Things we do without evidence

Here’s our growing list of things we do for no reason in OB/GYN.

The Thing	The Episode	The Evidence
Routine BV screening in triage for possible preterm labor	Episode 7.12	Here
Counseling patients after a certain number of cesareans that it is unsafe to have anymore.	Episode 7.10	Here
Meds for Osteo, and prolonged bisphosphonate use	Episode 7.8	Here
Closing 5mm laparoscopic port incisions with suture	Episode 7.6 Maternal Mortality Declining? Plus skin closures and listener questions	Here
Oxygen for decelerations	Episode 7.4 Oxygen for Decels, Interpreting Studies Part 2, Frozen Eggs	Here Here Here
Counseling for CD at 4k or high AC	Episode 7.2 Cesareans for Macrosomia, Yearly Pelvic Exams, Zuranolone, and more!	Here Here Here
Routine cervical exams at later visits	Episode 6.13 Hormone Replacement Myths Part 2
Avoiding HRT in smokers, HTN	Episode 6.12 Hormone Replacement Therapy Myths Part 1	Here
Peritoneal washings	Episode 6.11 Vaginal Estrogen and More!	Here Here Here
Mag to prevent CP	Episode 6.10 Magnesium Sulfate for Neuroprotection for Preterm Infants	Here With more on page
Labs for FGR	Episode 6.9 Male Circumcision: A Global, Historical, and Ethical Debate	Here
GBS swab in ano	Episode 6.8 The (Near) Future of Obstetrics	Here Here Here Here
Repeat Rh Ab testing at 28 weeks	Episode 6.7 Early GDM screening, repeat antibody testing, mayo and more	Here Here Here Here Here
Misuse of docusate	Episode 6.6 Overconsulting and Surgical Training	Here
Handing off babies after delivery	Episode 6.5 How to Deliver A Baby (an evidence based approach)	Here
Neonatal suctioning	Episode 6.4 Frequency of Prenatal Visits and Eat, Sleep, Console	Here
Overtreating BV in pregnancy	Episode 6.3 Rural vs Urban Obstetrics, Screening for BV, and Prophylactic Salpingectomy	Here
Activity Restrictions after Surgery	Episode 6.2 Surgical Restrictions, Probiotics for GBS, Stratafix and more	Here Here Here
Avoiding Ancef in PCN allergy	Episode 6.1 Antidepressants in Pregnancy and Cephalosporins in Patients with Penicillin Allergy	Here Here Here
Postpartum pelvic rest	Episode 5.13 Tori Bowie and Maternal Mortality	Here
Hydration for preterm contractions and threatened labor	Episode 5.12 The ARRIVE Trial, Hydration, Partograms, and more	Here
Avoid Sushi	Episode 5.11 Breech Delivery
Q trimester urine cx for sickle cell	Episode 5.10 Ten Things We Wish ER Docs Knew About OB/GYN	Here Here Here Here Here
Waiting to place IUDs after chorioamnionitis	Episode 5.9 Cookies, Virgin Birth, Forceps, and the History of Handwashing	Here
Unnecessary prenatal labs	Episode 5.8 Medical and Surgical Management of Missed Abortion	Here Here
Baseline labs for CHTN/Hx of GHTN	Episode 5.7 In vitro fertilization (infertility Part 4)	Here
Urology consult for cystotomy repairs	Episode 5.6 COVID Update, Cystotomies, Scope, and More	Here
Metformin for PCOS	Episode 5.5 PCOS
Premedication for IUD placements	Episode 5.4 Meds for IUD placement, some recent studies, and a poem!	Here Here Here
CA-125 for simple cysts	Episode 5.3 Eponyms! and some oncology	Here Here
First trimester Rhogam	Episode 5.2 Baby Season (a listener question) and RhoGAM	Here Here Here
Cutting caffeine to prevent fibrocystic change	Episode 5.1 OB Emergencies Part 2	Here
Cutting tight nuchal cord	Episode 4.13 OB Emergencies Part 1	Here
Two layer closure at Cesarean	Episode 4.12 Angle of Progression, Two Layer Closure, and Deliverance	Here
Undue haste with general at CD	Episode 4.11 Amnioinfusions, Stat Cesareans, Braxton-Hicks, and TikTok	Here Here
Iron replacement for non-anemics	Episode 4.10 Iron in pregnancy, Sexism in OB/GYN, and the Postpartum visit	Here Here Here
Follow-up US for choroid plexus cyst and echogenic intracardiac focus	Episode 4.9 Value Based Care Part 2: Vaginal Delivery (and some other stuff)	Here
Telling pregnant women not to eat fish	Episode 4.8 Fish, Maternity Deserts, and Value Based Care Part 1	Here Here
Routine cord blood gases	Episode 4.7 Gases, Marijuana, Sugar, Milking, and Other Things?	Here
Self IUD string check	Episode 4.6 The Queen’s Births and more
Fetal kick counts	Episode 4.5 Surgeon Outcome By Gender, Kick Counts, Vitamin D, and More
Routine ultrasound at 36-37 weeks	Episode 4:4 Fertility Part 3: Fertility Treatments
Sounding before placement of an IUD with a metal sound. Bonus: Using a tenaculum routinely when placing an IUD.	Episode 4.3 Fertility Part 2: Basic Fertility Evaluation	Here and here.
Using stress dose steroids	Episode 4.2	Here and here.
Checking a uric acid level or LDH level as part of the evaluation of HTN in pregnancy.	Episode 4.1	Here.
Routinely using IUPCs and FSEs	Episode 3.13	Here, here, and here.
Checking a progesterone with prenatal labs.	Episode 3.12	Here.
Measuring fundal heights.	Episode 3.11	Several articles at episode page.
Scrubbing hands for 5 minutes before surgery.	Episode 3.10	Here and here.
Prescribing the minipill to breastfeeding women.	Episode 3.9	Several links at episode page.

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