Research on pregnancy and the health of mothers and babies. Covers prenatal exposures, medication safety, anaemia, fetal development, and maternal care.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a physiological test to predict autism risk in pregnant mothers. The study found that differences in plasma metabolites indicate an increased risk of having a child with ASD, with a relative risk of 18.7 percent vs 1.7 percent.
Research suggests that consuming fatty fish during pregnancy can enhance babies' brain function and visual development. The study analyzed 56 mothers and their children, finding that those who ate fish three or more times a week had better test results for visual functioning and maturational changes.
A high-gluten diet during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes in children, according to a large observational study. The researchers found that the child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes increased proportionally with the mother's gluten intake during pregnancy.
Researchers found that women who experienced higher levels of trauma and secreted higher levels of cortisol in late pregnancy had male infants with lower birth weights, averaging a 38-gram decrease. The study's results suggest that maternal trauma can have lasting effects on fetal development.
Research by Professor Wing Hung Tam and colleagues found that excessive or inadequate weight gain during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic problems in children aged 7, including higher blood pressure and poor blood sugar control. The study suggests balancing weight gain to minimize adverse outcomes while co...
New research finds tiny particles of carbon in placentas, suggesting air pollution can affect foetal development. The study reveals that sooty particles from the mother's lungs can reach the placenta via the bloodstream.
A randomised controlled trial found that high dose folic acid supplementation beyond the first trimester has no benefit for preventing pre-eclampsia. However, low dose folic acid supplements before and during early pregnancy are still strongly recommended to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.
A new study conducted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia found that high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) air purifiers can decrease fine particulate matter by 29% and lead to babies weighing up to 85 grams more at term. The results provide further evidence of the negative impact of air pollution exposure during pregnancy on fetal growth.
Mothers with elevated blood glucose during pregnancy were more likely to develop type 2 diabetes a decade after giving birth. Children born to mothers with high blood glucose also had a higher risk of obesity, even when adjusted for the mother's BMI.
A new study found that pregnant overweight and obese women can limit their weight gain with diet and exercise interventions, reducing complications but not impacting birth weight. The trials included diverse socioeconomic groups and showed that reduced weight gain did not result in fewer obstetrical complications.
A new smartphone-based research platform has been developed to recruit a large and diverse population of pregnant women for a study. The platform, built using Apple's ResearchKit technology, was embedded into the popular WebMD Pregnancy app and connected researchers with over 1.6 million potential participants.
Researchers aim to explore treatment for birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly by studying how the neural tube closes, with $3.2 million from the NIH. A hybrid microscope combining Brillouin spectroscopy and OCT will help understand mechanical properties controlling neural tube closure in developing embryos.
A study of 736 pregnant women found that fish oil supplements led to a sustained increase in BMI, primarily due to proportional increases in lean and bone mass. By age 6, children whose mothers took fish oil supplements had higher total mass, lean mass, bone mineral content, and fat mass compared to those who received olive oil.
The USPSTF reaffirms the importance of syphilis screening in pregnant women due to the increased risk of congenital syphilis. Untreated syphilis can lead to stillbirth, neonatal death, and significant illness in infants.
A new study suggests that wearing a device around the waist to prevent supine sleep in late pregnancy can improve both maternal and fetal health outcomes. The intervention reduced supine sleep time and increased minimum oxygen saturations, with minimal impact on maternal perception of sleep quality.
A new study by Hanna Grol-Prokopczyk found that celebrities in the US have lower rates of out-of-wedlock births compared to the general population, but this disparity is seen among white women with college education. Celebrity news outlets like People magazine may be contributing to a shift towards more non-traditional family arrangeme...
A study by the University of Nottingham discovered that a lack of protein in a father's diet can negatively impact his offspring's long-term health. The research found that low-protein diets affect sperm quality, leading to increased obesity, type 2 diabetes, and reduced metabolic gene expression in offspring.
Researchers analyzed data from over 5,700 pregnant women with heart disease and found that fewer deaths occurred during pregnancy compared to previous years. However, nearly one in ten women with pulmonary arterial hypertension died during pregnancy or early post-partum. Pre-pregnancy counseling is crucial to identify high-risk patients.
Guidelines recommend inducing labour or caesarean section at 40 weeks to minimize pregnancy risks, particularly for women with congenital heart disease. Women with heart disease face higher mortality risk during pregnancy compared to healthy counterparts.
A study analyzing over 220,000 pregnancies found that women with mild or severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy had a greater likelihood of using marijuana during the first trimester. The overall frequency of marijuana use among pregnant women was 5.3 percent.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that pregnant women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy were significantly more likely to have used marijuana during pregnancy. Women with severe nausea and vomiting had nearly four times greater odds of prenatal marijuana use than those without symptoms.
A new study examines the scope of US state policies targeting drug use during pregnancy, revealing a trend towards punitive laws that limit access to treatment and services for pregnant women. Supportive policies are scarce, with only 12 states having such laws in place as of 2016.
A study of 30,000 pregnant women across nine European cities found associations between socio-economic status and exposure to environmental hazards such as air pollution, noise, and lack of green spaces. The findings highlight the need for urban planners to address environmental inequalities to reduce health disparities in pregnancy.
Researchers found that a blood test conducted as early as the 10th week of pregnancy may help identify women at risk for gestational diabetes. The study suggests that measuring HbA1c levels in early pregnancy could determine a woman's later risk for the condition, allowing for lifestyle changes to reduce the risk.
A Finnish national birth cohort study linked DDT metabolite exposure to increased autism risk in offspring. Maternal blood analyzed for DDE and PCBs found higher odds of autism with intellectual disability among offspring exposed to elevated DDE levels, persisting after adjusting for confounding factors.
The Phase 1 clinical trial will analyze the immune response and assess the safety of the experimental vaccine, which has shown promise in earlier tests in rhesus macaques. The trial is designed to enroll 28 healthy adults and will last up to one year.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that high maternal cortisol levels during pregnancy are associated with anxious and depressive-like behaviors in female offspring at the age of 2. The effect is linked to altered brain connectivity, particularly in the amygdala region important for emotion processing.
A novel finger-prick test is 100% sensitive and specific for detecting Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy. The test can rapidly inform obstetricians about the need for prompt treatment, potentially saving lives and preventing severe brain damage.
Research by University of Notre Dame professors finds prenatal exposure to violence is associated with increased toddler aggression towards their mothers. The study also reveals that intervening early during pregnancy can significantly reduce the negative impact on children.
A study published in CMAJ found that women with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a nearly double rate of having another baby within a year of delivering. Rapid repeat pregnancies are associated with smaller babies, preterm birth, and other adverse effects.
A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that wearing a physician's white coat does not affect patient satisfaction or communication. Researchers discovered that patients were often unable to remember if their physicians were wearing white coats, with 40% reporting they couldn't recall.
Postpartum depression is no longer seen as primarily a female reproductive issue, with new research suggesting that men experience comparable rates of depression after childbirth. Cultural and hormonal factors are being reevaluated in light of the findings.
A new national study has found that inducing labor in first-time mothers at 39 weeks can lower respiratory problems and potentially decrease cesarean rates and hypertension. Researchers suggest discussing induction with healthcare providers to inform the decision, as it may lead to significant changes in pregnancy management.
A study found that inducing labor at 39 weeks in healthy women reduces the need for cesarean sections and is as safe as waiting for spontaneous labor. The procedure may also lower the risk of preeclampsia and respiratory issues in newborns.
A low-protein diet during pregnancy and lactation may increase the risk of prostate cancer in offspring, according to a study with rats. The study found that females fed a low-protein diet had offspring with preneoplastic alterations capable of interfering with glandular function.
Researchers used heart imaging technology to study hearts of pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, finding higher contraction pressures in right ventricles and abnormal relaxation rates. This led to overwork and poor pumping ability, increasing risk of heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.
Researchers found that injectable trace mineral Multimin90 improved conception rates in some herds, but not others. In one study, selenium and copper status improved compared to saline injections. The value of injectables lies in ensuring every animal receives the supplement at a chosen timing.
Research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found pregnant women with low EPA+DHA serum levels had a significantly higher risk of early preterm birth compared to those with higher levels. The study suggests that adequate intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy may help prevent preterm birth.
A new study finds that biased cultures and policies can lead to dissatisfaction among childbearing surgical residents. The researchers identified three main risk factors: change in training plans due to balancing parenting with professional pursuits, perceived stigma around pregnancy, and lack of maternity leave policies.
Researchers found that thalidomide acts by promoting the degradation of transcription factors, including SALL4, leading to limb and fetal growth complications. The study's findings will help guide development of new anticancer drugs with a similar scaffold.
Research in genetically altered mice reveals that paternal genes can affect the type of care a mother provides to her offspring both before and after birth. This study suggests that a father's genes can impact maternal behavior, potentially affecting the wellbeing of the new baby and their lifelong mental health.
A Northwestern University study suggests that multiple pregnancies can lead to accelerated biological aging in women, as measured by telomere length and epigenetic age. Women with more pregnancies showed signs of faster cellular aging, even when currently pregnant, which challenges the idea that pregnancy itself makes women look younger.
A QUT-led study found that women who received continuity of care, lived outside major cities, and had minimal medical intervention during labor were more likely to have a 'normal' birth. The research aims to empower pregnant women with the information they need to make informed decisions about their maternity care.
A study by the University of York found that over 40% of pregnant women in Pakistan are exposed to secondhand smoke, resulting in approximately 17,000 still births annually. This exposure increases the risk of stillbirth, congenital malformations, and respiratory illnesses.
Researcher Guro Strøm Solli studied Marit Bjørgen's pre- and post-pregnancy training regime, revealing how she trained at moderate intensity despite experiencing weight gain and physiological changes. Bjørgen's high-training volume during pregnancy was also remarkable, with 555 hours of training in 316 sessions.
A new study reveals that practicing yoga during pregnancy activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to improved sleep quality and reduced stress levels. The research also found a decrease in alpha-amylase levels, indicating a reduction in stress response.
The risk of having a heart attack during pregnancy has increased by 25% among American women between 2002 and 2014, according to a new study. The study found that the death rate from heart attacks remains high despite advances in treating these conditions.
Exposure to nicotine during pregnancy may impair a baby's cardiorespiratory responses, increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Nicotine replacement therapies may not protect infants from SIDS, and their use is not considered safe during pregnancy.
Researchers found that a mother's microbiome determines the risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in her offspring. By manipulating the microbiome through diet or probiotics, it may be possible to prevent autism-like disorders.
A study found that women with a history of pregnancy, particularly those giving birth to five or more children, may be at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Incomplete pregnancies were also shown to reduce the likelihood of Alzheimer's development.
Research finds that babies born to mothers with depression in pregnancy show altered behavior and biological changes, linked to depression-induced inflammation. These changes may contribute to a higher risk of depression in children born to depressed mothers as adults.
An observational study published in the BMJ Open journal found a strong association between an unhealthy blood fat profile before pregnancy and lower fertility rates. Women with high cholesterol, triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol were more likely to have only one or no children.
Researchers found higher rates of prenatal depression among young pregnant women compared to their mothers' generation in the 1990s. The study suggests that depression may be more common today among pregnant women due to various factors requiring further investigation.
A new study by Vanderbilt University found that opioid treatment programs in Appalachian states have limited capacity, with only 50% accepting insurance. Pregnant women are particularly excluded, with shorter wait times only when accepted to treatment programs.
Studies of over 4,000 mothers found that male and female babies have different genetic profiles in their placentas, which affect the levels of spermine metabolites. Higher levels of a specific form of spermine were associated with increased risks of pre-eclampsia and poor fetal growth.
Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed a lab-on-a-chip technology that can detect a wide range of fetal genetic abnormalities in early pregnancy. The non-invasive test uses blood samples to isolate fetal cells, providing more information for families and healthcare providers.
A recent study found that suppressing fears during a health scare can lead to higher levels of fear and emotional suppression. Researchers suggest that providing quality information and preparing the public for disease outbreaks can help mitigate this cycle.
A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that exposing newborn mice to vaginal microbes from stressed female mice can transfer the effects of stress to the newborns. The study indicates that maternal stress affects brain development in offspring and may be influenced by the vaginal microbiota.
Researchers found that teenagers at age 15 had an excess weight of actual fat in their body of 1.7kg if their mothers did not think their actions would make a difference and held a laissez-faire attitude.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria screening in pregnancy may reduce kidney infections and low birth weight, but evidence is low-quality. Women's values and preferences play a significant role in screening decisions.