Maternal Health News and Research

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UK aid cuts accelerate dangerous retreat from global health in crisis-affected regions

UK aid cuts demand justice-led solutions such as debt restructuring to repair the harm, writes Katie Husselby, director of Action for Global Health.

17 Feb 2026

Abortion restrictions linked to higher maternal death rates

The increased number of state-level abortion restrictions in the U.S. was associated with a parallel increase in maternal deaths between 2005 and 2023, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

12 Feb 2026

Alabama’s ‘pretty cool’ plan for robots in maternity care sparks debate

It sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but Alabama officials' plan to use robots to improve care for rural pregnant women and their babies is real.

12 Feb 2026

Discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy raises psychiatric risks

Pregnant patients who stopped taking their antidepressant medication during pregnancy were almost twice as likely to experience a mental health emergency compared with pregnant patients who continued taking their prescription, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

11 Feb 2026

If you’re pregnant and uninsured, Medicaid might be your answer

When she noticed an unusual craving for hot dogs, Matte'a Brooks suspected her body was telling her something, so she decided to take a pregnancy test. She took two just to be sure. Both were positive.

3 Feb 2026

Research highlights global neurosurgical workforce shortages and systemic barriers

Neurological disorders contribute to nearly nine million deaths globally each year, and an estimated 22.6 million new cases require neurosurgical attention annually, of which approximately 13.8 million require surgical intervention.

31 Jan 2026

Ischemic stroke increases expectant mother's risk for another stroke during or soon after pregnancy

Having had a stroke caused by blocked blood vessels (ischemic stroke) more than doubled an expectant mother's odds of having another stroke during pregnancy and within six weeks of childbirth, according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026.

29 Jan 2026

Missed stroke warning signs common among pregnant and postpartum women

More than 25% of pregnant or postpartum women who suffered an acute stroke had encounters with health care providers for stroke-related symptoms within the prior month but did not receive a timely diagnosis, finds University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analysis published today in Stroke.

27 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

Early pregnancy sulfur dioxide exposure raises odds of congenital limb defects

Maternal exposure to sulfur dioxide during the first trimester was associated with higher odds of congenital limb defects in offspring in a large population-based cohort from Wuhan. Associations were strongest for polydactyly and limb shortening, while other major air pollutants showed no consistent links with overall risk.

20 Jan 2026

Raising the minimum wage is linked to fewer dangerous pregnancy complications

Findings indicate that higher minimum wages are linked to reduced maternal hypertensive disorders, emphasizing the impact of economic policy on health outcomes.

16 Jan 2026

Research shows racial-ethnic differences in the risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure

The risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure varied markedly among subgroups of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people, highlighting the need for tailored prevention and treatment, according to research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

14 Jan 2026

World Health Organization validates Brazil's elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Brazil for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, making it the most populous country in the Americas to achieve this historic milestone.

19 Dec 2025

Uterine fibroids linked to higher long-term heart disease risk in women

Long-term heart disease risk in women diagnosed with uterine fibroids was more than 80% higher than in women without fibroids, according to new independent research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

10 Dec 2025

No clear link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD

Maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy shows weak links to autism and ADHD, with family factors playing a more significant role, offering reassurance.

3 Dec 2025

Medical humanities can illuminate the root causes of health disparities, study shows

A new study analyzing dozens of published papers over five decades focusing on health care disparities in Washington, DC, found that those that employed medical humanities approaches identified crucial barriers and opportunities for intervention that quantitative studies often miss.

2 Dec 2025

Maternal exposure to fatty food aromas predisposes offspring to obesity

A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research has found that the smell of fatty foods during pregnancy increases the risk of overweight and obesity in children.

1 Dec 2025

Study finds persistent racial gaps in cesarean births despite national improvement efforts

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Center for Women's Health have identified recent national trends in cesarean births, noting significant racial and ethnic disparities.

17 Nov 2025

Maternal obesity raises childhood epilepsy and disability risks, new study shows

Higher maternal BMI before pregnancy is linked to increased risks of epilepsy and intellectual disability in young children, even after extensive adjustment for maternal and neonatal factors. Associations with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD disappear after full adjustment, highlighting the potential mediating role of perinatal complications.

17 Nov 2025

Researchers develop novel tool to identify pregnant women at high risk for having a preterm birth

Researchers at NYU and partners within the International Healthy Outcomes of Pregnancy for Everyone (HOPE) Consortium have developed a novel tool, the Preterm Birth Actionable Risk Index (PTB-ARIx), designed to identify pregnant individuals at high risk for having a preterm birth (PTB, or delivery before 37 weeks).

17 Nov 2025

Maternal Health News and Research

UK aid cuts accelerate dangerous retreat from global health in crisis-affected regions

Abortion restrictions linked to higher maternal death rates

Alabama’s ‘pretty cool’ plan for robots in maternity care sparks debate

Discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy raises psychiatric risks

If you’re pregnant and uninsured, Medicaid might be your answer

Research highlights global neurosurgical workforce shortages and systemic barriers

Ischemic stroke increases expectant mother's risk for another stroke during or soon after pregnancy

Missed stroke warning signs common among pregnant and postpartum women

Study explores how shared cells influence health across generations

Early pregnancy sulfur dioxide exposure raises odds of congenital limb defects

Raising the minimum wage is linked to fewer dangerous pregnancy complications

Research shows racial-ethnic differences in the risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure

World Health Organization validates Brazil's elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Uterine fibroids linked to higher long-term heart disease risk in women

No clear link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD

Medical humanities can illuminate the root causes of health disparities, study shows

Maternal exposure to fatty food aromas predisposes offspring to obesity

Study finds persistent racial gaps in cesarean births despite national improvement efforts

Maternal obesity raises childhood epilepsy and disability risks, new study shows

Researchers develop novel tool to identify pregnant women at high risk for having a preterm birth

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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