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Labor induction methods show similar effectiveness and differing safety profiles

A new review including over 100 clinical trials has found that no induction method was clearly effective than low-dose vaginal misoprostol, although some methods were less effective and safety profiles varied.

27 Jan 2026

New soft robotic probe enables continuous monitoring of fetus's vital signs

Northwestern University researchers have developed the first device that can continuously track a fetus's vital signs while still in the uterus - a feat that previously has not been possible.

26 Jan 2026

Study explores how shared cells influence health across generations

During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues.

22 Jan 2026

AI predicts health outcomes for premature newborns from blood samples

An artificial intelligence-based tool can predict the medical trajectories of individual premature newborns from blood samples collected soon after they are born, a Stanford Medicine-led study has shown.

21 Jan 2026

Natural ovulation matches hormone therapy success in frozen embryo transfer

Natural ovulation before frozen embryo transfer is as effective as hormone treatment for achieving a healthy baby by vitro fertilization (IVF), finds a clinical trial from China published by The BMJ today.

21 Jan 2026

Evidence shows no autism risk from paracetamol in pregnancy

Evidence from a comprehensive review shows no link between paracetamol in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental issues, supporting its safe use for pain management.

21 Jan 2026

Insulin anxiety and workplace barriers complicate gestational diabetes care

Insulin use in gestational diabetes presents challenges; education and support are key to overcoming fears and ensuring effective self-management for mothers.

20 Jan 2026

England’s North–South maternity mortality gap persists

The study identifies persistent variations in perinatal mortality across England, calling for structured knowledge exchange to reduce health inequalities.

19 Jan 2026

Paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism, ADHD or intellectual disability

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability among children.

16 Jan 2026

Father's early behavior linked to child's heart and metabolic health years later

How a new father behaves toward his baby can change family dynamics in a way that affects the child's heart and metabolic health years later, according to a new study by researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development.

16 Jan 2026

Native Americans are dying from pregnancy. They want a voice to stop the trend.

Just hours after Rhonda Swaney left a prenatal appointment for her first pregnancy, she felt severe pain in her stomach and started vomiting.

15 Jan 2026

Higher maternal blood pressure linked to increased risks of pregnancy complications

Helping women to keep their blood pressure at normal levels could reduce their risk of experiencing pregnancy complications, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Bristol. The research is published in BMC Medicine today [14 January].

13 Jan 2026

Breastfeeding is linked to lower depression and anxiety years later

A decade-long study links breastfeeding to lower anxiety and depression in mothers, suggesting long-term mental health benefits beyond the postnatal period.

13 Jan 2026

Struggling to make ends meet may slow brain development in infants

Researchers identify specific psychosocial factors that strongly correlate with altered brain development within the first year of life.

12 Jan 2026

Research shows benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes

New research co-authored by Professor Fionnuala McAuliffe, UCD School of Medicine, and led by the University of Liverpool, has demonstrated the significant benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the risk of gestational diabetes.

9 Jan 2026

How neural circuits orchestrate facial expressions

When a baby smiles at you, it's almost impossible not to smile back. This spontaneous reaction to a facial expression is part of the back-and-forth that allows us to understand each other's emotions and mental states.

8 Jan 2026

IV iron dextran more cost-effective than oral iron for women with heavy menstrual bleeding and IDA

A single dose of intravenous (IV) iron dextran is the cost-effective treatment for women with heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), according to new research published in Blood Advances.

8 Jan 2026

Breast milk bacteria help shape infant gut microbiome development

Most conversations about breast milk tend to focus on topics like nutrients, antibodies and bonding time rather than bacteria.

7 Jan 2026

Maternal pertussis vaccination delivers early immune protection to newborns

Vaccinating women during pregnancy leads to the transfer of antibodies to their newborns. These antibodies were detected not only in blood, but also in the nasal mucosa, the site where whooping cough bacteria enter the body.

7 Jan 2026

Rising gestational diabetes rates raise alarms for maternal and child health

Gestational diabetes rose every single year in the U.S. from 2016 through 2024, according to a new Northwestern Medicine analysis of more than 12 million U.S. births. The condition, which raises health risks for both mother and baby, shot up 36 % over the nine-year period (from 58 to 79 cases per 1,000 births) and increased across every racial and ethnic group.

30 Dec 2025