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mRNA COVID vaccines in pregnancy linked to lower risk of neonatal issues, study shows

A JAMA Network study finds COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in pregnant women not only safe but also associated with reduced risks of neonatal cerebral ischemia, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality, supporting vaccination during pregnancy.

9 Feb 2024

Study shows distinct patterns of brain connectivity between pre-term and term babies

A new King's College London scanning study of 390 babies has shown distinct patterns between term and pre-term babies in the moment-to-moment activity and connectivity of brain networks.

8 Feb 2024

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy linked to lower risks for newborns

No increased risks for babies, and for some serious neonatal complications lower risks. This is the result of the largest study to date on the safety of newborn babies whose mothers were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy.

6 Feb 2024

Has a decade of maternal pertussis vaccination reduced its effectiveness?

Research indicates maternal immunization against pertussis remains crucial for newborn protection despite concerns of reduced vaccine effectiveness over time, underscoring its vital role in preventing infant mortality.

3 Feb 2024

Prenatal air pollution exposure increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborns

Prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of severe respiratory distress in newborn babies, according to new research conducted at the Penn State College of Medicine in collaboration with the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study led by Health Canada.

29 Jan 2024

Neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in utero at higher risk of respiratory distress, study finds

Researchers found that neonates born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection face an increased risk of respiratory distress, potentially due to an inflammatory response triggered by prenatal exposure.

29 Jan 2024

New drug combination could reduce malaria infection risk in pregnant women living with HIV

Researchers have tested a new combination of medications that could thwart resistance to common malaria drugs, significantly reducing the infection risk in pregnant women living with HIV.

24 Jan 2024

Insurance doesn’t always cover hearing aids for kids

Joyce Shen was devastated when doctors said her firstborn, Emory, hadn't passed her newborn hearing screening. Emory was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears as an infant, meaning sounds are extremely muffled.

19 Jan 2024

UK's maternal mortality rate hits 20-year high

The latest set of data presented by the MBRRACE-UK Collaboration investigation into maternal deaths in the UK shows that the mortality rate for women who died during or soon after pregnancy has increased to levels not seen since 2003-05.

11 Jan 2024

Key protein EPAC1 found to regulate brown fat growth, offering obesity treatment potential

Study reveals that EPAC1 protein plays a crucial role in regulating the growth of brown and beige adipose tissue, offering potential avenues for treating obesity and improving cardiometabolic health.

11 Jan 2024

Study: Low-dose calcium equally effective as high-dose in preventing preeclampsia

To help prevent preeclampsia and preterm birth-;common complications in pregnancy that can be fatal to women and newborns-;low-dose calcium supplementation (equivalent to one 500-milligram pill per day) may be as effective as the World Health Organization (WHO)'s recommended high-dose calcium supplementation (equivalent to three 500-milligram pills taken throughout each day), according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and collaborators in India and Tanzania.

10 Jan 2024

Living near green spaces linked to stronger bones in young children

Study finds that early-life exposure to green spaces positively impacts bone mineral density in young children, suggesting environmental factors play a role in bone health development.

7 Jan 2024

Study: Two-thirds of babies with sickle cell disease are born to mothers living in disadvantaged areas

As if starting life with a potentially disabling genetic blood disease wasn't enough, a study shows that almost two-thirds of babies born with sickle cell disease are born to mothers who live in disadvantaged areas.

4 Jan 2024

Exploring environmental influences on pregnancy, child health and disabilities

How does a pregnant person's environment, diet, stress, medications and social wellbeing affect their pregnancy and -; down the road -; their child's health?

3 Jan 2024

New ultrasound technology shows promise for preventing brain damage in premature and sick infants

Ultrasound technology developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) makes it possible to monitor cerebral blood flow in newborn babies, helping prevent brain damage in premature and sick infants who require surgery.

2 Jan 2024

How a malaria drug may hold the key to ending malnutrition's cycle of devastation

Wars, drought, displacement, and instability are causing a dramatic increase in the number of pregnant and breastfeeding women around the world who suffer from malnutrition.

20 Dec 2023

New doula benefit ‘life-changing’ for California mom

When Mia Bloomer found out she was pregnant with her fourth child, she wanted a different birth experience. She wanted to feel empowered, informed, and heard — elements she found lacking during her earlier births.

19 Dec 2023

Maternal microbiome's pivotal role in shaping fetal and neonatal immune systems during pregnancy

Review in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology explores how the maternal microbiome during pregnancy influences the immune systems of the mother, fetus, and neonate, highlighting its impact on long-term health outcomes and the development of pregnancy complications.

18 Dec 2023

UVA biomedical engineer unveils hidden immune symphony during pregnancy

Sepideh Dolatshahi, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, is spearheading an exploration of systems immunology in its crucial development phase -; during pregnancy.

15 Dec 2023

Research shows correlation between neonatal proteins and adult health

Research led by Professor John McGrath from the University of Queensland found that the concentration of the C4 protein, an important part of the immune system, was not associated with risk of mental disorders.

13 Dec 2023