Baby News and Research

RSS

Single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer lasting protection against HIV

A new study in Nature shows that delivering a single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer years-long protection against HIV, tapping into a critical window in early life that could reshape the fight against pediatric infections in high-risk regions.

30 Jul 2025

Immune cells migrate from the gut to breast during pregnancy and lactation

Of the 3.6 million babies born in the United States each year, around 80 percent begin breastfeeding in their first month of life.

30 Jul 2025

Analysis shows low pre-pregnancy glucose increases risk of preterm birth

An analysis of data from more than 4.7 million Chinese women showed that those who had low blood sugar levels prior to conception were more likely to have certain adverse pregnancy outcomes-such as their baby being born preterm or with low birth weight.

30 Jul 2025

Warfarin use not linked to higher brain bleed risk after falls in older adults

There are about 70 million baby boomers in the United States, many now over age 65. As people age, rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases rise, leading to more use of blood thinners such as warfarin.

29 Jul 2025

Global hunger declines slightly but Africa and Western Asia face growing crisis

An estimated 8.2 percent of the global population, or about 673 million people, experienced hunger in 2024, down from 8.5 percent in 2023 and 8.7 percent in 2022.

29 Jul 2025

A brain-dead pregnant woman was kept alive in Georgia. It’s unclear if state law required it.

A Georgia woman declared brain-dead and kept on life support for more than three months because she was pregnant was removed from a ventilator in June and died, days after doctors delivered her 1-pound, 13-ounce baby by emergency cesarean section.

29 Jul 2025

Fearing Medicaid coverage loss, some parents rush to vaccinate their kids

For two decades, Washington, D.C., pediatrician Lanre Falusi has counseled parents about vaccine safety, side effects, and timing. But this year, she said, the conversations have changed.

28 Jul 2025

Forever chemicals cross placenta and breast milk affecting babies’ immunity

New research reveals that tiny amounts of PFAS-widely known as "forever chemicals"-cross the placenta and breast milk to alter infants' developing immune systems, potentially leaving lasting imprints on their ability to fight disease.

23 Jul 2025

Ultrasound descriptions may shape how parents view their unborn children

Most parents can think back to the first ultrasound image they saw of their unborn child, and may even be able to remember what impression that image had on them.

22 Jul 2025

Extreme childhood obesity drives liver and diabetes risks

Extreme obesity in US youth has risen significantly, linked to higher rates of diabetes and liver complications, necessitating immediate public health action.

22 Jul 2025

Prime editing reverses symptoms of severe childhood neurological disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

21 Jul 2025

Maternal RSV vaccination linked to sharp drop in infant lung infections

Vaccination of pregnant women has been linked to a drop in newborns being admitted to hospital with a serious lung infection, research suggests.

18 Jul 2025

Study uncovers how teeth hold key clues to childhood craniofacial disorders

Teeth may seem like static fixtures, but a new collaboration between engineers and clinicians is proving just how dynamic, informative and medically significant our teeth can be.

18 Jul 2025

Nuclear waste exposure in childhood associated with higher cancer incidence

Living near Coldwater Creek-a Missouri River tributary north of St. Louis that was polluted by nuclear waste from the development of the first atomic bomb-in childhood in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s was associated with an elevated risk of cancer, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

17 Jul 2025

New data confirms efficacy of mitochondrial donation in preventing disease

The UK's pioneering licensed IVF technique to reduce the risk of mitochondrial diseases carried out in Newcastle has seen eight babies born, published research shows.

17 Jul 2025

Many HIV-exposed newborns miss preventive treatment after birth

Newborns exposed to HIV during pregnancy or birth should receive preventive antiretroviral medication immediately after delivery to reduce the risk of transmission from mother to child.

16 Jul 2025

New method expands access to patient-specific amniotic stem cells

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered that amniotic fluid stem cells can be safely collected from vaginal fluid after childbirth rather than relying on more invasive methods that can pose some risk to the mother and fetus.

16 Jul 2025

Most kids’ packaged foods in Australia are ultra-processed and energy-dense, study finds

A decade-long analysis of packaged foods for Australian children reveals that most new products are both ultra-processed and high in energy density. The study highlights a pressing need for stronger regulations to protect young consumers’ diets.

14 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025

Hepatitis C treatment gaps persist for children and new mothers

As the opioid epidemic has worsened in the United States, prevalence of hepatitis C has also increased. Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that damages the liver.

11 Jul 2025