The impact of previous perinatal loss on subsequent pregnancy and parenting.

The loss of any pregnancy through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or neonatal death presents as a significant life crisis for any woman and has far-reaching implications into a couple's future aspirations. Planning another pregnancy after dealing with a perinatal loss is difficult and plagued by ambivalence, doubts, and insecurities. Despite this ambivalence, a majority of women do become pregnant within a year following a perinatal loss.

Anal sphincter defects and bowel symptoms in women with and without recognized anal sphincter trauma.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of new bowel symptoms and anal sphincter defects in primiparous women with and without recognized anal sphincter (AS) injury.

Study Design: One hundred seventeen primiparous women classified with increasing degrees of perineal trauma and 21 controls delivered by cesarean section were enrolled immediately postpartum and demographic and delivery data were collected. At 6 weeks' postpartum, subjects completed a bowel function questionnaire and endoanal ultrasonography was performed.

Differences in outcomes after third- versus fourth-degree perineal laceration repair: a prospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes after third- versus fourth-degree laceration repair.

Study Design: Fifty-six primiparous women who sustained a third- or fourth-degree tear were enrolled at delivery and demographic and obstetric data were collected. At 6 weeks' postpartum, subjects completed a bowel function questionnaire and endoanal ultrasonography was performed.