Research on mothers' health, family life, and parenting. Covers maternal wellbeing, vaccination questions, marriage and relationships, and breastfeeding.
A Swedish study found that pregnant women who eat vegetables daily have a lower risk of their child developing type 1 diabetes. The study analyzed data from almost 6,000 five-year-olds and found that those whose mothers rarely ate vegetables had a higher risk.
Neuroscientists have pinpointed molecular events in brain chemistry that trigger a shift from preference learning to aversion learning in infants. This transition is linked to changes in dopamine levels, which are manipulated through chemical means, advancing our understanding of attachment and development.
Research published in the UK-based urology journal BJUI found that women exposed to DDT spraying were more likely to have sons with urogenital birth defects, which can cause missing testicles or problems with their urethra or penis. The study suggests that prolonged exposure to DDT may increase the risk of these defects.
Researchers call for special training and education to address midwives' biases and lack of understanding about lesbian relationships. Key findings include a need for neutral healthcare routines and forms that acknowledge same-sex parents.
Mother and daughter cells differ in gene expression and regulation, leading to varying cell cycles. Researchers found that proteins Ace2 and Ash1 control the commitment to divide, with daughters receiving these proteins at birth.
A study found that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduces postnatal HIV-1 transmission in breastfeeding mothers. The protective effect was observed across all eligible women, with an 82% reduction in transmission.
A study of 8-year-old children whose mothers ate large amounts of liquorice when pregnant found they performed worse in cognitive tests and had poor attention spans. The researchers linked this to the glycyrrhizin in liquorice, which may impair the placenta and allow stress hormones to cross to the baby.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has linked maternal tobacco use to an increased risk of psychotic symptoms in children. The research, conducted on 6,356 adolescents, found that smoking during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of psychotic symptoms, particularly in those whose mothers smoked heavily.
A study found that treating pregnant women with mild gestational diabetes can reduce common birth complications among infants, including smaller, leaner babies and fewer complications during delivery. Treated mothers were also less likely to develop high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating pregnant women with mild gestational diabetes resulted in fewer serious birthing problems. The treatment reduced the risk of large babies, shoulder damage during birth, and cesarean delivery.
Research offers recommendations for doctors diagnosing prenatal Down syndrome, including who should deliver the news and what information to provide. Mothers prefer receiving diagnosis from healthcare professionals with the most knowledge, and benefiting from up-to-date information about DS and personal stories of children with DS.
A 25-year study found premature births increased by nearly 10 times, yet survival rates more than halved, with a 10% reduction in stillbirths associated with pre-term births. Researchers attribute the findings to better understanding and medically induced early births.
A longitudinal study of low-income parents and their 1-year-old children found that spanking leads to more aggressive behaviors and less sophisticated cognitive development. Verbal punishment, however, is not associated with such negative effects when accompanied by emotional support from mothers.
A study found that working parents who have better work conditions are more likely to prepare home-cooked meals, eat with their family, and keep healthy food at work. Long hours and irregular schedules can lead to feelings of time scarcity, fatigue, and strain, affecting parents' ability to plan and prepare meals.
A new study by North Carolina State University found that parenthood tends to make mothers more liberal and fathers more conservative on social welfare issues. Women with children at home tend to hold more progressive views on healthcare and education, while men with kids are more likely to adopt conservative stances.
A study by University of North Carolina researchers found that giving insecticide-treated bed nets to nearly 18,000 mothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo prevented an estimated 414 infant deaths from malaria. The intervention also reduced long-term disability and was more cost-effective than prevention measures in the US.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that adolescent and young children of obese mothers who underwent weight-loss surgery prior to pregnancy have a lower prevalence of obesity and improved cardio-metabolic markers. The research suggests that the intrauterine environment ...
A new study by Ohio State University researcher Claire Kamp Dush found that children from stable single-parent homes perform similarly to those in married households in terms of academic abilities and behavior problems. The key factor for many children is growing up in a stable household, regardless of family structure.
A recent report from the University of Western Ontario warns that codeine use after tonsillectomy can be deadly for some children due to ultra-rapid metabolism genotypes. The study highlights the need for cautious prescribing and monitoring of pain relief medication in these cases.
A study by Brent McBride, a University of Illinois expert in early childhood education, found that fathers' influence on a child's academic success later in life is felt the most when they're involved from the very beginning. Mothers' involvement, on the other hand, was positively related to a child's academic achievement.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that mothers tend to follow their own mothers' parenting practices, such as spanking and affection, but fathers do not. The study also revealed a significant shift in parenting practices over two generations, with increased emphasis on reading and affection shown to children.
A systematic literature review found that mothers who bottle-feed with infant formula do not receive adequate information and support from healthcare providers, putting their babies' health at risk. The International Formula Council offers online resources, including video and print information, to help meet this need.
Research using mice suggests that assisted reproductive techniques like IVF and ICSI can increase the incidence of metabolic problems in offspring, including higher blood pressure, increased fasting glucose levels, and more body fat. The study found altered expression of genes important for nutrient transport in the placenta.
Research suggests that maternal nutrition, protein intake, and fat levels before conception can lead to epigenetic changes that affect fetal development and increase the risk of diseases later in life. Studies have shown that diet before pregnancy can cause abnormal growth, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems in offspring.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have found a link between imprinted genes and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in cloned swine. IUGR results in low birth weight and long-term health effects, and the study may hold future implications for human studies.
A Caltech-led team demonstrates how partial penetrance enables evolution to make large developmental leaps by allowing genetic mutations to have varying effects on different organisms, leading to twin spores in bacteria that normally produce only singletons. This process involves random fluctuations and noise working alongside partial ...
Expectant mothers who are obese are nearly 10 times more likely to suffer from chest infections and more than twice as likely to experience headaches and heartburn compared to women of a healthy weight. Obese pregnant women also face increased risks of carpal tunnel syndrome, symphysis-pubis dysfunction, and higher treatment costs.
A new study conducted by an Irish-led research team found no link between folic acid-related auto-antibodies and the risk of having a child with spina bifida. The study, which involved over 140 mothers of affected children, confirms previous findings that maternal folate status can prevent neural tube defects.
A unique case study found that first and second languages are represented in different places in the bilingual brain. Damage to one language was more severe than the other, with Hebrew skills impaired more significantly.
A study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found no significant differences in cognitive or health assessments between children born after stillbirth and those born to non-bereaved mothers. However, mothers who experienced a previous stillbirth reported more child difficulties, particularly peer problems.
Soay sheep on Scotland's Hirta island have shrunk by 5% in size and body weight due to the warmer climate. The decline is attributed to increased competition for limited resources, resulting from a longer growing season and more surviving lambs.
A study published in SLEEP suggests that poor sleep is associated with depression in postpartum women, even after adjusting for other risk factors. The study found that nearly 60% of new mothers experienced poor global sleep quality, and 16.5% had depressive symptoms.
A study in Spain found a 17% increase in maternal deaths since 1996, with the highest death rates among foreign women and those aged 35-44. The risk of death rose exponentially with maternal age, highlighting the need for epidemiological monitoring and studying causes to prevent deaths.
A new University of Illinois study explores the role of parent involvement on student achievement. The research found that dads who build close relationships with their children in the preschool years are more likely to stay involved when their child makes the transition to school. This early connection can set a positive tone for futu...
A new study from Northwestern University finds that frequent snoring during pregnancy increases the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes. Pregnant women who snored frequently had a 14.3% chance of developing the disease, compared to 3.3% for non-snorers.
Researchers discovered that mother mice exhibit increased call-evoked inhibition in response to pup isolation calls, allowing for more effective detection in noisy environments. This neural plasticity improves the contrast between high-ultrasonic and lower-frequency neural populations.
Research finds that new mothers experience exhaustion due to disrupted nighttime sleep, rather than inadequate sleep duration or timing. Postpartum women's sleep-wake cycles remain aligned with their preferred schedule.
A new study found that postpartum anxiety can delay puberty in both biological and adoptive daughters of affected mothers, regardless of maternal behavior or environment.
Research by Emory University scientists identifies a mechanism in mother mice's brains that focuses their awareness on the calls of baby mice. The high-frequency sounds of pups inhibit neurons more attuned to lower frequency sounds, enhancing contrast and making them stand out.
The Lancet calls for a National Child Protection Commission to review evidence on protecting vulnerable children. The UK government should be held accountable for its inadequate system, which has led to the deaths of thousands of victims.
The study explores the therapeutic process of mother-infant psychotherapy, highlighting its unique catalytic factors that promote change and growth through relational connection and the 'now moment'. The findings emphasize the importance of observing and responding to infant behavior, recognizing maternal experiences and capacities, an...
A recent study found that children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and early childhood years are at a higher risk of taking up smoking as teens and young adults. The researchers also discovered that offspring of mothers who smoked during this critical period were less likely to quit smoking in adulthood.
A new study found that obese mothers may be responsible for an increased risk of asthma in their children. Maternal obesity was associated with a 65% higher risk of developing asthma symptoms in offspring, regardless of other factors such as birth weight and BMI.
A new study demonstrates that a family-based prevention program can protect youth from engaging in risky behaviors, even if they have a genetic risk factor. The program, called 'Strong African American Families', taught parents and children skills to promote positive goals, emotional support, and racial pride.
A new study reveals that mother birds provide an early advantage to extra-pair offspring, giving them a size and survival advantage over their half-siblings. This non-genetic effect is attributed to the laying order of eggs, with extra-pair chicks hatching earlier than within-pair chicks.
A new study by researchers at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center found that mothers who disclose their BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic alterations to their children experience a more open parent-child communication relationship. Mothers are more likely to discuss test results with their children, especially when testing reveals no alterat...
A new study published in Developmental Psychology found that trauma experienced by mothers prior to pregnancy influences the emotional and social behavior of their offspring. The research, conducted on rats, showed varied effects on the offspring's behavior depending on the duration and intensity of pre-pregnancy stress.
Research suggests that mothers who miss signs of satiety in their infants tend to overfeed them, leading to excess weight gain. The study found that maternal sensitivity to infant signals at 3 and 6 months predicted infant weight gain from 6-12 months.
A new theory of social change and development by UCLA professor Patricia Greenfield explains how values and behaviors are shaped by societies. The world is moving towards a Gesellschaft direction, with immigrants adapting to urbanized, high-tech environments, leading to conflicts between traditional and modern values.
A study highlights the need for an audit of UK services and greater links between healthcare professionals to ensure fair assessments. Mental health nurses receive no formal training for this role, raising concerns about the quality and objectiveness of parenting capacity assessments.
Infants born to mothers with depression experience significant sleep disturbances from 2 weeks postpartum until 6 months of age. The study suggests that maternal depression may affect infants' sleep patterns and increase the risk of developing early-onset depression in childhood.
A bedtime routine significantly reduces problematic sleep behaviors in infants and toddlers, while also improving maternal mood and increasing sleep continuity. The study's findings highlight the importance of creating a consistent bedtime routine as a preventative measure for young children with sleep problems.
Children exposed to domestic violence are almost four times more likely to develop emotional problems, but over half adapt well due to easy-going natures and their mothers' mental health. Easy-going children and mothers with good mental health can cope better with the stresses of exposure.
A study of breast cancer risk factors in young women suggests that risk assessment and prevention should start much earlier in life. The study found a link between breast tissue composition in young women and the risk of breast cancer in middle age and older.
A Harvard study found an association between a mother's height and her child's risk of death, being underweight, and having anemia. Children born to mothers shorter than 4 foot 9 inches were 70% more likely to die than those whose mothers were at least 5 foot 3 inches tall.
Research reveals that exercising during pregnancy does not require sacrificing time for other activities. Exercisers actually spent slightly more sleep and reading time, while non-exercisers spent more on TV/computer time. The study also found significant differences in BMI and maternal weight between exercisers and non-exercisers.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that prenatal exposure to maternal antibodies can trigger neurobehavioral changes similar to autism in mouse pups, including increased anxiety and hyperactivity. The study suggests that the immune system may play a key role in some cases of autism.
Physicians from the Catholic University of Rome assessed health conditions of 150 children living with mothers in prison. Environmental factors and early weaning are linked to premature birth, hypertension, and allergy risk. Vaccination status is also a concern, with only 14% of jail-bound children fully vaccinated.
Studies link periodontal disease to infant prematurity, diabetes, and stroke. Treating pregnant women with scaling and root planing can save nearly $14 million worldwide.
A Norwegian Institute of Public Health study analyzed children's diets combined with psychological and sociodemographic variables in mothers. The results show that mothers with high negative affectivity are more likely to give their children unhealthy food, but not the opposite for healthy food.