News & Alerts

Looking for the latest from SOAP? Members, news media or those with an interest in interview opportunities, please email our staff for more information and follow our social media channels.

SOAP Statement on Oxytocin Shortage

November 2022 -  In August of this year, Fresenius Kabi, one of the major manufacturers of oxytocin, announced disruption in supply due to production delays. The Education Committee of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) produced a SOAP statement on the supply chain concerns. 

>> Download the SOAP Statement on Oxytocin Shortage

Monkeypox - What to Know!

August 2022 - Monkeypox has recently spread across several countries, including the United States. In light of the current outbreak of monkeypox virus infection, the Education Committee of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) is sharing considerations and suggestions.  Please note that these approaches are not to be interpreted as guidelines or standards of care.  

>> Download SOAP Monkeypox - What to Know!  Tipsheet

It’s a ‘Kit’astrophe! SOAP Releases Tips on Epidural Kit Shortage

August 2022 - In preparation for a potential disruption of epidural kit supplies, the Patient Safety Subcommittee of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) is sharing considerations and alternatives. Please note that these approaches are not to be interpreted as guidelines or standards of care.

>> Download SOAP Tips on Epidural Kit Shortage

SOAP Joins 75+ Associations for Joint Statement

July 2022 - In reaction to the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) and more than 75 other leading medical and health care organizations joined together to release a statement condemning interference in the patient-clinician relationship.

>> View the Joint Statement 

SOAP Announces SOAP-FAER Mentored Research Training Grant

July 2022 - SOAP announced it has teamed with the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) to offer a co-sponsored SOAP-FAER Mentored Research Training Grant. The grant will launch during FAER's Spring 2023 Grant Cycle. Download our press release to learn more.

 SOAP Announces New Board of Directors 

July 2022 - SOAP has announced the 2022-2023 Board of Directors. As the governing body of SOAP, the Board is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization, with a vision of safe and equitable care for women and newborns everywhere. Download our press release or visit the Board webpage to learn more. 

SOAP Statement on United States Supreme Court Opinion Overturning Roe v. Wade

July 2022 - In light of the Supreme Court decision of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that overturns Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, thereby making the legality of abortion a state issue, SOAP reiterates and affirms our position statement issued June 1, 2022.

• Download the statement or read below:

The Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) supports safe and equitable care for pregnant patients and newborns everywhere. This includes providing safe anesthesia and perioperative care to patients in all stages of pregnancy and the peripartum period, regardless of circumstances. Limiting access to safe abortion care for pregnant patients could have significant negative consequences on maternal morbidity and mortality. Consistent with our core values, SOAP believes that people should make their own medical decisions in conjunction with their health care providers, without limitations or bias posed by institutional, legislative or other policies.

 - SOAP Board of Directors

2021 Center of Excellence Designees Announced

May 2022 - SOAP is pleased to recognize the 2021 designees for the prestigious SOAP Center of Excellence. The COE designation recognizes institutions and programs that demonstrate excellence in obstetric anesthesia care, sets a benchmark level of expected care to improve the standards nationally, and provides a broad surrogate quality metric of institutions providing obstetric anesthesia care. Download our press release or contact our headquarters team to learn more.

Joint Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination

July 2021 - SOAP teamed with the American Society of Anesthesiologists and nine other aligned societies to issue a joint statement strongly encouraging all health care personnel to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

• Read the joint statement
• Read the press release issued by ASA

SOAP Announces New Board of Directors 

July 2021 - SOAP has announced the 2021-2022 Board of Directors. As the governing body of SOAP, the Board is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization, with a vision of safe and equitable care for women and newborns everywhere. Download our press release or visit the Board webpage to learn more. 

2020 Center of Excellence Designees Announced

May 2021 - SOAP is pleased to recognize the 2020 designees for the prestigious SOAP Center of Excellence. The COE designation recognizes institutions and programs that demonstrate excellence in obstetric anesthesia care, sets a benchmark level of expected care to improve the standards nationally, and provides a broad surrogate quality metric of institutions providing obstetric anesthesia care. Download our press release or contact our headquarters team to learn more. 

Labor Epidurals Do Not Cause Autism; Safe for Mothers and Infants

Added October 1, 2021:  Findings from 2 new population-based studies in JAMA do not provide supportive evidence for an association between epidural labor analgesia and autism spectrum disorder in children. 

• Mikkelsen AP, Greiber IK, Scheller NM, Lidegaard Ø. Association of Labor Epidural Analgesia With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children. JAMA. 2021;326(12):1170–1177. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.12655
• Hanley GE, Bickford C, Ip A, et al. Association of Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Delivery With Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring. JAMA. 2021;326(12):1178–1185. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14986
• Editorial Comment:  Wong CA, Stevens H. Labor Epidural Analgesia and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There an Association? JAMA. 2021;326(12):1155–1157. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.15369

Added April 21, 2021: SOAP was gratified to receive notification from SOAP members Dr. Brian Bateman and Dr. Alex Butwick that additional research on this critical issue has been published in JAMA Pediatrics. The findings of these comprehensive research studies, published April 19, 2021, found no association between autism and labor epidurals for pain relief. This reinforces our previous statement that labor epidurals are safe. Here are links to the e-published research studies:

• JAMA Pediatrics Article: Association of Epidural Labor Analgesia With Offspring Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders 
• Epidural Analgesia and Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk—The Challenges Inherent in Complex Observational Research
• Editor's Note: More on Epidurals and Autism

In October 2020, SOAP reassured pregnant women that the article “Association Between Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring,” a retrospective database study published in JAMA Pediatrics on October 12, 2020, did not provide credible scientific evidence that labor epidurals for pain relief cause autism. SOAP jointly released a statement with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and provided the following resources.

• Joint Statement (PDF)
• SOAP Town Hall Meeting (Video)
• Infographic in English (PDF)
• Ver Infografía Aquí (PDF)

Media Partners

The following publications are partners with SOAP on the common goal of education, research and improving patient care in obstetric anesthesia. Anesthesia & Analgesia is the official journal of SOAP.