Women's Health

The rule, which will last for six months, was a response to "an immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare of pregnant women in Missouri," according to the state Department of Social Services. Missouri has some of the worst maternal mortality rates in the U.S.

Clinics in states where most abortions are legal, are reporting an influx of inquiries from patients in states such as Missouri — and are expanding in response.

Missouri continues to see maternal and infant mortality rates, breast and cervical cancer death rates, preterm births, congenital syphilis and depression around pregnancy at rates that are higher than the national average. It also fared among the worst nationally for mental health.

An online mom group with over 3,600 members connects over the use of and interest in cannabis and the realities of motherhood.

IUDs have been used for decades, but many patients describe waves of pain when a nurse or doctor inserts them. Providers are now are now considering offering women the option of sedation to make the insertion less unpleasant.

The reproduction process is especially poorly understood by scientists.

Beginning Tuesday, Planned Parenthood will take over the former Tri-Rivers Family Planning center in Rolla. The Title X health center will offer contraceptives, pregnancy tests and other reproductive health services to residents throughout Missouri.

Dr. Jeannie Kelly of Washington University discusses pregnancy care in a post-Roe world.

The Down syndrome provision is part of a Missouri law enacted in 2019 that prohibits abortions at eight, 14, 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It has yet to take effect, after being blocked by courts.

Many pregnant women have not gotten vaccinated against COVID-19. As the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic hits the St. Louis region, many of them are ending up in the ICU.