCH research, Perinatal care, Pregnant women

Annotation: This brief discusses the roles of prenatal care and oral health care professionals in educating women about seeking oral health care during pregnancy. Topics include national guidelines and key research findings related to controlling oral disease in pregnant women, and opportunities to coordinate care to ensure that oral health is an integral part of prenatal care for all pregnant women.

Contact: Center for Oral Health, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766-1854, Telephone: (909) 469-8300 Fax: (510) 380-6637 E-mail: info@tc4oh.org Web Site: http://www.centerfororalhealth.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Dental care, Oral health, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Service coordination, Service integration

Annotation: This brief is designed to help families find preconception and prenatal care and websites about preconception and pregnancy. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, Georgetown University, Telephone: (202) 784-9770 E-mail: mchgroup@georgetown.edu Web Site: https://www.ncemch.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Bibliographies, Consumer education materials, Electronic publications, Families, Family support services, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care

Annotation: This web site provides the current recommendation, evidence reports, clinical summaries, consumer fact sheet, and comparative effectiveness review for screening asymptomatic pregnant women after 24 weeks for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Contact: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850, Telephone: (301) 427-1584 Web Site: http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org Available from the website.

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• Consumer Fact Sheet

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Gestational diabetes, Literature reviews, MCH research, Pregnant women, Screening

Annotation: This program is designed to help prenatal primary care professionals and oral health professionals provide preventive oral health services to pregnant women and new mothers. Contents include videos, guidelines, a referral form and follow-up report card, and a periodicity table. Resources for pregnant women and new mothers include videos on oral health care, a self-evaluation, and a provider locator available in English and in Spanish.

Contact: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Manning Drive and Columbia Street, CB #7450, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, Telephone: (919) 537-3737 Fax: (919) 966-7992 Web Site: https://www.uncchildrens.org/uncmc/unc-childrens/care-treatment/dentistry Available from the website.

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Keywords: Consumer education materials, Continuing education, Forms, Multimedia, Oral health, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Prevention services, Self evaluation, Spanish language materials, Training

Annotation: This fact sheet describes the Women's Health Amendment under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the requirement for coverage of preventive services for women; recommendations on services to be provided during well-women visits; and the optimal frequency of well-women visits. The fact sheet explains how the guidelines are based on a scientific review conducted by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM) and how all eight of the women's health preventive services identified by IOM were adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Serivces. Links to federal resources are included in the citations.

Contact: National Health Law Program, 1441 I Street, N.W., Suite 1105, Washington, DC 20005, Telephone: (202) 289-7724 E-mail: nhelp@healthlaw.org Web Site: http://www.healthlaw.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Health care reform, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Prevention services, Women's health

Annotation: This report summarizes a March 2013 workshop to discuss issues related to encouraging behavior change that would reflect updated guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy, such as charting weight gain during pregnancy, improving choices concerning nutrition and physical activity, and receiving adequate pre- or post-conception advice about weight and pregnancy weight gain. Contents include communicating the pregnancy weight gain guidelines, discussing efforts to support behavior change, implementing the guidelines, reviewing the First Thousand Days Program, and collaborating for action, as well as final thoughts. Appendices include the workshop agenda, list of participants, speaker biographies, and the workshop statement of task.

Contact: National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001, Telephone: (202) 334-3313 Secondary Telephone: (888) 624-8373 Fax: (202) 334-2451 E-mail: customer_service@nap.edu Web Site: http://www.nap.edu Available from the website. Document Number: ISBN 978-0-309-28966-5.

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Keywords: Gestational weight gain, Guidelines, Nutrition, Physical activity, Weight management, Postnatal care, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Resources for professionals

Annotation: This fact sheet provides information about the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns initiative, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) program that aims to prevent preterm births and improve outcomes for newborns and pregnant women. The fact sheet provides an overview of the initiative and discusses three evidence-based maternity care approaches that it will test; lists award recipients, their locations, and their award amounts; provides information about length of awards, eligibility criteria, eligibility; program requirements; and provides information about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center, which is partnering with HRSA to evaluate a fourth method for preventing preterm births.

Contact: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244, Telephone: (877) 267-2323 Secondary Telephone: (410) 786-3000 Fax: Web Site: https://www.cms.gov Available from the website.

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Keywords: Eligibility, Federal programs, Infant health, Initiatives, Mothers, Newborn infants, Pregnant women, Preterm birth, Prevention, Program evaluation, Women's health

Annotation: This webinar describes the Text4baby program, the text messaging service for pregnant and new parents begun in 2010, primarily aimed to low-income, underserved populations. The service is subscribed to with the due-date or birth-date, and evidence-based developmental and time-appropriate advice is sent at varying intervals until the infant is age one. The service is available in English or Spanish. Messages include topics such as prenatal care tips, health and safety advisory information, father involvement, flu vaccination, oral health for mother and baby, Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program information, appointment reminder services, breastfeeding, safe sleep for infants, and more. Tje webinar provides dditional information on studies on user satisfaction, audiences reached, and changes in knowledge and behavior of pregnant women and new parents.

Contact: U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone: (301) 443-2170 Web Site: https://mchb.hrsa.gov Available from the web site.

Keywords: Communication, Immunization, Infant care, Low income groups, MCH programs, National programs, Parents, Postnatal care, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Prenatal education, Well child care

Annotation: This report describes a study to identify interventions and perspectives that positively affect pregnancy outcomes and reduce infant mortality in indigenous (Native American) communities. It examines factors at the individual, interpersonal, community and public policy levels. The report describes the literature review used to identify documents and presents findings. Appendices include a research appraisal checklist, summaries of the literature reviewed, and a socioecological framework for pregnancy outcomes in native women.

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Keywords: American Indians, Infant mortality, Literature reviews, Pregnancy outcome, Prevention programs

Annotation: This report reviews national and local trends in infant mortality, the factors affecting infant mortality and prenatal care, and policy recommendations for reducing infant mortality and improving prenatal care in Nevada. The report also presents data and data sources, suggested readings, and community resources including prenatal health services.

Contact: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries, Web Site: http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu Available from the website.

• Report
• Program Website

Keywords: Data, Infant mortality, Nevada, Policy development, Prenatal care, Risk factors, State surveys, Trends

Annotation: This fact sheet describes a procedure to analyze cell-free fetal DNA circulating in maternal blood as a noninvasive prenatal screening and testing effort for trisomy 21 and other fetal chromosome abnormalities. It outlines test characteristics, detection rate and accuracy, reporting results and their implications for pregnant women, testing costs and insurance coverage, what to ask laboratories offering the test, performance comparison to other forms of prenatal testing or screening, counseling women about screening and testing options, and general background.

Contact: National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics, 2360 West Joppa Road, Suite 320, Lutherville, MD 21093, Telephone: (410) 583-0600 Fax: (410) 583-0520 E-mail: info@nchpeg.org Web Site: http://www.nchpeg.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Congenital abnormalities, Down syndrome, Genetic screening, Prenatal care, Trisomy

Annotation: These guidelines are intended to help states select an Essential Health Benefits (EHB) package (as required under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)) to help ensure that health coverage will provide sufficient, quality maternity care. Included are details on the type of care (preconception, prenatal care, and ancillary services) and examples of what should be covered (for example, genetic counseling, health history and assessment, fetal evaluation, and newborn services). The guidelines caution states to watch out for problematic limitations on coverage; to limit insurer's ability to swap actuarially equivalent benefits within or across categories of the EHB; and to confirm maternity coverage for dependent children.

Contact: National Partnership for Women and Families, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 650, Washington, DC 20009, Telephone: (202) 986-2600 Fax: (202) 986-2539 E-mail: info@nationalpartnership.org Web Site: http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer Available from the website.

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Keywords: Benchmarking, Guidelines, Health care reform, Maternal health, Prenatal care, Program improvement, State MCH programs

Annotation: This report includes a consensus statement that resulted from an expert workgroup meeting held on October 18, 2011, in Washington, DC, convened by the Health Resources and Services Administration in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Dental Association. It contains guidance on oral health care for pregnant women for both prenatal care health professionals and oral health professionals, pharmacological considerations for pregnant women, and guidance for health professionals to share with pregnant women. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, Telephone: (202) 784-9771 E-mail: OHRCinfo@georgetown.edu Web Site: https://www.mchoralhealth.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Dental care: Interdisciplinary approach, Guidelines, Meetings, Oral health, Pregnant women

Annotation: This toolkit, for health care professionals in Vermont, provides evidence-based care topics for improving the health and prenatal care of pregnant women. It describes the Improving Prenatal Care in Vermont (IPCV) project and identifies "best practice" prenatal guidelines and assists obstetric service providers in incorporating these guidelines in to their office systems. Topics include practice assessment, patient satisfaction, tobacco cessation, nutrition, breastfeeding readiness, gestational diabetes, psychosocial/behavioral, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, depression, preterm labor, infectious disease, environmental exposure, and genetic screening. This is a companion document to the "State Guide for Improving Prenatal Care".

Contact: Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, University of Vermont College of Medicine, St. Josephs 7, UHC Campus, One South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, Telephone: (802) 656-8210 Fax: (802) 656-8368 Web Site: http://www.med.uvm.edu/vchip Available from the website.

• Practice Toolkit Main Page

Keywords: Genetic screening, Guidelines, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Prenatal education, Resources for professionals, Sexually transmitted diseases, State programs, Vermont

Annotation: This report, which is geared toward clinicians, offers recommendations on specific laboratory tests that should be considered during the course of prenatal care and describes the circumstances under which the tests should be performed. The report also provides detailed information about a wide range of prenatal screens and tests.

Contact: Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care, McConnell Hall, 1010 Mound Street, Madison, WI 53715, Telephone: (608) 417-6060 Fax: 608/267-6089 E-mail: wapc@perinatalweb.org Web Site: http://www.perinatalweb.org/ Available from the website.

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Keywords: Prenatal care, Prenatal screening, Screening tests, Wisconsin

Annotation: This book explores the elements that are essential to improving quality, safety and performance across the continuum of perinatal care. it covers the importance of consistent data collection and measurement; evidence-based initiatives; adherence to clinical practice guidelines; the life-course perspective; care that is patient- and family-centered, culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate; policies that support quality perinatal care; and systems change. Each chapter illustrates specific strategies and interventions that incorporate process and systems change that can improve perinatal care, including statewide quality improvement collaboratives. It includes examples of promising and successful initiatives at hospitals and within healthcare systems across the country.

Contact: March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, Telephone: (914) 997-4488 Secondary Telephone: Web Site: http://www.marchofdimes.com Available from the website.

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Keywords: Guidelines, Intervention, Model programs, Model programs, Perinatal care, Perinatal health, Program improvement, Safety, State initiatives

Annotation: Written in a question and answer format, this guide provides information to women with HIV infection who are pregnant. It discusses therapy recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve maternal health and reduce perinatal HIV transmission. A short glossary is included. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: AIDS Education and Training Centers National Resource Center, Rutgers School of Nursing, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, 65 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07107, Telephone: (973) 972-5141 Fax: (973) 972-0397 E-mail: info@aidsetc.org Web Site: https://aidsetc.org $4.95.

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Keywords: Guidelines, HIV, Maternal health, Pamphlets, Perinatal health, Pregnant women, Therapeutics

Annotation: This report examines weight gain during pregnancy and uses prepregnancy weight and body mass index to set a range for healthy weight gain. It makes recommendations to federal, state, and local organizations about using these updated guidelines to move women toward healthier pregnancies.

Contact: National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001, Telephone: (202) 334-3313 Secondary Telephone: (888) 624-8373 Fax: (202) 334-2451 E-mail: customer_service@nap.edu Web Site: http://www.nap.edu Available from the website.

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• Executive Summary

Keywords: Body weight, Gestational weight gain, Guidelines, Pregnancy, Pregnant women

Annotation: This Web site, which is geared toward pregnant women, offers information about how to have a healthier pregnancy by eating healthy foods and engaging in physical activity. The information is divided into three main sections: healthy eating, physical activity, and after the baby is born. Each section includes answers to common questions. A list of resources is included, as well.

Contact: Weight-Control Information Network, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, One Win Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3665, Telephone: (877) 946-4627 Fax: (202) 828-1028 E-mail: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov Web Site: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm Available at no charge; also available from the website. Document Number: NIH Pub no. 06-5130.

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Keywords: Consumer education materials, Food habits, Physical activity, Pregnancy, Prenatal education, Women's health

Annotation: This document focuses on promoting health for women before, during, and after pregnancy. Topics include deaths from pregnancy complications; racial, ethnic, and age disparities; and maternal death. CDC's national leadership and state partnership programs in pregnancy mortality and maternal health are described. The final section discusses the importance of conducting research, gathering strong, useful data, and educating and training others in maternal health.

Contact: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, Telephone: (800) 232-4636 Secondary Telephone: (888) 232-6348 E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov Web Site: http://www.cdc.gov Available from the website.

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Keywords: Data collection, Health promotion, Maternal health, Maternal mortality, National programs, Population surveillance

Annotation: This publication discusses the importance of prenatal care, what to expect during a prenatal care visit, and the tests and exams that pregnant women can expect to receive. It also provides guidelines to prevent or eliminate common discomforts during pregnancy; describes the factors that could complicate pregnancy, and important things to consider after the birth of the baby such as breastfeeding, physical changes during the postpartum period, and family spacing. Each page includes text in both English and Spanish.

Contact: National Alliance for Hispanic Health, 1501 16th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-1401, Telephone: (202) 387-5000 Secondary Telephone: (866) 783-2645 Fax: E-mail: Web Site: http://www.hispanichealth.org Available at no charge; also available from the website.

• English/Spanish Version

Keywords: Consumer education materials, Guidelines, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Prenatal screening, Spanish language materials

Annotation: This fact sheet provides information about how pregnancy outcomes are affected by a woman's health before she becomes pregnant. The fact sheets includes recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the following areas: (1) individual responsibility across the lifespan, (2) consumer awareness, (3) preventive visits, (4) intervention for identified risks, (5) interconception care, (6) prepregancy checkup, (7) health insurance coverage for women with low incomes, (8) public health programs and strategies, (9) research, and (10) monitoring improvements. The role of maternal and child health is also discussed.

Contact: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, 1825 K Street, N.W., Suite 250, Washington, DC 20006-1202, Telephone: (202) 775-0436 Fax: (202) 478-5120 E-mail: info@amchp.org Web Site: http://www.amchp.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Health insurance, Intervention, Low income groups, MCH services, Preconception care, Pregnancy outcome, Prevention, Programs, Public health, Reproductive health, Research, Uninsured persons, Women's health

Annotation: This guide, which is intended for expectant parents, provides health information relevant to the prenatal period as well as to the period following the infant's birth. Topics include important contacts, what pregnant women should think about, preparing the home for the newborn, what to expect in the hospital, coming home, and the infant's first months. It is in English and Spanish.

Contact: Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Family Health, 800 N.E. Oregon Street, Suite 850, Portland, OR 97232, Telephone: (971) 673-0232 Secondary Telephone: (971) 673-0372 Fax: (971) 673-0231 Web Site: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/ofhs/ Available from the website.

• English/Spanish Version

Keywords: Childbirth, Consumer education materials, Infant health, Parenting skills, Pregnancy, Prenatal care, Reproductive health, Spanish language materials, Women's health

Annotation: This booklet for oral health professionals in Colorado provides guidance in managing oral health care for pregnant women. Topics include physiologic changes in pregnancy, fetal development milestones for each trimester, key principles to observe, common oral health conditions that may arise during pregnancy, oral health considerations to observe in treating these conditions, and a guide to medication use in pregnancy.

Keywords: Dental care, Dentistry, Oral health, Patient care management, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Resources for professionals

Annotation: This self-care guide has two parts: one providing information about pregnancy, labor, and delivery and the other about health problems and common complaints during pregnancy. The sections present the problem or complaint, list the causes, list the treatments, present a list of questions to ask when visiting a health care provider, list symptoms when a health care provider should be called, and list self care tips. The guide ends with a glossary of necessary terms. It is illustrated with drawings.

Contact: American Institute for Preventive Medicine, 30445 Northwestern Highway, Suite 350, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3102 , Telephone: (800) 345-2476 Secondary Telephone: (810) 539-1800 Fax: (810) 539-1808 E-mail: aipm@healthylife.com Web Site: http://www.healthylife.com/ $5.95, plus shipping and handling.

Keywords: Childbirth, Exercise, Labor, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Pregnancy complications, Prenatal care, Prenatal development, Prenatal education, Therapeutics

Annotation: This compendium provides information for nurses caring for women, infants, and families in any setting: hospital, birthing center, ambulatory care, or home. This revised reference manual provides evidence-based information and guidelines for postpartum care, and addresses the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of mothers, newborns, and families for the first three months following birth. Topics include an overview of postpartum care in the hospital, discharge planning and health teaching, early home care of the mother and infant, reorganization of the family unit, and breastfeeding. Also featured are the latest research and practice recommendations for postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder secondary to birth trauma. References and a glossary are provided along with continuing education forms, questions, a participant evaluation form, patient handouts, and a post-text answer key.

Contact: Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, 2000 L Street, N.W., Suite 740, Washington, DC 20036, Telephone: (202) 261-2400 Secondary Telephone: (800) 673-8499 Fax: (202) 728-0575 E-mail: customerservice@awhonn.org Web Site: http://www.awhonn.org/awhonn/ $46.95, plus shipping and handling.

Keywords: Home visiting, Infant care, Maternal mental health, Mental health services, Nursing services, Postpartum care, Postpartum depression, Postpartum women, Puerperal disorders, Resources for professionals

Annotation: This pamphlet lists 20 rights of childbearing women, and briefly describes each. The rights span a range of topics, including access to and choices about health care, the birth setting, information, privacy, access to records, support, freedom of movement during labor, contact with the newborn, and breastfeeding. The pamphlet also provides a list of problems with maternity care in the United States.

Contact: National Partnership for Women and Families, Childbirth Connection Programs, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20009, E-mail: info@childbirthconnection.org Web Site: http://www.childbirthconnection.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Breastfeeding, Childbirth, Family support, Health care, Human rights, Information, Medical records, Pregnant women, Social support, Women's rights

Annotation: These sample letters are intended for use by oral health professionals in communicating with medical professionals about a mutual client. One letter communicates information about a client who has been diagnosed with periodontal disease and who is contemplating becoming pregnant; this client may benefit from preconception counseling related to the importance of oral health before and during pregnancy. The other letter communicates information about a client who is pregnant and who has been diagnosed with periodontal disease. The letter alerts the medical professional to the potential increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome as a result of elevated systemic mediators of inflammation from the client's periodontal condition. A bibliography of published articles accompanies each letter. These materials, along with a two-page handout titled Helping Patients Understand the Importance of Oral Health Before and During Pregnancy, were developed as implementation tools to accompany the November 2006 issue of Grand Rounds in Oral- Systemic Medicine. The issue focuses on periodontal disease in women of childbearing age.

Contact: PennWell, 1421 S. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 74112, Telephone: (800) 331-4463 Secondary Telephone: (918) 835-3161 E-mail: Headquarters@PennWell.com Web Site: http://www.pennwell.com Available from the website.

• Letter And Bibliography 1
• Letter And Bibliography 2

Keywords: Dentists, Forms, Oral health, Patient care, Periodontal diseases, Physicians, Pregnant women, Prenatal care

Annotation: This checklist includes questions for future parents that can help them prepare for a healthy pregnancy and birth. Questions are divided into the following categores: (1) family medical history, (2) your medical history, (3) reproductive health, (4) nutrition, (5) home, work, and social hazards, and (6) parenting considerations.

Contact: Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care, McConnell Hall, 1010 Mound Street, Madison, WI 53715, Telephone: (608) 417-6060 Fax: 608/267-6089 E-mail: wapc@perinatalweb.org Web Site: http://www.perinatalweb.org/ Available from the website.

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Keywords: Consumer education materials, Medical history, Nutrition, Parenting, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Questionnaires, Reproductive health

Annotation: This guide provides an outline for the need to improve prenatal care as well as the mission, goals, methodology, and leanings of the Improving Prenatal Care in Vermont (IPCV) project. The IPCV project identifies "best practice" prenatal guidelines and assists obstetric service providers in incorporating these guidelines in to their office systems. The report outlines topic areas for improvement, introduces the "Practice Toolkit", and outlines the history and issues addressed by the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) project. A companion document "Practice Toolkit for Improving Prenatal Care" is provided on the Web site.

Contact: Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, University of Vermont College of Medicine, St. Josephs 7, UHC Campus, One South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, Telephone: (802) 656-8210 Fax: (802) 656-8368 Web Site: http://www.med.uvm.edu/vchip Available from the website.

• Guide
• Pracitce Toolkit

Keywords: Guidelines, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Prenatal education, Resources for professionals, Screening, State programs, Vermont

Annotation: This knowledge path is a guide to resources that analyze data, describe effective programs, and report on policy and research aimed at improving access to and quality of preconception and prenatal care to improve perinatal health outcomes. It is aimed at health professionals, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers. A separate brief lists resources for families. The path is updated periodically. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health, Georgetown University, Telephone: (202) 784-9770 E-mail: mchgroup@georgetown.edu Web Site: https://www.ncemch.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Bibliographies, Electronic publications, Knowledge paths, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Prenatal care

Annotation: This book, which is geared toward pregnant women, answers common questions that women ask their obstetrician-gynocologist before, during, and after pregnancy. Topics covered include (1) pregnancy, (2) labor, delivery, and postpartum, (3) special care (genetic disorders and birth defects, managing medical problems, complications during pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and infections during pregnancy), and (4) staying healthy. Also included are a pregnancy diary, growth charts, a list of resources, a glossary, and an index. The book is extensively illustrated with black and white photos and line drawings and also includes a variety of charts, checklists, and tables. The book is available in English and Spanish.

Contact: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 409 12th Street S.W., P.O. Box 96920, Washington, DC 20090-6920, Telephone: (202) 638-5577 Secondary Telephone: (202) 863-2518 E-mail: resources@acog.org Web Site: http://www.acog.org Available in libraries. Document Number: ISBN 0-696-22591-3.

Keywords: Childbirth education, Consumer education materials, Postpartum women, Pregnancy, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Spanish language materials, Women's health

Annotation: This evidence synthesis focuses on screening for unsuspected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using HIV antibody tests in pregnant women, including adolescents. Although this report reviews the overall body of evidence on screening for HIV infection in pregnant women, it focuses on more recent data on the efficacy of combination antiretroviral regimens in prevention of mother-to-child transmission, harms associated with receipt of antiretrovirals in pregnancy, and the accuracy and acceptability of rapid testing. The report, which includes an abstract, discusses the study methods and results and offers a discussion. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables throughout the report. The report includes six appendices: (1) search strategies, (2) inclusion and exclusion criteria by key question, (3) quality rating criteria, (4) search and selection of literature, (5) statistical methods used for outcome tables, and (6) reviewers. References are included.

Contact: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone: (301) 427-1104 Secondary Telephone: (301) 427-1364 Web Site: http://www.ahrq.gov Available from the website.

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Keywords: Drug therapies, HIV, HIV screening, Literature reviews, MCH research, Pregnant adolescents, Pregnant women

Annotation: This report presents findings from a survey of women who delivered at large, urban, public hospitals. The purpose of the survey was to determine the extent to which these women encounter or perceive barriers to accessing prenatal care services. The paper, which includes an executive summary, discusses national prental care trends, the study methodology, the survey and sample response rates, and findings. A discussion and policy implications are presented. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables throughout the report. Endnotes are included.

Contact: National Public Health and Hospital Institute, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 950, Washington, DC 20004, Telephone: (202) 585-0135 Fax: (202) 585-0101 Web Site: http://www.naph.org/nphhi.cfm?CFID=3225787&CFTOKEN=16150052 Available from the website.

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Keywords: Access to health care, Barriers, Infant mortality, Low income groups, Poverty, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Reproductive health, Surveys

Annotation: This curriculum provides a guide to the Baby Basics program, a collaboration between prenatal care/prenatal education programs and adult literacy education providers that is designed to provide prenatal health literacy classes for low income populations. The program aims to foster healthier pregnancies and safer deliveries, effective communication and partnership between providers and their patients, and literate parents who can read to their children. The curriculum discusses the importance of literacy, the content of the Baby Basics book and other program materials, using the program to fulfill Medicaid prenatal care requirements, health literacy strategies during checkups, readings and activities for other professionals (outreach workers, WIC counselors, literacy providers, etc.). The curriculum concludes with sources for more information.

Contact: What to Expect Foundation, 211 West 80th Street, Lower level, New York, NY 10024, Telephone: (212) 712-9764 Fax: (212) 712-9741 E-mail: info@whattoexpect.org Web Site: http://www.whattoexpect.org Contact for cost information.

Keywords: Childbirth, Curricula, Guidelines, Health literacy, Literacy education, Nutrition, Postnatal care, Postpartum care, Pregnancy, Prenatal care

Annotation: This paper explores the issue of whether consumer choice of health professionals explains any of the differences in birth outcomes between children born to poor parents in the United States and those born to non-poor parents, and, if it does, why poor women choose different health professionals than their non-poor counterparts. The paper, which includes an abstract, also discusses the data, California's Disproportionate Share Program, trends in hospital choice, and specification checks. An interpretation and implications are also provided. Statistical information is presented in figures and tables grouped together at the end of the report. The report includes references.

Contact: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-5398, Telephone: (617) 868-3900 Fax: (617) 868-2742 E-mail: info@nber.org Web Site: http://www.nber.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Access to prenatal care, California, Hospitals, Infant health, Infant mortality, Medicaid, Mothers, Parents, Poverty, Pregnancy outcome, Racial factors, Research

Annotation: This report describes a study using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 1994-1996 and 1998-2000 in eight states to examine the impact of welfare reform on the insurance coverage and prenatal care utilization of women receiving public assistance as well as low-income women who are not recipients of public assistance. Report contents include an executive summary, introduction into the nature and scope of the research problem, a review of the literature, the study design and methods, details on the study groups, a presentation of findings, sections on discussion of findings and conclusions, as well as a list of products produced during the study and references. The appendix includes a sample PRAMS questionnaire. Statistics are presented throughout the report in tables and figures. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University, Telephone: (202) 784-9770 E-mail: mchgroup@georgetown.edu Web Site: https://www.mchlibrary.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Final reports, Health care utilization, Health insurance, Low income groups, MCH research, Pregnant women, Prenatal care, Questionnaires, Welfare reform

Annotation: This guide provides general guidelines for pregnant women with gestational diabetes for keeping healthy during pregnancy and for promoting the best outcome for the baby. It describes gestational diabetes, its causes and its features, includes a general treatment plan to help control the condition in making informed decisions about care with their health care providers, dietitians, and family members. Appendices provide information on high-fiber foods, a sample menu, and sample record sheets for monitoring glucose, food, and physical activity.

Contact: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, P.O. Box 3006, Rockville, MD 20847, Telephone: (800) 370-2943 Secondary Telephone: (888) 320-6942 Fax: (866) 760-5947 Web Site: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/Pages/index.aspx Available at no charge; also available from the website. Document Number: NIH Pub. No. 04-2788.

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Keywords: Blood glucose self monitoring, Gestational diabetes, Nutrition, Patient education materials, Physical activity, Pregnancy complications, Pregnant women, Prenatal care

Annotation: This resource guide, written for health practitioners, public health departments, academic centers, and libraries, contains information about women's perinatal health care issues of various cultures including African American, Amish (Old Order), Cambodian, Chinese, Cuban, Hmong, Jamaican, Japanese, Jewish, Korean, Mexican, Mormon, Native American, Pakistani, and Seventh-Day Adventist. Each section contains information and history about the culture, health and illness, pregnancy and prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum and newborn care, family planning, death and burial rites, and perinatal health care issues highlighted for each of these topics, and references. Charts offered in the preface provide statistical data on infant mortality and recommended standards. The guide concludes with an index.

Contact: American Academy of Pediatrics, 345 Park Boulevard, Itasca, IL 60143, Telephone: (630) 626-6000 Secondary Telephone: (847) 434-4000 Fax: (847) 434-8000 Web Site: https://www.aap.org Available in libraries. Document Number: ISBN 0-58110-097-3.

Keywords: Childbirth, Cultural diversity, Cultural factors, Ethnic factors, Family planning, Infant death, Labor, Perinatal care, Perinatal health, Postpartum care, Pregnancy, Religion

Annotation: This report discusses the importance of prenatal care and explores the impact of the Medicaid eligibility expansions and systems improvements on early prenatal coverage and access to care in California over the past two decades. Chapter topics include an overview and background of the importance of obtaining prenatal care, trends of prenatal care use and coverage in California during 1980-1999, a survey of California's maternity population, improving early access to Medicaid coverage in California, a review of non-insurance barriers to early prenatal care, and conclusions and policy recommendations for improving access to prenatal care. A reference list and technical appendix providing a general description of the data sources, study samples, variables, and analysis plans used are provided. Statistical data are provided in chart formats throughout the report.

Contact: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, DC Office/Public Affairs Center, 1330 G Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005, Telephone: (202) 347-5270 Fax: (202) 347-5274 E-mail: Web Site: http://www.kff.org/about/bjcc/bjcc_floor.cfm Available at no charge; also available from the website.

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Keywords: Access to prenatal care, Barriers, California, Health insurance, Medicaid, Pilot projects, Prenatal care, Program descriptions, State surveys, Statistical data

Annotation: The aims of this study are to determine whether enhanced prenatal services that include nutrition, psychosocial and health education services are associated with measurable benefits as perceived by women enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans, and whether those benefits differ for African-American, Hispanic, and white (non-Hispanic) pregnant women in Medicaid managed care plans assess their care in order to: 1) compare the quality of provider-patient interactions and of prenatal care advice given by providers who are certified to provide enhanced prenatal services and those who are not certified; 2) compare the outcomes of patient satisfaction and behavioral compliance with prenatal care advice given by providers; 3) determine whether any differences in outcomes are explained by differences in the quality of care; and 4) determine whether there are differences in the quality of enhanced prenatal care or outcomes assessed by ethnically diverse women. The method used is a consumer survey instrument with reliable and validated measures for quality of interpersonal care, quality of prenatal care advice, patient satisfaction, and behavioral compliance with prenatal care advice. The findings of this study will be useful to policymakers and Medicaid managed care plan officials in deciding whether to provide incentives for more prenatal care providers to become certified providers of the enhanced services, or to improve the way nutrition, psychosocial and health education services are provided to low income, ethnically diverse women. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Contact: Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University, Telephone: (202) 784-9770 E-mail: mchgroup@georgetown.edu Web Site: https://www.mchlibrary.org Available from the website.

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Keywords: Cultural Diversity, Final reports, MCH Research, Medicaid Managed Care, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care, Quality Assurance, Research

Annotation: This book summarizes a workshop convened on October 2-3, 2001, to look at issues surrounding the impact of environmental exposure on the fetus in the uterus, risks of premature birth, as well as child health and well-being throughout life. In addition the role of social and behavioral factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco smoking is discussed. Chapters include: (1) preterm birth and its consequences, (2) labor and delivery, (3) preterm birth and a brief summary of biological pathways, (4) preterm birth and gene-environment interactions, (5) the social implications of preterm birth, and (6) future directions for research. The book also contains abstracts of 18 relevant articles and references. Three appendices contain the workshop agenda, a list of speakers and panelists, and a list of workshop participants.

Contact: National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001, Telephone: (202) 334-3313 Secondary Telephone: (888) 624-8373 Fax: (202) 334-2451 E-mail: customer_service@nap.edu Web Site: http://www.nap.edu Available from the website. Document Number: ISBN 0-309-09065-2.

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Keywords: Childbirth, Conferences, Environment, Environmental exposure, Environmental influences, Genes, Labor, Maternal fetal exchange, Maternal health, Maternal mental health, Prematurity, Preterm birth, Research, Substance abusing mothers, Substance abusing pregnant women