Articles tagged with Childbirth
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 longitudinal study by the University of Sussex found that new mothers' voices temporarily drop after childbirth, becoming lower-pitched and more monotonous. The researchers analyzed women's voices over a 10-year period and found that this 'vocal masculinising' is not caused by aging.
Research reveals a significant rise in postpartum haemorrhage in Victoria, with one in five women experiencing primary blood loss after childbirth. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring and treatment protocols to address this concerning trend.
A new study found that warm showers and perineal exercises with a ball during childbirth can significantly lessen pain, anxiety, and stress. The interventions were shown to increase well-being hormones and are considered safe, low-cost practices that can be used as an adjuvant to medications.
Research by NICM Health Research Institute and Western Sydney University finds effective childbirth education programmes can reduce caesarean births, saving the healthcare system millions annually. The study suggests antenatal education could reduce birth-related healthcare costs by up to nine percent.
A University of Cincinnati study reveals that TV's influence on pregnancy and childbirth is stronger than many women think, with educated women downplaying its impact. However, those with lower education levels often rely on reality TV as a valuable source of information.
A new analysis reveals a significant increase in maternal mortality rates in Texas, with a 87% rise from 2006-2010 to 2011-2015. The study emphasizes the importance of accurate reporting of maternal deaths to inform prevention efforts and save lives.
A new study in India found that a checklist and coaching intervention significantly improved the quality of care during labor and delivery, with major gains in proper administration of oxytocin, initiation of breastfeeding, and skin-to-skin contact. However, despite these improvements, death rates remained unchanged.
A recent survey found that 16%-48% of participants believed vaginal birth was harmful to sexuality, despite research contradicting these claims. Individuals who endorsed these beliefs were more likely to hold negative attitudes toward female genitalia and rely on reality-based information.
A meta-analysis of over 40,000 patients found that the likelihood of death due to blood loss was reduced by over 70% if the low-cost drug was given immediately after injury or birth. The survival benefit rose to 70% if treatment was administered promptly, with a 10% decrease in survival benefit for every 15-minute delay.
A study introduced a simplified childbirth guide at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital in Zanzibar, reducing stillbirths by 33% and improving newborn health. The PartoMa guidelines, developed with local doctors and midwives, have been widely adopted and are being used to inform healthcare policies in low-income countries.
A recent study by Philipp Mitteroecker and colleagues used the cliff edge model to predict that women born by Caesarean are more likely to develop FPD in their own childbirth, with a 2.8 times higher risk compared to women born vaginally.
A USAID-funded campaign in Tanzania linked to increased prenatal visits, birth planning, and improved maternal health outcomes. The study found that women exposed to the campaign were more likely to create birth plans, attend prenatal appointments, and give birth at a health facility.
A University of British Columbia study suggests that providing women with early knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth can help reduce unnecessary Caesarean deliveries. Young women who had sufficient information on childbirth preferred vaginal births over Caesarean deliveries by a significant margin.
Research by University of Kent shows that flexible work arrangements can help women stay in their jobs after having a child. The study found that women who used flexitime were half as likely to reduce their hours, with those who used it before and after childbirth experiencing the greatest benefit.
A recent study found that media portrayals of pregnant women and new moms are often unrealistic, leading to negative emotions such as self-consciousness and depression. Women reported feeling pressure to lose weight quickly after childbirth and being influenced by social media, which can foster competition and guilt.
A community-led intervention in Tanzania reduced disrespect and abuse during childbirth by 66%, with notable decreases in physical abuse and neglect. The study suggests that individual behavior change, organizational systems change, and deeper societal transformation are necessary to eliminate disrespect and abuse.
A study from researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison and UCSF found that mindfulness training during pregnancy can reduce depression symptoms in new mothers. The study showed a decrease in opioid-based pain medication use during labor among the mindfulness group, suggesting a potential benefit for infant health.
Research suggests that access to IUDs and implants immediately after childbirth increased sevenfold between 2008 and 2013, but still remains less than 2% of sterilization rates. The service is largely unavailable at non-teaching hospitals, affecting poorer women delivering in urban areas.
A global trial found that administering tranexamic acid within three hours of giving birth reduced death due to bleeding by 31%, with no side effects. The study also showed a significant reduction in the need for urgent surgery, saving up to 36% of mothers' lives.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 65% of women covered by Medicaid or CHIP at delivery were uninsured for at least one month during their pregnancies. The study highlights the need to improve continuity of coverage during the prenatal and postpartum periods, especially for lower-income women.
A study by Kansas State University researcher Emily Mailey found that new moms who followed a more flexible approach to exercise increased physical activity and perceived barriers to be less surmountable. The flexible program allowed mothers to choose their favorite exercise, increasing prolonged physical activity.
A nutritional supplement kit, developed to counter mood-altering brain changes linked to depression, virtually eliminated the 'baby blues' among women. The kit, consisting of three supplements, was found to reduce depressive symptoms and increase resilience against sad events.
The SAFE PASSAGES program has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of perineal trauma and Cesarean sections while also improving overall childbirth outcomes. By implementing specific interventions such as eliminating midline episiotomies, the program has demonstrated a reduction in severe perineal lacerations by over 300%.
A new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School found that women choosing to become first-time mothers later in life may increase their chances of living into their 90s. Women who had their first child at age 25 or older were more likely to live to age 90.
A University at Buffalo sociologist found that celebrity news coverage contributed to changing family norms, making non-marital births more accepted. The study analyzed People magazine covers and showed a shift from presenting unmarried pregnancies as problems to happy, morally unproblematic events.
A study found that mothers who underwent bariatric surgery less than two years before childbirth had higher risks for prematurity, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and small for gestational age status compared to those with longer intervals. The optimal timing between bariatric surgery and conception is undefined.
A Taiwanese study of almost 1.4 million births found that pregnant women with maternal chronic diseases have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with severe congenital heart disease. The study also found a slightly increased risk of mild congenital heart disease in offspring of mothers with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Women who undergo gastric bypass surgery for weight loss may give birth to babies with lower average birth weights due to nutrient deficiencies. The study found that 23% of newborns were small for their gestational age and had lower levels of key nutrients like calcium and zinc.
Research suggests that women experiencing persistent childbirth pain are more likely to develop postnatal depression following birth. A study conducted in 2016 found that women with persistent pain had significantly higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale compared to those whose pain resolved within four weeks.
A study found that traumatic childhood experiences have a profound impact on the mental health of healthcare professionals, causing them to think more deeply about life's meaning. The findings highlight the need for adequate support for clinicians in the aftermath of traumatic childbirth.
A meta-analysis published in European Urology found that vaginal delivery increases the risk of stress urinary incontinence by almost twice, with an absolute risk increase of 8%, compared to caesarean section. The effect is more pronounced in younger women and decreases over time.
A recent UT study found a decrease in highly effective contraceptive services and an increase in Medicaid-paid childbirths after Planned Parenthood was removed from a Texas women's health program. The researchers also discovered that the removal led to a significant drop in claims for long-acting, reversible contraceptives like implant...
A new app called QUiPP was tested in high-risk women to predict preterm birth risk. The app performed well as a predictive tool, outperforming individual factors like cervical length and fetal fibronectin levels.
A new study by King's College London found that measuring fetal fibronectin at 18-21 weeks of gestation offers a similar predictive value to measurements at 22-27 weeks for spontaneous preterm birth. Combining cervical length with the biomarker test improves diagnostic accuracy.
A new study uses MRI to diagnose childbirth injuries, revealing that up to a quarter of women suffer from fractures and muscle tears. Women may take eight months or longer to heal, and Kegel exercises often don't work as expected.
A new study suggests that a common approach to vaginal birth and team work can increase the rate of vaginal births after caesarean sections. The study, led by Professor Ingela Lundgren, found that women should be involved in decision-making and receive faith and support.
Women with multiple sclerosis who breastfed exclusively for two months had a lower risk of relapse during the first six months after giving birth compared to those who did not breastfeed. Exclusive breastfeeding may reduce postpartum MS relapse risk but disease activity returns once regular feedings are introduced.
Women undergoing fertility treatment face a higher risk of depression after giving birth compared to those who don't have a child. The Danish research found that women who give birth after fertility treatment are five times more likely to develop depression in the first six weeks after birth.
A University of Alberta study found that prenatal exercise lowers the risk of Caesarean sections and larger-than-average babies. Women who exercised had a 31% lower risk of giving birth to an oversized baby without increasing the risk of smaller or earlier births.
A Monash University study found that women's expectations and attitudes about birth are shaped by popular media, particularly magazines, leading to biased decision-making. Women exposed to magazine articles endorsing non-medicalised birth were more likely to change their intention towards a natural birth.
A recent study has identified a correlation between human head size, pelvis shape and childbirth difficulties. The research found that women with larger heads tend to have shorter birth canals, which may ease the obstetric dilemma.
Actor Stephen McGann, who plays GP Dr Patrick Turner in Call the Midwife, describes steps taken to ensure medical accuracy and authenticity. The series has helped disseminate valuable insights into important public health issues.
A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that breastfeeding for at least 90 days can significantly reduce smoking in the months following childbirth. The study, which followed 168 pregnant smokers, discovered that breastfeeding was the only significant predictor of change in smoking behaviors among these women.
A study of 155 breastfeeding women in Manila found that they experienced an increase in sexual activity after childbirth, which may be a strategy to maintain relationships and invest in future children. This suggests that women's priorities shift from mating efforts to parenting efforts during the postpartum period.
A new study suggests that maternal age at childbirth may affect glucose metabolism in adult male children. Research found that sons of mothers under 25 or over 34 years old were more insulin resistant and had higher fasting blood sugar levels compared to those whose mothers gave birth between 30 and 34 years old.
Research reveals that Bangladeshi garment factory jobs lower the risk of early marriage and childbirth for young women, promoting their education. The industry's growth also boosts girls' educational attainment by 50% in areas close to factories.
A study found that extremely low birth weight babies are more likely to develop psychiatric problems like depression and ADHD as adults. However, those who received steroids during pregnancy were not protected against these issues.
A study in Bangladesh found that daily maternal supplementation with multiple micronutrients compared to iron-folic acid before and after childbirth resulted in significant reductions in preterm births (18.6 vs 21.8 per 100 live births) and low birth weight (40.2 vs 45.7 per 100 live births). However, it did not reduce infant mortality...
A lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in birth settings is killing mothers and newborns in the developing world, a new publication reports. The World Health Organization and other organizations are calling on governments to take action to save lives and enable skilled health workers to do their jobs.
A study of 320 women finds that peak and end levels of pain experienced during childbirth are strong predictors of recalled pain, while duration of labor is not. Additionally, receiving an epidural may influence women's memory for labor pain, with those who received epidurals remembering lower levels of pain.
A US study found significant variability in maternal outcomes across hospitals, with complication rates varying five-fold between high- and low-performing facilities. Researchers recommend a national quality reporting system to improve maternal outcomes for over 4 million women who give birth annually.
A new study found that controlling pain during childbirth and post delivery may reduce the risk of postpartum depression. Women who had epidural anesthesia during labor had a significantly lower rate of depression compared to those without pain control.
A study found that women who experienced a third or fourth degree perineal tear in a previous delivery have a five-fold increased risk of severe tearing in subsequent births. The study analyzed data from over 639,000 first-time mothers and revealed that elective caesarean sections were more common among those with a previous tear.
Foaling mares in horses show minimal stress response during labor, contrary to human mothers. The study, published in Theriogenology, suggests that the parasympathetic nervous system plays a dominant role in regulating foaling, allowing for a state of relaxation and calmness.
A Michigan State University study found that women with a strong 'I can' mentality during pregnancy and postpartum periods retained less weight and performed more physical activities. The research team measured physical activity levels, barriers to exercise, and the ability to overcome them in 56 women.
A large US study found that cardiac arrest during childbirth is more common than thought, with causes including excessive bleeding, heart failure, and amniotic fluid embolism. The survival rate improved from 52% to 60% between 1998 and 2011.
A study reveals that average US job tenure has been surprisingly stable over time, but there are divergent trends among men and women. Married mothers experienced a significant increase in job tenure due to changes in labor market expectations and workplace accommodations.
A UCSF study found significant variations in hospital charges for uncomplicated vaginal deliveries and C-sections, with estimated discounts ranging from 37% to $71,000. The study highlights the opacity of healthcare pricing in the US, affecting both uninsured and insured patients.
Women with prenatally diagnosed fear of childbirth are at a higher risk of postpartum depression, even those without a history of depression. The study analyzed data from over 500,000 mothers in Finland and found that nearly one-third of women experiencing postpartum depression had no previous history of depression.