Birth Weight News and Research

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Maternal eating disorders linked to higher asthma and wheezing risks in children

Eating disorders in mums-to-be are linked to a heightened risk of asthma and wheezing in their children, irrespective of the type of disorder, presence of co-existing depression/anxiety, or the timing of their child's exposure, finds research published online in the journal Thorax.

2 Dec 2025

Stopping GLP-1 drugs before pregnancy leads to more weight gain

Researchers determine the risk of pregnancy weight gain in patients who were prescribed GLP-1 RAs prior to conception.

1 Dec 2025

GLP-1 discontinuation associated with more weight gain and pregnancy complications

In a study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham, pregnant individuals who stopped taking popular weight loss GLP-1 medications before or early in their pregnancy tended to gain more weight and have higher risks of diabetes and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, and experienced preterm delivery more so than people who had never taken GLP-1 drugs.

24 Nov 2025

Gaining too little or too much weight in pregnancy affects birth outcomes

The review of 1.6 million pregnancies shows diverse weight gain impacts, stressing the urgency for updated guidelines to improve maternal and infant health.

24 Nov 2025

Prenatal stress hormones may shape when a baby’s teeth erupt

A study links maternal stress hormones in late pregnancy to the timing of baby teeth eruption, highlighting prenatal factors in early childhood development.

20 Nov 2025

Most pregnancies involve weight gain outside healthy ranges with major health impacts

Around two-thirds of pregnancies have weight gain that is more or less than recommended and is associated with complications such as preterm birth, large birth weight, and admission to intensive care.

19 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

New WHO guidance aims to strengthen care for preterm and low birth-weight babies

The World Health Organization (WHO) is marking its first official observance of World Prematurity Day with the launch of a new global clinical practice guide for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) – a simple, proven and life-saving intervention that significantly improves survival for preterm and low birth-weight babies.

14 Nov 2025

Even low PFAS in drinking water raise blood levels, California study shows

Researchers in Southern California found that even low levels of PFAS (“forever chemicals”) in public drinking water lead to measurable increases in blood PFAS concentrations. The study underscores the urgent need for stronger water-quality monitoring and stricter PFAS regulations across non-industrial regions.

2 Nov 2025

What Britain’s post-war sugar rationing teaches us about long-term heart health

A BMJ study found that individuals exposed to sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days of life had significantly lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure in adulthood. Early-life sugar restriction was linked to a 2.5-year delay in cardiovascular disease onset, suggesting long-term benefits for heart health.

26 Oct 2025

Immediate skin-to-skin contact offers significant health advantages for infants

Immediate skin-to-skin contact between newborns and their mothers offers a better start in life, improving a number of key health metrics, according to a newly updated Cochrane review.

22 Oct 2025

Tracking daily blood pressure in pregnancy could predict low birth weight sooner

Early-pregnancy home blood pressure patterns reveal that even small cumulative elevations, not just high averages, raise the risk of low birth weight. Tracking daily readings above thresholds may improve early warning and maternal–fetal outcomes.

21 Oct 2025

Understanding the impact of chikungunya on children

Chikungunya is a vector-borne disease that affects both adults and children. While global efforts are ongoing to tackle chikungunya in adults, progress in addressing pediatric chikungunya remains inadequate.

10 Oct 2025

How much caffeine is safe during pregnancy? New review finds no clear threshold

Caffeine's impact on pregnancy is nuanced; moderate consumption may not lead to major complications, but risks to fetal growth persist without a safe threshold.

10 Oct 2025

Thousands of ‘healthy’ Brits are unknowingly low on iron

A study reveals 6% of health-conscious UK adults have anemia, primarily due to iron deficiency, often without noticeable symptoms, especially in women.

9 Oct 2025

'Good' gut microbe found to support fetal growth and reduce pregnancy risks

Research led by the University of Cambridge has found the first clear evidence that the 'good' gut bacteria Bifidobacterium breve in pregnant mothers regulates the placenta's production of hormones critical for a healthy pregnancy.

6 Oct 2025

Study examines unplanned out-of-hospital deliveries in Styria, Austria

The first detailed analysis of unplanned births that occurred outside the hospital setting in Austria has shown that, although such deliveries are rare, they pose challenges for emergency teams that attend, especially if babies are born prematurely.

29 Sep 2025

Fresh donor milk linked to reduced gastrointestinal complicatoins in premature infants

A study from the Medical University of South Carolina, published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, reveals that shorter storage durations of donor human milk are linked to reduced gastrointestinal complicatoins in premature infants, including necrotizing enterocolitis.

24 Sep 2025

New guideline improves nutritional care for neonates with enterostomy

Enterostomy is a vital intervention for many congenital developmental abnormalities and acquired gastrointestinal conditions in neonates.

19 Sep 2025