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Stillbirth refers to the death of a baby before or during delivery and after 24 weeks of pregnancy. If a baby dies before 24 weeks of completed pregnancy, the term “miscarriage” or fetal loss applies instead.

Specialist support helps new moms with severe mental illness reduce relapse risk

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, and in partnership with the University of Exeter and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, has found that women with a history of severe mental illness face a lower risk of relapse after giving birth in regions where they have access to a community perinatal mental health team (CPMHT).

23 Jan 2024

UKHSA urges eligible groups to get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding all those eligible that it's not too late to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

5 Jan 2024

Shedding light on heat stress during pregnancy with £1.4 million Wellcome Trust grant

Researchers from the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) will continue to evaluate the mechanisms behind the acute and chronic effects of extreme heat on expectant mothers and their unborn children, as part of a £1.4m grant from the Wellcome Trust.

20 Dec 2023

Vaccination encouraged for eligible groups as flu cases spike

All those eligible for the flu vaccine are being urged to come forward as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published data showing a significant increase in the number of recorded flu cases.

15 Dec 2023

Is maternal cannabis exposure associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to placental function?

Researchers assessed the relationship between maternal cannabis use and adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to placental function.

13 Dec 2023

Study finds cannabis exposure during pregnancy associated with increased risk of unhealthy outcomes

In the past ten years, the percentage of Americans who use medical marijuana has more than doubled as state-level legalization becomes increasingly common.

12 Dec 2023

Positive antiphospholipid antibodies linked to increased cardiovascular risk in lupus patients

New research at ACR Convergence 2023, the American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) annual meeting, describes a link between positive antiphospholipid antibodies and an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

7 Nov 2023

Pregnant women in blighted neighborhoods have higher testosterone levels, study finds

Pregnant women living in blighted neighborhoods with high levels of known stressors have higher levels of testosterone – the primary sex hormone in males -- which disrupt hormone regulation and may lead to life-threatening complications during and after childbirth, according to Rutgers research.

3 Nov 2023

Early pregnancy obesity linked to heart risks and complicated births

Study reveals a significant link between obesity in early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes, which in turn are associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk later in life. The findings suggest the importance of early interventions to mitigate long-term health risks.

12 Oct 2023

Study finds increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth following a job loss

Researchers have found a link between a pregnant woman or her partner losing their job and an increased risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

27 Sep 2023

Cellular crosstalk between mother and offspring is more complex than expected

Scientists have known for decades that pregnancy requires a mother's body to adjust so that her immune system does not attack the growing fetus as if it were a hostile foreign invader.

22 Sep 2023

Placental disease: A key contributor to unexplained pregnancy loss

New study in Reproductive Sciences identifies placental diseases as the likely cause for 99% of unexplained pregnancy losses, shedding light on miscarriages and stillbirths. The research suggests that identifying specific placental pathologies could lead to more preventative measures.

21 Sep 2023

Does arsenic exposure cause mortality due to cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and congenital anomalies?

The association between arsenic exposure due to groundwater contamination and mortality rates.

21 Sep 2023

Placental examination can accurately determine cause of 90% of unexplained pregnancy losses

Yale researchers have shown that placental examination resulted in the accurate pathologic determination of more than 90% of previously unexplained pregnancy losses, a discovery that they say may inform pregnancy care going forward.

19 Sep 2023

Bridging the gap: Postnatal research offers clues to tackling maternal obesity

Postnatal dietary patterns, physical activity status, and changes in body weight among obese women living in a highly deprived region in the UK.

1 Sep 2023

Is receipt of infertility treatment associated with stroke hospitalization?

A recent paper on JAMA Network Open sought to capture the association between strokes and infertility treatment.

31 Aug 2023

Review explores relationship between sleep disorders and pregnancy

A recent review summarizes what is known about these conditions and suggests future research directions and opportunities.

23 Aug 2023

What are the differences in risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes based on the level of pre-pregnancy specialist mental health care?

The evidence on the effects of maternal mental health illnesses on increased risk of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

18 Aug 2023

Spanish flu pandemic linked to increase in low birth weight and stillbirth

In the wake of the 1918/1919 "Spanish flu" influenza pandemic, the probability of low birth weight and stillbirth increased among women in Switzerland, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE Kaspar Staub of the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and colleagues.

16 Aug 2023

What gestational age at delivery is associated with the best perinatal outcomes in term singleton pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment?

Researchers investigated the age of gestation associated with optimal perinatal outcomes among in-term single-infant pregnancies conceived using infertility therapies.