Articles tagged with Pregnancy
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that BPA exposure is associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys. The study suggests a potential link between BPA exposure and altered fetal development and cognitive function.
A new study found that providing free birth control reduced unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by 62-78%. Most women chose long-acting methods like IUDs or implants, which have lower failure rates than commonly used birth control pills. The study enrolled 9,256 women and adolescents in the St. Louis area between 2007 and 2011.
A new mathematical model uses menstrual cycle data to predict conception chances and identify potential fertility issues. The analysis suggests that older couples are more likely to experience low fertility, making it essential for them to seek medical attention sooner.
A study of 398 men found that those whose mothers had high blood pressure during pregnancy scored lower on thinking ability tests at age 69 compared to those whose mothers did not have high blood pressure. This effect was strongest for math-related reasoning and persisted even after controlling for other factors.
Researchers found that men whose mothers had high blood pressure during pregnancy scored lower on thinking ability tests at age 69 and had a greater decline over time. The study also did not find an association between premature birth or the father's occupation.
A new study published in The FASEB Journal suggests that being born with a low birth weight may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetes later in life. Researchers found that older female rats had a reduced ability to become pregnant and carried babies that were smaller or lighter in weight.
Researchers investigate whether maternal exercise during pregnancy can lead to a reduced risk of cancer in offspring. Previous studies show improved glucose regulation and enhanced stress protection in exercised mice offspring.
Despite the need for a male version of the oral contraceptive pill, pharmaceutical companies have discontinued research due to significant challenges. New research on non-hormonal male contraceptives offers hope for the development of a male birth control pill within a decade.
A new study published in Nature suggests that vaccines could be developed to prevent premature birth and pregnancy complications by stimulating the production of immune suppressive cells. These cells, which are generated during pregnancy, can tolerate foreign antigens and provide protection to the fetus.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that male DNA is commonly detected in the brains of women, possibly derived from previous pregnancies with male fetuses. The research suggests that fetal cells may frequently cross the human blood-brain barrier, leading to microchimerism in the brain.
A study by Moffitt Cancer Center researchers found that a series of ten self-help booklets helped nearly 70% of pregnant women remain smoke-free after giving birth. The booklets provided detailed information on quitting cigarettes during and after pregnancy, with varying effects based on household income and age.
A new study from the University of Michigan found that women who start snoring during pregnancy are at increased risk for developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia. The research suggests that treating underlying sleep-disordered breathing may help mitigate up to 19% of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Researchers studied mouse offspring to investigate the effects of high-fat diet during pregnancy on microcirculation networks. The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, aims to understand how maternal diet influences adult diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Researchers found that a mother's diet before pregnancy can induce epigenetic changes in her genes, which are then inherited by her offspring. These changes affect the metabolism of essential fatty acids in the pups' livers. The study suggests a potential link between maternal nutrition and children's health outcomes.
Consuming greater amounts of choline during pregnancy may lower an infant's vulnerability to stress-related illnesses later in life. Higher maternal choline intake led to a more stable hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in less cortisol and a reduced risk of chronic conditions.
The study found that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with higher rates of preeclampsia, cesarean deliveries, and NICU admissions. Women with sleep apnea were more likely to deliver babies with respiratory distress, highlighting the need for better screening and treatment during pregnancy.
Yuk Ming Dennis Lo received the Illy Trieste Science Prize for developing non-invasive prenatal diagnosis technology that can scan a fetus's genome from a pregnant mother's blood sample. This technology has reduced reliance on invasive methods and offers concrete benefits to both mothers and fetuses during pregnancy.
Researchers discovered that a protein called SIRT1 rewrites the histone code in developing fetuses, affecting their likelihood of being overweight or obese. Modifying fat intake during pregnancy to a moderate level can benefit children, regardless of mother's size.
A new study by experts at CRAMC University reveals that newborns exposed to nicotine from active and passive smoking mothers show poor physiological, sensory, motor, and attention responses. The researchers analyzed the behavior of 282 healthy newborns using the Neonatal Behavioural Evaluation Scale.
The ACA's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is providing a temporary coverage option for people with pre-existing health conditions until the new state exchanges are implemented in 2014. State-run high-risk pools, while helpful as a stop-gap measure, are expensive to run and often unaffordable for those who need them.
A study found that abnormal endocannabinoid signaling in mouse embryos can disrupt placental development and lead to pregnancy problems. Researchers hope the findings will inform studies on the causes of preeclampsia, a medical condition affecting mothers and children.
Researchers discovered that severely obese women have a higher incidence of eggs with multiple spindles and disorganized chromosomes, reducing fertilization chances. The study highlights an underlying egg problem in women with high body mass index, affecting IVF success rates.
The study found that women with heart disease can safely go through pregnancy if adequately evaluated, counseled, and receive high-quality care. However, developing countries have poorer outcomes due to limited access to better care, while cardiomyopathy patients face higher mortality rates.
Researchers found that maternal exposure to high-fat diets and excess estrogens during pregnancy increases breast cancer risk in daughters, granddaughters, and even great-granddaughters. The study suggests that biological alterations caused by maternal diet affect the offspring's breast tissue and make it more sensitive to carcinogens.
Research finds epigenetic alterations can transmit increased breast cancer risk to subsequent generations without genetic mutation. High-fat diets and excess estrogen during pregnancy may increase cancer risk in offspring.
Researchers found that nearly 5 percent of pregnant women are prescribed high blood pressure drugs, including some considered unsafe for mothers and babies, according to new research. The study highlights the need for more research on safe and effective antihypertensives during pregnancy.
A Vanderbilt study found that pregnant women who have had prior preterm births may benefit from additional hormone, progestogens, to prevent early childbirth. However, the review also found that progestogens do not seem to help prevent preterm labor in women carrying twins or triplets.
Researchers have identified a new molecular pathway leading to preeclampsia in humans, characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine. The imbalance of PlGF and sFlt-1 proteins disrupts placental blood supply, affecting the mother and unborn baby.
Preeclampsia is a significant risk factor for long-term health issues, including chronic hypertension and hospitalizations. The study, published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, found patients with preeclampsia had higher rates of chronic hypertension diagnosed after pregnancy.
A study found that prenatal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk of adolescent obesity. The authors suggest that this may be due to subtle structural variations in the brain's amygdala, which could influence dietary preferences for fatty foods.
Human pregnancy length is limited by a mother's metabolism, not birth canal size, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The EGG hypothesis suggests that babies are born when their mother cannot put any more energy into gestation and fetal growth.
A new study finds that everyday discrimination against pregnant women of color may contribute to low birth weight babies. Women who experienced more discrimination reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, leading to babies with lower birth weights. The study suggests reducing discrimination could eliminate health disparities in b...
Researchers have developed a new imaging technique that can detect subtle changes in fetal brain structure and facial features associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. The study's findings suggest that the timing of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy can influence the severity and type of birth defects, expanding the scope for dia...
A new study suggests pregnancy could have a positive impact on bipolar disorder, with fewer and shorter episodes in pregnant women. The study's findings call for large, multicenter, prospective studies to better understand the natural course of the disorder.
Maternal smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of wheeze and asthma in preschool children, with a dose-response pattern related to maternal cigarette consumption. Exposure to maternal smoking before birth and early life is associated with an increased likelihood of developing respiratory symptoms.
Research warns that highly potent marijuana and synthetic marijuana pose a real threat to pregnant women's unborn children. These substances contain high levels of THC, which can interfere with brain development as early as two weeks after conception.
Pregnant women experiencing depression may benefit from mindfulness yoga, which can significantly reduce depressive symptoms and improve attachment to their babies. This study provides promising evidence that yoga could be an effective alternative to pharmaceutical treatment for pregnant women showing signs of depression.
A new paper reveals the off-label use of dexamethasone to engineer fetal sex in pregnant women at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The synthetic steroid is known to cause significant developmental changes, raising questions about the ethics of prenatal experimentation.
Research suggests that pregnant women's gut microbes become less diverse and healthier bacteria decrease in abundance over time, promoting energy storage and supporting fetal growth. These changes can have negative consequences outside of pregnancy, leading to conditions like type 2 diabetes.
A recent study by Ellen Langer found that first-time mothers who practice mindfulness during pregnancy report better well-being, positive feelings, and lower emotional distress. The research suggests that mindfulness can have a positive impact on health and happiness beyond just the mother's own well-being.
Researchers analyzed jailhouse phone calls between men charged with felony domestic violence and their victims, revealing that violence often followed accusations of sexual infidelity. The study also found chronic stressors like unmet mental health needs and traditional gender roles contributed to abuse.
A recent report by Queen Mary University of London reveals that congenital anomalies are underreported due to lack of national surveillance, with 2.2% of babies affected in England and Wales in 2010. The prevalence of anomalies was consistent with those in other European registers.
The state of Michigan has adopted a new plan to combat infant mortality, which includes the use of progesterone therapy to reduce preterm birth. This therapy has been shown to reduce the rate of preterm birth by up to 45% in women with a short cervix.
A diet high in choline during pregnancy may lower the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes in offspring. Choline, found in eggs, helps protect against prenatal stress effects on fetal development.
A new study associates excess maternal iodine supplementation with congenital hypothyroidism, a condition that can lead to neurocognitive impairments if left untreated. The research highlights the potential hazard of exceeding the safe upper limit for daily iodine ingestion during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
A NIH study found that fetal alcohol exposure is associated with abnormal intellectual and behavioral development in children, rather than distinct facial features. The researchers documented cognitive delays, language delays, hyperactivity, attention deficits, and intellectual delays in about 44% of exposed children.
A study of over 9,600 children in Chile found that 80% had one or more abnormalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure, with functional neurologic impairment being the most frequent. This highlights the importance of considering prenatal alcohol exposure as a potential risk factor for functional deficits in offspring.
Researchers at Shoklo Malaria Research Unit found a six-fold decline in maternal mortality from 499 to 79 amongst refugees between 1986 and 2010. Frequent antenatal screening significantly reduced malaria-related deaths, with the number falling from an estimated 1,000 deaths per 100,000 pregnant women before screening to zero in 2005.
A recent study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that delivering a high-birth-weight infant more than doubles a woman's breast cancer risk. The researchers suggest that this increased risk is due to an elevated hormonal environment during pregnancy, which creates a pro-carcinogenic effect.
Research found associations between exposure to certain organic solvents and an increased risk of heart defects in newborns. The study, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, suggests that workplace exposure to organic solvents may be a potential risk factor for several types of congenital heart defects at birth.
The NYC trans fat ban resulted in a significant reduction of trans fat consumption among fast food patrons, with a notable decrease in saturated fat intake. Young women who have never been pregnant are also at risk for urinary incontinence, affecting up to 12.6% of those surveyed. Prophylactic antidepressant therapy may help prevent tr...
A systematic review found that the level of evidence for emergency obstetric referral interventions is poor, making it difficult to determine their effectiveness. The design limitations of individual studies also hindered the assessment of referral interventions.
Research from Tufts University found that being born to an obese mother with elevated hepcidin levels is associated with lower iron status at birth. Overproduction of hepcidin interferes with the transfer of iron from mother to infant, potentially leading to health problems.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology announces a breakthrough in fertility preservation, with Italy's first successful pregnancy and live birth after cryopreserving ovarian tissue. The technique has shown promising results, even after lengthy storage periods.
A meta-analysis suggests that freezing all embryos for later transfer in a non-stimulated cycle may improve implantation and pregnancy rates, reducing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) associated with fresh embryo transfers. The study found a relative risk of 1.31 for clinical pregnancies, with higher ongoing pregnan...
A Danish study found that women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day have a 50% reduced chance of success in IVF treatment. The live birth rate was also lower by 40%. The researchers suggest that women should not consume more than five cups of coffee a day when undergoing IVF.
Researchers found that smoking reduces the production of a key gene called BAD in Fallopian tubes, creating an environment conducive to ectopic pregnancies. This finding may lead to new ways to prevent and diagnose ectopic pregnancies.
A new study presents the largest number of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) treatments for BRCA1/2 in Europe, with a significant proportion of successful pregnancies. The results suggest that PGD offers an established option for couples seeking to avoid inherited BRCA mutations.
A new UCLA study published in Basic Research in Cardiology found that heart attacks in late pregnancy result in worse heart function and more damaged heart tissue than in non-pregnant females. The research suggests that the heart may be particularly vulnerable to injury during this critical period, but partially recovers after giving b...
A study by Princeton University researchers reveals that expectant mothers who experienced a hurricane or major tropical storm during pregnancy had children at elevated risk for abnormal health conditions at birth. The study controlled for other factors and found increased risk following exposure to weather-related stressors in the fir...