A Comparative Workforce Study of Midwives Practicing in the State of Texas.

Introduction: Access to quality care is a problem in Texas, an ethnically diverse state with large birth numbers. The state has over 300 areas designated as medically underserved, and a severe lack of obstetricians and midwives. Minimal data exist on midwifery's contribution, and no known study compares the work environment and clinical practice of the 2 state-recognized midwifery paths, licensed midwives (LMs) and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs).

Nature and scope of certified nurse-midwifery practice: A workforce study.

Aims And Objectives: To describe the nature and scope of nurse-midwifery practice in Texas and to determine legislative priorities and practice barriers.

Background: Across the globe, midwives are the largest group of maternity care providers despite little known about midwifery practice. With a looming shortage of midwives, there is a pressing need to understand midwives' work environment and scope of practice.

Meeting the Reproductive Needs of Female Adolescents With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

The complexity of caring for female adolescents with neurodisabilities often overshadows normal biological changes. These young women may require additional or individualized support as they adapt to normal puberty and sexual maturation. Many choices are available to assist in managing menstrual problems, hygiene issues, and contraception.

Caring for the woman with acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy, although rare, is usually a third trimester of pregnancy occurrence that may be life threatening for both the pregnant woman and the fetus. Often, the onset resembles gastroenteritis or cholecystitis and correct diagnosis is delayed. Because it can also present with preeclampsia and eclampsia, it may be mistakenly diagnosed as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet syndrome.

Challenges in the management of the pregnant woman with spinal cord injury.

About 12 000 women of childbearing age sustain spinal cord injuries each year in the United States. Around 2000 of these women become pregnant in a given year, yet few providers are aware of the interprofessional team approach needed to achieve a successful pregnancy with healthy outcomes for both mother and fetus. A family-centered approach by an experienced team can make the childbearing experience both safe and optimal for the maternal-fetal dyad.

FRAX® counseling for bone health behavior change in women 50 years of age and older.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of FRAX® (Fracture risk assessment tool) for changes in bone health risk factors and treatment decision-making.

Data Sources: A convenience sample of seventeen women, 50 years and older, English-speaking, generally healthy, with the ability to perform weight-bearing exercise, presenting for a DXA scan in a Midwestern city between August 2009 and November 2009, and not already being treated for osteoporosis or osteopenia. Self-administered diet and exercise questionnaires were completed by participants, followed by individual counseling related to FRAX® absolute risk and NOF guidelines.

Breast-feeding after breast cancer in childbearing women.

According to the American Cancer Society in 2007, about 178,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the United States. Of these, 25% have tumors in their childbearing years and may desire future opportunities for pregnancy and lactation. Although there is a multitude of options related to preserving fertility, little is known about the residual effects of breast cancer treatment and the ability to breast-feed afterward.