From NPR, “A small but pivotal group of Tennessee representatives voted Tuesday to discontinue one of the state’s most divisive criminal laws. Known as “fetal assault,” the measure empowered prosecutors to arrest women who abuse heroin or pain pills during pregnancy, if their babies were born dependent. A one-of-a-kind statute that criminalized drug use by pregnant women is now on … Read More
Senate advances bill to aid drug-dependent newborns
From Reuters, “A bipartisan bill designed to improve the health and safety of babies born to mothers who used heroin or other opioids during pregnancy was approved by a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday. …Reuters found 110 cases of children who were exposed to opioids while in the womb and who later died preventable deaths at home. No more than nine states comply … Read More
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CDC says portions of WV, OH & KY at risk for HIV outbreak
From WOWK, “In a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control, researchers sought to identify U.S. counties where persons who inject drugs appear especially vulnerable to the rapid spread of Hepatitis C or HIV. Among the top 220 counties identified as high risk areas, large portions of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia were in the top 5% of the … Read More
Should women avoid potatoes before pregnancy?
From CBS News, “Some researchers suggest that may be a good idea, since a new study finds that women who eat more potatoes before conceiving may face a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes while pregnant. …”We found that a diet with a higher level of potato consumption before pregnancy was related to a greater risk of developing diabetes during … Read More
Shaken baby syndrome in WV more common than we think
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “After a father allegedly shook his son and caused bleeding on the 4-month-old’s brain last weekend, health experts said the way to prevent the next occurrence won’t be by pretending such a traumatic incident can only happen to other families. …Dr. Sharon Istfan, associate chief medical officer at Charleston Area Medical Center’s Women and Children’s Hospital, … Read More
Recovery Point of Charleston dedicates Stockton Street building
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “Rachel Thaxton, program coordinator of Recovery Point of Charleston, said the facility will start the bidding process on the project within the next month, and will likely begin construction within six weeks after the bids close. The main building will have 92 treatment beds, which will be opened about 10 beds at a time initially, and … Read More
DHHR Launches New Initiative to Address Smoking While Pregnant
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “A new initiative to address West Virginia’s staggering smoking rates among pregnant women launched on Wednesday, and represents the first of its kind in the nation to focus on the problem, which plagues West Virginia more than any other state. …Karen Bowling, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources, said the purpose of … Read More
Dr. Laura P. Finnegan – WVU Palladino Lecture & Research Day
Dr. Loretta P. Finnegan will be speaking at WVU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Palladino Lecture & Research Day. Dr. Finnegan is President of Finnegan Consulting, which addresses education, research and treatment in issues relating to women’s health and perinatal addiction. She is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in these fields and is credited with the development of … Read More
Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 Signed Into Law
From ACOG, “The bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. Katherine Clark (D- Mass.) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), takes proactive steps to help reduce the number of newborns born exposed to drugs, such as opioids, and to improve their care. Specifically, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and make available recommendations for the prevention … Read More