Postpartum care center: follow-up care in a hospital-based clinic.

Because of ever-decreasing lengths of maternity stays and the emphasis on reducing health-care costs, there is a need for innovative, low-cost postpartum follow-up programs. The Postpartum Care Center, begun in 1991, is a model program that provides early postpartum assessment and support to mothers, infants, and their families for one third the cost of a home visit. This article reviews program development, description of services, and program outcomes.

Dietary practices of ballet, jazz, and modern dancers.

Ballet dancers have been shown to have nutrition problems and poor dietary practices. We asked dance instructors and dance directors to distribute a questionnaire to dancers involved in three dance types. Of the 106 dancers who completed the questionnaire, 71% participated in ballet, 60% in jazz, and 74% in modern dance; 31% participated in all three types of dance.

Clinical management of thromboembolic disorders in pregnancy.

Early diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate prophylaxis may prevent serious maternal sequelae of thromboembolism. Objective techniques for diagnosis should be used aggressively. Heparin is the preferred anticoagulant.

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in pregnancy.

Early diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate prophylaxis may prevent serious maternal sequelae of thromboembolism. Objective techniques for diagnosis should be used aggressively, using noninvasive methods such as Doppler or IPG when possible for DVT. 125I-fibrinogen should be avoided.