Birth Weight News and Research

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Climate change is already driving heat mortality and massive economic losses

Researchers systematically identified just 20 studies directly linking human-driven climate change to specific health impacts and deaths worldwide. They estimate tens of billions in annual economic losses and warn of inequities in research leadership and data coverage.

18 Sep 2025

Mediterranean diet during pregnancy cuts babies’ food allergy risk

Researchers found that mothers who closely followed a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding had infants with lower odds of developing food allergies. High fruit, vegetable, and full-fat dairy intake appeared protective, while higher poultry, red meat, and fish intake during pregnancy increased risk.

15 Sep 2025

Buprenorphine treatment produces greatest health gains and cost savings for mothers and infants

Over the last 20 years, substance use-related deaths have more than doubled for women of reproductive age. Overdose deaths are now a leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S., and in some states, the leading cause.

11 Sep 2025

Infection or stressful events during pregnancy may increase anxiety risk in offspring

Increased risk for anxiety may begin before birth, shaped by infection or stressful events during pregnancy, according to a new preclinical study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

11 Sep 2025

Estrogen supports kidney regeneration and protects women from chronic disease

A new study in mice provides insights into why females in their reproductive years appear to be relatively protected from chronic kidney disease, a leading public health concern.

4 Sep 2025

New global consensus offers hope for women with inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy

For women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pregnancy can be an uncertain time due to limited clinical data about how IBD medications impact pregnancy outcomes and infants who have been exposed to IBD medications in utero.

28 Aug 2025

Probiotics limit the spread of drug-resistant genes in preemies

Study reveals probiotics help preterm infants develop healthier gut microbiomes, reducing multidrug-resistant bacteria and enhancing neonatal care outcomes.

26 Aug 2025

Why a common pesticide may alter brain growth in school-age children

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25 Aug 2025

New SCAI statement provides guidance for transcatheter PDA closure in premature infants

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) has published a new position statement that provides best-practice guidance for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using transcatheter occlusion (tcPDA) in premature infants.

18 Aug 2025

Study shows probiotics help preterm babies fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Researchers found that probiotics help reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the guts of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants, but cannot fully prevent resistance genes from spreading. Antibiotic use still promotes gene swapping, highlighting the limits of probiotics alone in neonatal care.

17 Aug 2025

High-dose vitamin D strengthens bones in very low birth weight infants

Research indicates that high-dose vitamin D improves bone health in very low birth weight preterm infants, highlighting its role in early development.

8 Aug 2025

Breast milk fatty acids help babies sleep longer, study finds

Researchers found that higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in human milk are associated with longer sleep duration in exclusively breastfed two-month-old infants. The strongest effects were observed for daytime (diurnal) sleep, especially with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

5 Aug 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

Mapping the role of family physicians in rural maternity care

This study explores the geographic distribution of family physicians providing maternity care and identifies opportunities for family physicians to expand access to maternity care.

29 Jul 2025

Parental cholesterol predicts asthma severity in children

Parental metabolic health influences childhood asthma severity, with paternal cholesterol showing modest protective effects against exacerbating symptoms.

18 Jul 2025

TMP-SMX in early pregnancy increases risk of birth defects, new study shows

A large US cohort study found that using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for UTI in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of congenital malformations compared to β-lactam antibiotics. No increased risk was seen with nitrofurantoin or fluoroquinolones.

10 Jul 2025

Multi-contaminant water treatment could prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases

Drinking water treatment that pursues a multi-contaminant approach, tackling several pollutants at once, could prevent more than 50,000 lifetime cancer cases in the U.S., finds a new peer-reviewed study by the Environmental Working Group.

8 Jul 2025

New study finds UK mums-to-be miss out on key nutrients

A new British Nutrition Foundation review finds that most UK women of reproductive age fall short of key nutrients before and during pregnancy, with teens and low-income groups most affected. The paper urges targeted, consistent guidance and greater support for healthy weight, supplementation, and plant-based diets.

7 Jul 2025

Prenatal exposure to air pollution and climatic factors associated with adverse birth outcomes in India

Prenatal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and climatic factors, such as temperature and rainfall, are associated with adverse birth outcomes in India, according to a study published July 2nd, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Mary Abed Al Ahad from the University of St Andrews, U.K.

3 Jul 2025

Gut microbiota and metabolic changes linked to pregnancy risks in women with PCOS

A new study presented today at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) reveals that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have distinct gut microbiota and metabolic signatures linked to premature endometrial aging and a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

30 Jun 2025