Prenatal News and Research

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Lower birth weight could lead to higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental problems

UiB research shows that being born to term with a weight lower than 3,5 kilos is related to a higher risk of developing neurodevelopmental problems such as cerebral palsy and autism.

28 Feb 2022

Prenatal phthalate exposure may impact infants' growth and health

Phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals that are used in plastics and as food additives. A recent study in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry examined whether prenatal exposure to phthalates in maternal and cord blood affects birth outcomes in infants.

24 Feb 2022

Periconceptional maternal smoking associated with delay in embryonic development

Smoking by mothers during the period immediately before and after conception is linked to a delay in embryonic development, smaller foetuses at the time of the 20-week ultrasound scan, and lower birth weight.

23 Feb 2022

Labor neuraxial analgesia associated with reduced risk of severe maternal morbidity

In a study of vaginal births in New York State hospitals, labor neuraxial analgesia – having an epidural or combined spinal and epidural - was associated with a decreased risk of severe maternal morbidity.

22 Feb 2022

Study examines relationship between prenatal and postnatal stress, depression, and infant motor development during COVID

In a recent study posted to the Research Square* preprint server, researchers estimated the impact of antenatal and postnatal maternal mental health on the motor developments of the newborn during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic.

22 Feb 2022

Exposure to racial discrimination may be a fundamental cause of inequities in preterm birth

A new study found that the prevalence of preterm birth varied significantly by region and country of origin among Black parents in Massachusetts.

18 Feb 2022

Exposure to endocrine disrupting mixtures during pregnancy impacts children's brain development

By linking human population studies with experiments in cell and animal models, researchers have provided evidence that complex mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals impact children's brain development and language acquisition.

17 Feb 2022

Experiences of postpartum women who delivered an infant during the early pandemic

The pandemic upended much about traditional medical care delivery, and obstetrics is no exception.

17 Feb 2022

Poor pre-pregnancy heart health puts expectant mothers and their babies at risk

This Valentine's Day, a new Northwestern Medicine study published in Circulation shines a spotlight on an important but often overlooked matter of the heart — optimizing one's cardiovascular health before getting pregnant.

14 Feb 2022

Study finds Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine doesn't increase pregnancy risk

A new JAMA Network study describes the effects of maternal COVID-19 vaccination on pregnancy outcomes and infant health.

14 Feb 2022

Pharmacological manipulation could restore microglia function after exposure to industrial toxin in utero

New research shows that exposure to the industrial byproduct TCDD in utero could cause the brain's immune system to go array later in life, damaging important brain circuits, and potentially giving rise to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and ADHD.

11 Feb 2022

Scientific statement highlights the uncertainty about health effects of marijuana

Despite the perception that marijuana is harmless, there is some scientific evidence challenging that belief, and there are many unanswered questions about its impact on brain health, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association's journal Stroke.

10 Feb 2022

Prenatal ultrasound to identify fetal anomalies may help detect ASD

A routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center has found.

9 Feb 2022

Maternal metabolic syndrome can switch on imprinted gene associated with NAFLD in offspring

New research from North Carolina State University has found that an imprinted gene associated with development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is switched on in mice who nurse from mothers with metabolic syndrome, even when those mice are not biologically related.

7 Feb 2022

Study shows a small increased risk of congenital abnormalities in infants exposed to opioids in utero

A new study in CMAJ shows a small increased risk of congenital abnormalities in infants exposed to opioid medications in the first trimester of pregnancy.

7 Feb 2022

CDC releases new materials for healthcare professionals as part of the Hear Her campaign

CDC released a new webpage and suite of materials for healthcare professionals as part of the Hear Her campaign, which aims to reduce pregnancy-related deaths.

1 Feb 2022

Study finds high rates of depression and anxiety in expectant mums during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a spike in depression and anxiety in expectant mums, a new study by the University of Essex has revealed.

31 Jan 2022

Exposure to unconventional oil and gas development linked to higher risk of early mortality

Elderly people living near or downwind of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD)—which involves extraction methods including directional (non-vertical) drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking—are at higher risk of early death compared with elderly individuals who don't live near such operations, according to a large new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

27 Jan 2022

Predicting pregnancy health and preeclampsia risk with blood RNA sequencing

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Dr. Thomas McElrath about his latest research into a maternal-fetal medicine technique for predicting pregnancy health.