Call for Improved Fourth Trimester Care After Stillbirth.

Women who experience stillbirths are at increased risk for severe maternal morbidity and mortality, which makes the postpartum period a critical time in which to address health conditions and prevent complications. However, research on the health care needs of women who experience stillbirths is scarce, and these women are often excluded from research on the postpartum period. Therefore, the purpose of this commentary is to identify gaps in the research on postpartum care after stillbirth, explain why current fourth trimester care guidelines in the United States are inadequate, and advocate for nursing research and practice to improve understanding of health care needs in the fourth trimester.

Assessing health-related quality of life in children with spina bifida.

Object: The purpose of this study is to explore various aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with spinal dysraphism.

Methods: The authors enrolled a prospective cohort of 159 patients from the multidisciplinary spina bifida clinic. Surveys were distributed to caregivers of patients with spina bifida who were 5 years old and older.