Research on mothers' health, family life, and parenting. Covers maternal wellbeing, vaccination questions, marriage and relationships, and breastfeeding.
A new study suggests that about one in four formerly cohabiting couples with children maintain a romantic relationship. Couples who stay connected tend to have more relationship investments and less family chaos, which can benefit their children.
A study found that young mice require a second round of heat-generating brown fat to survive after their mothers pass away. The findings also reveal that the babies are extremely sensitive to molecular-level effects that change gene dosage.
A recent study published in Current Anthropology reveals that women who did not plan their pregnancies are more likely to stop breastfeeding within three months. The research suggests that unplanned pregnancy leads to emotional and physical discomfort, causing women to resist the close physical connection required by breastfeeding.
A new study reveals that women born to older mothers and taller, thinner girls before puberty are more likely to develop breast cancer. The research suggests that accumulated exposure to hormones during early life influences breast tissue composition and tumour development.
A new study found that breastfeeding improves lung function at school age, particularly in children of asthmatic mothers. Breastfed children showed significant improvements in forced mid-expiratory flow and vital capacity, but not in peak expiratory flow rates.
Research by child psychiatrists and neuroscientists reveals that children with more nurturing mothers have larger hippocampi, a key structure important for learning and memory. The study provides concrete evidence of the powerful effect of early childhood parenting and nurturing on brain development.
A recent study of employed mothers reveals that most would work even if they didn't have to, citing benefits for themselves and their children. The research highlights the importance of finding a balance between work and parenting, with women emphasizing the need for fulfillment over guilt.
A literature review highlights the decisive role of grandmothers in mother and child nutrition and health, particularly in rural and urban areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Grandmothers provide care for women and children, advise on nutrition and health matters, and influence maternal and child nutrition-related practices.
Pregnant women exposed to armed conflict have a higher risk of giving birth to underweight babies due to psychological stress. The study, conducted in the Israeli-occupied territories during the Second Intifada, found a positive association between conflict-related fatalities and low-birth weight children.
Maternal obesity is associated with increased inflammatory responses in both mother and child, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This includes an increased risk of preeclampsia, respiratory tract infections, and later health issues such as allergic disease and metabolic dysfunction.
A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health found that children delivered by cesarean section have an increased risk of developing asthma by age three. This increased risk was particularly seen among children without a hereditary tendency to asthma and allergies.
A simulation model suggests that implementing latest WHO guidelines requires improving access to care and medications, increasing retention of women in care, and supporting adherence to drugs to eliminate pediatric HIV in Zimbabwe.
A Michigan State University scholar refutes the 'tiger mother' philosophy, arguing that a child's happiness is vitally important for their development. Qin found that high-achieving Chinese students are more depressed and anxious than their white counterparts.
A recent study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that mothers who successfully integrate the care of their technology-dependent child into family life experience improved family functioning and normalcy. Mothers whose children no longer require technologies showed the greatest improvement.
A UCSF-led study found that children with biliary atresia who received maternal liver grafts had a failure rate of 3.7%, compared to 10.5% for paternal grafts. The researchers believe higher levels of maternal cells may establish tolerance and acceptance of maternal organs.
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers suggests that a child's emotional relationship with their mother during toddler years may affect their risk of becoming obese as a teenager. The study found that children with poorer-quality early maternal-child relationships were more likely to be obese at age 15.
A study found that extending nevirapine prophylaxis from 6 weeks to 6 months reduces mother-to-child HIV transmission by 54% and is safe for infants. The treatment also resulted in fewer serious adverse events compared to the placebo group.
Research suggests that pregnancy's massive hormonal fluctuations prepare a woman's brain for motherhood, leading to improved stress tolerance and baby sensitivity. However, there may be costs to these changes, and more comprehensive studies are needed to develop interventions for at-risk mothers.
A study by Oregon State University researcher Melissa Cheyney found that midwife-attended home births have better health outcomes, including lower cesarean section rates. Midwives construct woman-centered rituals around pregnancy and birth to put mothers in control, involving family members and downplaying technology.
A new study found fetal alcohol exposure is underestimated or misreported in Italy, with a prevalence of 7.9% among newborns. Meconium biomarkers FAEEs and EtG were used to establish prenatal ethanol exposure.
A new review of literature suggests that infants' early experiences with their caregivers predict their behavior in romantic relationships decades later. This
Mothers working part-time jobs tend to have fewer symptoms of depression and better overall health than those who stay at home. They also show no significant differences in parenting involvement or family life support compared to full-time working mothers.
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Communications identified heat-tolerant rose varieties that performed well despite extreme temperatures. These plants exhibit high levels of black spot tolerance and produce abundant white, single flowers.
A new disinfection system that kills bacteria, viruses, and mold may change the way hospitals are cleaned, saving an estimated $30 billion annually in North America. The technology involves pumping ozone and hydrogen peroxide vapour gas mixture into a room to sterilize surfaces.
A Virginia Tech-led study found that family perspectives are crucial in evacuation planning, with immigrant mothers being particularly vulnerable. The research integrated social science and transportation engineering approaches to model household decision-making and interactions during evacuations.
Research found that antenatal corticosteroids reduced the risk of infant death or neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants born between 23-25 weeks' gestation. The study included data from 10,541 infants and found significant improvements in outcomes for those exposed to antenatal corticosteroids.
Although breastfeeding initiation has improved to 75% globally, the duration remains a concern. A series of articles in Breastfeeding Medicine proposes various approaches to encourage longer duration, including community-based public health programs and prenatal education.
A new study reveals that working mothers spend more time multitasking (48.3 hours/week) compared to working fathers (38.9 hours/week). However, the quality of their multitasking experience is significantly different, with working mothers reporting negative emotions and stress when multitasking at home or in public.
A study found that new mothers and fathers who believe society expects them to be 'perfect' parents show poorer adjustment. However, self-imposed pressure can have benefits for fathers, particularly in terms of parenting satisfaction and stress levels.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that pregnant bottlenose dolphins experience significant reductions in swimming speed and adopt a new gait style as they approach delivery. This is due to the extreme physical changes caused by pregnancy, including increased body size and buoyancy.
Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered that aging yeast cells retain protein aggregates in mother cells during cell division, preventing them from passing on to daughters. This process is facilitated by the limited mobility of protein aggregates and the narrow opening of the bud neck.
Researchers found that seal mothers adopt a wide range of mothering styles, with some being very attentive while others are not. The study also revealed large differences in response to potential dangers among both female and male seals, with no correlation to age or size.
A recent study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Health System found that the text4baby mobile service is increasing users' health knowledge, facilitating interaction with healthcare providers, and improving adherence to appointments and immunizations. The service has already enrolled over 2,200 individuals in San Diego County.
A new study found a significant association between adolescent alcohol consumption and increased risk of benign breast disease among girls with a family history of breast cancer. Consuming more alcohol was linked to a higher risk, particularly in those with rapid height growth spurts.
Researchers found that prenatal exposure to xenoestrogens from urban pollution is associated with higher birth weights in infants. The study established a correlation between estrogenic burden in pregnant women's placenta and increased birth weight.
Researchers identified two key factors increasing the risk of childhood obesity: mothers' weight and smoking during pregnancy. Children born to overweight or smoking mothers were more likely to develop high-rising BMI trajectories, with over 50% obese by middle childhood.
A new study finds that a fetus can sense its mother's mental state through chemical signals. The baby develops better when the environment is consistent before and after birth. Inconsistent conditions, such as a mother going from depressed to healthy or vice versa, slow down fetal development.
A study found that northern muriqui monkey mothers play a key role in their sons' reproductive success, with no evidence of inbreeding. The research suggests that this egalitarian society may be the reason for the species' critical endangered status.
Separating newborns from their mothers stresses the baby, with heart rate variability increasing by 176% and quiet sleep decreasing by 86%. Skin-to-skin contact with mother reduces this stress, but further research is needed to understand its long-term effects.
Dr. Patrick Catalano received the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award for his research showing a link between maternal obesity and an increased risk of metabolic disorders in babies. His work highlights the importance of weight control early in pregnancy to protect children from chronic diseases.
Motherhood is associated with changes in brain function, particularly in the auditory cortex, enabling mothers to recognize and respond to pup distress calls. The study shows a rapid appearance of olfactory-auditory integration in lactating mothers.
Exposure to BPA in the womb is associated with behavior and emotional problems in young girls, according to a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study. Higher gestational BPA concentrations were linked to more hyperactive, aggressive, anxious, and depressed behavior in girls, while boys showed no significant association.
A recent study found that mothers' brains process pup odors and sounds differently than non-mothers, enabling them to detect distress calls. The integration of olfactory and auditory cues is linked to maternal behaviors, suggesting a rapid adaptation in the primary auditory cortex.
Researchers at UC Davis found a genetic variant associated with autoantibodies in pregnant women that may increase their child's risk of developing autism. The study suggests a potential screening test for women at risk of having an autistic child, offering new hope for early intervention and prevention.
A Norwegian study found that folic acid supplements during early pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of severe language delay in children at age 3. The study followed over 38,000 children and found no association with gross motor skills delays.
A new study published in Reproductive Sciences describes the mechanism that keeps these conflicting goals in balance. The placenta tricks the mother by creating a diversion to occupy her lymphocytes, allowing invasive trophoblasts to sneak into her arteries and increase blood flow to the placenta.
Foals weaned in the presence of other mares show reduced stress levels and adapt faster to life without their mothers. Weaning methods can significantly impact stress hormone levels in foals, with gradual separation showing less stress than abrupt removal.
A study from the University of Rochester found that chronic stress disrupts a mother's natural stress response, leading to problematic parenting behaviors. Mothers with higher depressive symptoms exhibited hyperactive stress responses, resulting in harsh and reactive parenting.
A new study from the University of Adelaide reveals a strong link between cardiovascular disease in both parents and the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in their daughters. Mothers with PCOS are more likely to have high blood pressure, while fathers are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
A new study by sociologists at Rice University and Stanford University explores how neighborhood poverty influences maternal fear of children's outdoor play. Mothers' household economic status, education, employment, and physical/mental health all contribute to their fears.
A Spanish study found that women with higher education levels breastfed for longer periods, especially during the 1960s and 1990s. The researchers attribute this trend to increased access to healthcare services and advice from healthcare professionals, which helped maintain breastfeeding rates.
A large-scale study found that mothers exposed to certain agents during pregnancy were more likely to have children with asthma. The Danish National Birth Cohort assessed over 42,696 children and found an association between maternal occupation and asthma prevalence among the children at age 7.
New research suggests that prenatal exercise improves brain plasticity, decreases toxic protein deposits and inflammation in mice, which wards off Alzheimer's disease. Exercise during pregnancy may have a lifetime benefit for the health of newborns.
A new study by Brown University toxicologists found that male mice exposed to high doses of BPA during pregnancy showed no signs of harm to their testes as adults. The researchers suggest that the mother's metabolism may detoxify much of the BPA, reducing exposure to the fetus.
More than half of countries are lowering maternal and child mortality rates faster than the global average, with progress particularly strong in sub-Saharan Africa. However, few countries are on track to meet international targets for reducing these deaths, highlighting the need for immediate action.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that TV watching has a negative impact on parent-child communication and literacy. Maternal responsiveness plays a key role in child literacy and development, with mothers who read books with their children engaging in more active communication styles.
A team of evolutionary biologists found that when mothers control offspring sex ratios, sexual selection collapses, and males lose their elaborate courtship displays to attract females. This twist adds unexpected complexity to Darwin's theory of sexual selection, suggesting that motherly control can override the need for showy males.
A new report by the United Nations Foundation details a self-sustaining approach to improving women and children's health, using innovative tools and projects. The report aims to engage entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-in-the-making in all sectors to make a substantial contribution.
The report emphasizes the importance of self-sustaining supply-demand systems in improving health and wellbeing for marginalized women and children globally. The authors highlight democratising technologies like mobile phones as a key opportunity for local demand to be understood, appreciated, and locally solved.
Research published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care found parents who lost a child during the first year of life are at significantly increased risk of an early death. Bereaved mothers are especially prone to an early death, with effects lasting up to 25 years.