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Speech discrimination begins in the womb

New parents are always thrilled when their offspring finally speaks its first words - usually at the age of 12 to 18 months.

30 Jul 2019

'Dual burden' of prematurity and serious maternal complications occurs in one of 270 births

A quarter of women who have serious maternal complications during childbirth also have premature births, posing a "dual burden" on families, finds research from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, the University of California, San Francisco California Preterm Birth Initiative, and Stanford University.

17 Jul 2019

Cannabis use during pregnancy may cause premature birth

Pregnant women should refrain from smoking cannabis to prevent their infants from being born early, a new study warns.

8 Jul 2019

Low maternal education linked to high risk of infant mortality

Infants of women with a short-term education are more likely to die within the first year of life. In more than half of cases, the cause of death is premature childbirth and low fetal weight. This is shown by research from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.

27 Jun 2019

Study finds no link between infant deaths and exposure to waste incinerators

Researchers have found no link between exposure to emissions from municipal waste incinerators and infant deaths or reduced foetal growth.

21 Jun 2019

Mutations in fetal genome may contribute to premature birth

Mutations in the gene that codes for SLIT2, a protein expressed in fetal cells in placentas and involved in directing the growth of the fetal nervous system, may contribute to premature births, possibly by activating the mother’s immune system.

From PLOS ONE 14 Jun 2019

The unexpected perk of my group pregnancy care: New friends

I had always imagined going through pregnancy surrounded by family and friends. But when I found out I was pregnant, my husband, Alex, and I had just moved from San Francisco to Chicago. I knew almost no one.

30 May 2019

Urgent action needed to better meet the needs of multiple-birth families

Having multiple-birth babies can be a time of wonder and excitement, however, according to the first-ever international collaborative report released today, these babies and their families can face serious disadvantages compared to parents of single-birth babies.

26 May 2019

Dealing with hospital closure, pioneer Kansas town asks: What comes next?

A slight drizzle had begun in the gray December sky outside Community Christian Church as Reta Baker, president of the local hospital, stepped through the doors to join a weekly morning coffee organized by Fort Scott's chamber of commerce.

14 May 2019

Men who delay fatherhood put health of partners, unborn children at risk

Men who delay starting a family have a ticking "biological clock" -- just like women -- that may affect the health of their partners and children, according to Rutgers researchers.

13 May 2019

New noninvasive ventilation strategy benefits preterm infants with neonatal ARDS

Preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) face heightened risks of death, critical illness, and prolonged hospitalization, particularly if they progress to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome.

1 May 2019

Smoking cessation during pregnancy associated with reduced risk of preterm birth

There is an important association between maternal cigarette smoking cessation during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, according to a new Dartmouth-led study published in JAMA Network Open.

22 Apr 2019

Why have autism rates 'exploded' in New Jersey?

Researchers at Rutgers University have revealed that pre-schoolers in New Jersey have the highest rates of autism ever recorded in the US.

15 Apr 2019

Children who live near major roadways may experience developmental delays

Young children living near to a major roadway may be at an increased risk for developmental delays, compared with children who live further away from such roads.

10 Apr 2019

Study of pregnant women with lupus identifies early indicators of pregnancy complications

A study of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus has identified early changes in the RNA molecules present in the blood that could be used to determine the likelihood of them developing preeclampsia.

8 Apr 2019

Pregnant women can lower risk of stillbirth by sleeping on their side, shows research

RESEARCH spearheaded by a University of Huddersfield lecturer has shown that pregnant women can lower the risk of stillbirth by sleeping on their side and NOT on their back.

8 Apr 2019

Study offers new insights for vaccine development to prevent RSV disease

In healthy adults, RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, feels like the common cold with a runny nose, chest congestion and cough.

27 Mar 2019

Bacteria and innate immune factors in birth canal, cervix may be key to predicting preterm births

Spontaneous preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, and the related complications, are the largest contributors to infant death in the United States and worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

22 Mar 2019

Certain bacteria and immune factors in vagina may cause or protect against preterm birth

Seven types of bacteria and certain immune factors in a woman's vagina and cervix may be responsible for increasing the risk of spontaneous preterm birth or protect against it, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.