Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Matters for Women[TM] E-Newsletter Update

Health Matters for Women

March 2019

New from CDC

CDC Researchers Report on Trends in Hospital Breastfeeding Policies
A new study from CDC showed modest improvement in optimal hospital breastfeeding policy from 2009 to 2015, with more than 2 times as many hospitals having a model breastfeeding policy and increases in early initiation of breastfeeding and limitation of non-breast milk feeds of breastfed infants. While more hospitals in the United States are implementing model breastfeeding policies and not receiving free infant formula, the majority do not adhere to these practices. Hospitals may consider reviewing their policies around infant feeding to improve care for new mothers.

Risk Factors for Congenital Syphilis Transmitted from Mother to Infant — Suzhou, China, 2011–2014
In China, the incidence of congenital syphilis increased nearly 26-fold from 2000 to 2013. In a cohort of mothers with recently diagnosed syphilis, migrant women and those who received a diagnosis at >36 gestational weeks were approximately five times and 25 times more likely, respectively, to deliver an infected baby than were nonmigrant women and those who received a diagnosis earlier in pregnancy. Every twofold increase of maternal nontreponemal or treponemal antibody titers doubled the odds of delivering an infected infant.

Use of Electronic Vapor Products Before, During, and After Pregnancy Among Women with a Recent Live Birth — Oklahoma and Texas, 2015
Most electronic vapor products (EVPs) contain nicotine, a developmental toxicant, and other harmful additives. In 2015, 7.0% of women with a recent live birth in Oklahoma and Texas reported using EVPs shortly before, during, or after pregnancy, with 1.4% reporting use during pregnancy. Among prenatal EVP users, 38.4% reported using EVPs containing nicotine, and 26.4% did not know if the EVPs they used contained nicotine.