Pregnancy News and Research

Latest Pregnancy News and Research

Zika vaccine shows promise for protecting fetuses when administered during pregnancy

A vaccine against Zika virus is safe and effective when administered both before and during pregnancy, according to new research published in npj Vaccines.

4 Mar 2024

California pushes to expand the universe of abortion care providers

California's efforts to expand access to abortion care are enabling more types of medical practitioners to perform certain abortion procedures — potentially a boon for patients in rural areas especially, but a source of concern for doctors' groups that have long fought efforts to expand the role of non-physicians.

4 Mar 2024

Obesity linked to increased risk of stillbirth, especially at term

Obesity is a risk factor for stillbirth, and the risk increases as pregnancy advances to term, according to a large study published in CMAJ.

4 Mar 2024

Study reveals low omega-3 intake among pregnant women despite health benefits

Results from a new nationwide cohort study show that, despite strong recommendations in favor of consuming omega-3 fatty acids for optimal pregnancy outcomes and offspring health, 25% of participants reported rarely, or never eating fish during pregnancy, with fewer taking omega-3 supplements.

1 Mar 2024

Early exposure to air pollution tied to higher childhood asthma risk, disparities worsen impact

Study links early-life exposure to air pollution with increased childhood asthma risk, emphasizing stronger effects in socio-economically disadvantaged and Black children due to individual and community factors.

29 Feb 2024

Plant-based diets trigger remission in Sjögren's syndrome and lupus cases

Three case studies show women with autoimmune diseases achieving symptom remission through plant-based diets, suggesting potential for dietary interventions in chronic disease management.

28 Feb 2024

Pregnancy history could unlock early interventions for women's heart health

Study reveals a strong link between a woman's obstetric history by age 40 and her risk of dying from heart disease, emphasizing the importance of pregnancy complications in predicting future cardiovascular health.

28 Feb 2024

Healthy eating reduces preeclampsia risk in pregnant women, study finds

Study suggests diets high in solid fats, refined grains, and cheese increase preeclampsia risk, whereas diets rich in vegetables, oils, and fruits may prevent it, especially among low-income Hispanic/Latin women.

28 Feb 2024

California lawsuit spotlights broad legal attack on anti-bias training in health care

Los Angeles anesthesiologist Marilyn Singleton was outraged about a California requirement that every continuing medical education course include training in implicit bias — the ways in which physicians' unconscious attitudes might contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in health care.

28 Feb 2024

Oxygenation in the placenta predicts childhood brain growth

A new study shows oxygenation levels in the placenta, formed during the last three months of fetal development, are an important predictor of cortical growth (development of the outermost layer of the brain or cerebral cortex) and is likely a predictor of childhood cognition and behavior.

27 Feb 2024

Gender differences explored: Cardiovascular health variances in women's lifespan

Women's cardiovascular disease risks and outcomes differ throughout the lifespan from those of men, according to a collection of studies devoted to cardiovascular medicine research focused on women of all ages, published today in a special "spotlight" issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

27 Feb 2024

Research reveals diet-preeclampsia link in low-income Hispanic pregnant women

A research study led by the Keck School of Medicine of USC found that certain combinations of foods consumed during pregnancy may be linked to a higher likelihood of developing preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening blood pressure condition that can have serious consequences for both mother and baby.

27 Feb 2024

A government video would explain when abortion is legal in South Dakota

South Dakota lawmakers want state officials to create an educational video to help doctors understand when they can end a pregnancy without risking prison time under the state's near-total abortion ban.

27 Feb 2024

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps prevent postpartum mental health challenges in low-resource settings

Results from a large clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health show that an intervention for anxiety provided to pregnant women living in Pakistan significantly reduced the likelihood of the women developing moderate-to-severe anxiety, depression, or both six weeks after birth.

26 Feb 2024

Innovative online tool aims to lower SIDS risk through personalized sleep plans

A new web-based baby sleep planner, developed by researchers at the University of Bristol, could help save babies lives from sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS, a study suggests.

26 Feb 2024

Study links extreme heat exposure in third trimester to increased preterm birth risk

In the face of increasing temperatures globally, a new Monash-led study of 1.2 million births in Sydney over two decades has shown a strong association between the risk of pre-term birth and exposure to extreme hot temperatures in the third trimester of pregnancy.

26 Feb 2024

Insights into gut plasticity mechanisms unveiled through fruit fly research

One of the most striking examples of gut plasticity can be observed in animals that are exposed to prolonged periods of fasting, such as hibernating animals or phyton snakes that goes for months without eating, where the gut shrinks with as much as 50%, but recovers in size following a few days of re-feeding.

26 Feb 2024

Driver's license laws for undocumented immigrants linked to improved birth outcomes

In 2023, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Minnesota joined a growing list of states that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses if an applicant can provide certain documentation, such as a foreign birth certificate or passport and evidence of current residency in the state.

26 Feb 2024

If you’re poor, fertility treatment can be out of reach

Mary Delgado's first pregnancy went according to plan, but when she tried to get pregnant again seven years later, nothing happened. After 10 months, Delgado, now 34, and her partner, Joaquin Rodriguez, went to see an OB-GYN.

26 Feb 2024

Fish oil in pregnancy linked to child weight gain and metabolic risks

A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fish oil supplementation during pregnancy is linked to increased risk of weight gain and metabolic syndrome in offspring at age ten.

25 Feb 2024