Inflammation and Ovarian Function in Reproductive-Aged Women.

Introduction: Inflammation is a marker of immune activation. Inflammation may have an effect on both ovarian function and luteal function, both essential to pregnancy. High inflammation may also signal dysregulated processes within the ovary, which could be in part measured through Anti-Müllerian hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin B levels.

Digital Health as a Mechanism to Reduce Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admissions: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is costly and has been associated with financial and emotional stress among families. Digital health may be well equipped to impact modifiable health factors that contribute to NICU admission rates.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate how the use of a comprehensive prenatal digital health platform is associated with gestational age at birth and mechanisms to reduce the risk of admission to the NICU.

Digital health utilization during pregnancy and the likelihood of preterm birth.

Objective: Given the complex nature of preterm birth, interventions to reduce rates of preterm birth should be multifaceted. This analysis aimed to explore the association between the duration of using Maven, a digital health platform for women's and family health, and the odds of preterm birth.

Methods: Data came from 3326 pregnant, nulliparous Maven users who enrolled in Maven during their pregnancy between January 2020 and September 2022.

Digital health's influence on the association between birth preference and vaginal birth.

Background: Women's preferred mode of birth during pregnancy is predictive of their actual mode of birth. Digital prenatal care services are a promising method for educating women on mode of birth to reduce elective cesareans. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of digital health on the association between birth preference and mode of birth.

Improving the Management of Maternal Mental Health with Digital Health Care.

Objectives: Digital health solutions have the potential to improve maternal mental health care. The objective of this study is to determine if utilization of a digital health platform, Maven, is associated with improved management of mental health among peripartum people with a history of mental health disorders and determine which components of utilization associate with maternal mental health outcomes.

Methods: Participants in this retrospective cohort analysis ( = 1561) accessed Maven as an employer-sponsored health benefit and enrolled during their pregnancy and delivered from January 2020 through September 2022.

Digital Health Needs and Preferences During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Digital health is increasingly used to meet the needs of perinatal people, with estimates of pregnancy-related internet use ranging from 90% to 97% of pregnant people. As digital health takes on greater importance during the perinatal period, it is essential that providers and developers of digital health content understand why perinatal people use these resources and the features that enhance their experience. However, gaps remain in understanding the content that is most helpful and how the platforms are navigated.

Association Between Doula Use on a Digital Health Platform and Birth Outcomes.

Objective: To examine the association between the use of virtual doula appointments on a comprehensive digital health platform and users' mode of birth and their birth experiences, among all platform users and Black platform users.

Methods: Data for this retrospective cohort study were extracted from individuals who enrolled in a comprehensive digital health platform, between January 1, 2020, and April 22, 2023. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between number of virtual doula appointments completed on the digital health platform and odds of cesarean birth and user-reported birth experience outcomes, which included help deciding a birth preference, receiving a high level of support during pregnancy, learning medically accurate information about pregnancy complications and warning signs, and managing mental health during pregnancy, stratified by parity.

Demographic and Support Interest Differences Among Nonbirthing Parents Using a Digital Health Platform With Parenthood-Related Anxiety: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The transition to parenthood is a period of major stressors and increased risk of anxiety for all parents. Though rates of perinatal anxiety are similar among women (4%-25%) and men (3%-25%), perinatal anxiety research on nonbirthing partners remains limited.

Objective: We aimed to examine whether demographic characteristics or digital perinatal support preferences differed among nonbirthing partners with compared to without self-reported high parenthood-related anxiety.

Association between nonbirthing parent's perinatal education and mental health support desires and perinatal anxiety among either parent.

Background: Although perinatal anxiety is common in birthing and nonbirthing parents, little is known about the mental health or educational needs of nonbirthing parents during the perinatal period and whether perinatal anxiety in the birthing parent is associated with nonbirthing parent educational preferences.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the desired digital perinatal educational preferences of nonbirthing parents and whether these preferences differed by (1) endorsement of high parenthood-related anxiety in the nonbirthing partner and (2) mental health of the birthing parent (including both identified mental health conditions and presence of pregnancy-related anxiety).

Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, nonbirthing and birthing parents using Maven, a digital perinatal health platform, selected the areas in which they wanted education or support from a list of options.

Association Between the Use of a Digital Health Platform During Pregnancy and Helping Users Avoid Emergency and In-Person Care: Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Almost one-third of pregnant people visit the emergency room during pregnancy. Although some emergency care is necessary, gaps in patient education and inaccessibility of preventive services have been identified as key reasons for high-cost, low-value care in pregnancy. Digital platforms present a promising solution for providing resources to supplement routine prenatal care, thereby reducing the use of low-value in-person services.

Utilization of digital prenatal services and management of depression and anxiety during pregnancy: A retrospective observational study.

Introduction: We examined how utilization of Maven, a digital healthcare platform that provides virtual prenatal services, is associated with improvements in perceived management of anxiety and depression during pregnancy, and how medical knowledge and support may influence this association.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study we used adjusted logistic regression to examine the relationship between digital platform use in pregnancy and perceived mental health management, and how perceived management of mental health is affected by user-reported improvements in medical knowledge and feeling supported by the platform. Effects were evaluated separately among users with and without a mental health condition.

Understanding social needs in pregnancy: Prospective validation of a digital short-form screening tool and patient survey.

Background: Social determinants of health significantly affect health outcomes, yet are infrequently addressed in prenatal care.

Objective: This study aimed to improve the efficiency and experience of addressing social needs in pregnancy through: (1) testing a digital short-form screening tool; and (2) characterizing pregnant people's preferences for social needs screening and management.

Study Design: We developed a digital short-form social determinants of health screening tool from PRAPARE (Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients' Assets, Risks, and Experiences), and a survey to query patients' preferences for addressing social needs.

Association Between Utilization of Digital Prenatal Services and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean.

Introduction: Digital health services are a promising but understudied method for reducing common barriers to vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), including connection to facilities offering labor after cesarean and patient-centered counseling about mode of birth. This study assesses the relationship between use of digital prenatal services and VBAC.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the use of digital prenatal services and mode of birth among users of an employer-sponsored digital women's and family digital health platform.

Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment.

Background: Mobile applications (apps) present a new opportunity to study menstrual cycles and time to pregnancy. Understanding the characteristics of cycle tracking app users is important to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting participants for preconception research.

Methods: Users of a cycle tracking smartphone app, Ovia Fertility, aged 18 or older in the U.