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Study finds low rates of lipid screening among women of childbearing age

Eight out of 10 women of childbearing age have never had their cholesterol levels checked, despite clear guidelines to get a first lipid blood test early in adulthood, according to research being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.

7 Mar 2019

Exposure to antenatal corticosteroid therapy associated with reduced fetal growth

Infants exposed to antenatal corticosteroid therapy to accelerate lung maturation have a clinically significant reduction in birth size, according to a new of study of 278,508 births published this week in PLOS Medicine by Alina Rodriguez of the University of Lincoln and Imperial College London, UK, and colleagues.

28 Feb 2019

Preterm babies whose mother's received steroid treatment have lower birth weight

Steroid injections given to mothers at risk of giving birth prematurely are linked to babies being born with lower body weights.

26 Feb 2019

Cocktail of chemicals in the mother inhibits child growth

For the first time, researchers have shown that a combination of perfluorinated substances in the mother significantly inhibits child growth.

25 Feb 2019

Depression prevention for pregnant women and new mothers – new recommendations

At present all new mothers are screened for symptoms of depression and help is provided to those who need care. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now has urged doctors to screen pregnant women for risks of depression and provide adequate counselling and support to prevent the onset of depression after delivery. The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association this week.

14 Feb 2019

New study helps doctors better understand high blood pressure in pregnant women

According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 6 - 8% of pregnant women experience hypertension. High blood pressure during pregnancy is associated with a number of risks to the woman and fetus, including low-birth weight infants, preterm birth, problems with the placenta, heavy bleeding, heart defects and other congenital anomalies, and in the most severe cases death.

13 Feb 2019

Children born after fertility treatment do not have greater risk of developing cancer

Children born after assisted reproductive technology do not appear to be at greater risk of developing cancer than other children, according to the first study to look at the long-term cancer risk in ART children compared to those in the general population or who were naturally conceived by subfertile women.

4 Feb 2019

One-third of pregnant women do not believe cannabis is harmful to their fetus

Up to one-third of pregnant women do not believe cannabis is harmful to their fetus, according to a new review by UBC researchers.

21 Jan 2019

Counseling appointments fail to reduce weight gain during pregnancy, shows study

If a pregnant woman gains excessive weight, it can pose a problem for both the mother and child. As a solution, regular counseling appointments have been proposed.

16 Jan 2019

MAR treatments unlikely to be cause of premature or low birth weight babies

Children born through medically assisted reproduction, such as IVF, are at higher risk of being premature and to be born low birth weight, but it’s unlikely to be due to the procedures used, according to a new study published in The Lancet from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

14 Jan 2019

Air pollution can raise the risk of miscarriage among women finds study

A new study has shown that similar to smoking, exposure to air pollution can also raise the risk of miscarriages among women.

13 Jan 2019

New study uncovers potential risks posed to infants by mothers with influenza

Pregnant women with influenza are more likely to experience complications, but how this affects infants is unclear. A new Birth Defects Research study uncovers the potential risks to infants.

9 Jan 2019

Dental flossing and other consumer behaviors contribute to elevated levels of PFAS in the body

A new study suggests certain types of consumer behaviors, including flossing with Oral-B Glide dental floss, contribute to elevated levels in the body of toxic PFAS chemicals. PFAS are water- and grease-proof substances that have been linked with numerous health problems.

8 Jan 2019

Scientists discover new biomarkers for early detection of cystic fibrosis

Scientists at McMaster University have discovered several new biomarkers from a single drop of blood that could allow earlier and more definitive detection of cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease which strikes both children and adults, causing chronic problems with the digestive system and the lungs.

20 Dec 2018

Women who were born small may be at increased risk of pregnancy complications

Women who were born with a low birthweight are at increased risk of pregnancy complications, according to a new Obesity study. The findings suggest that women who were born small may have been affected by unfavorable intrauterine conditions, and the physiological demands of pregnancy may act as a "second hit" leading to pregnancy complications.

19 Dec 2018

Standardizing feeding practices improves growth trends for micro-preemies

Standardizing feeding practices, including the timing for fortifying breast milk and formula with essential elements like zinc and protein, improves growth trends for the tiniest preterm infants, according to Children's research presented during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 2018 Scientific Symposium.

11 Dec 2018

Report recommends creation of health monitoring, research program on Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans

To help determine if the descendants of Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans are at risk for health effects resulting from the service members' exposure to toxicants during deployment, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends the creation of a health monitoring and research program.

29 Nov 2018

The fourth European Perinatal Health Report focuses on health of newborn babies, mothers

The health of newborn babies and their mothers are key indicators of the health and wellbeing of populations.

27 Nov 2018

Regular head circumference assessment of preterm babies can help identify long-term IQ problems

Regular early head circumference assessments add valuable information when screening for long-term neurocognitive risk - according to new research by an international research collaboration, including the University of Warwick, UK and the University of Tennessee Knoxville, US.

14 Nov 2018

Epigenetic link found between prenatal exposure to maternal smoking and offspring's cardio-metabolic health

According to new research, epigenetic changes found in the offspring exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy or in current smokers are linked to smoking-related diseases in adulthood.

13 Nov 2018