Prenatal News and Research

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New models identify pregnant women at risk of missing crucial prenatal care

Socioeconomic factors, like education and location, can affect access to life-saving prenatal care services.

20 Dec 2023

Kyoto scientists map double whammy gene clusters for anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders (ADs) affect more than 280 million people worldwide, making them one of the most common mental health conditions. ADs have a genetic basis as seen from inheritance in families, and people with one subtype of AD tend to have another subtype, suggesting a shared genetic basis.

19 Dec 2023

Maternal microbiome's pivotal role in shaping fetal and neonatal immune systems during pregnancy

Review in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology explores how the maternal microbiome during pregnancy influences the immune systems of the mother, fetus, and neonate, highlighting its impact on long-term health outcomes and the development of pregnancy complications.

18 Dec 2023

Socioeconomic barriers hinder prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects – the most common birth defects in the United States – is associated with improved outcomes.

18 Dec 2023

UVA biomedical engineer unveils hidden immune symphony during pregnancy

Sepideh Dolatshahi, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, is spearheading an exploration of systems immunology in its crucial development phase -; during pregnancy.

15 Dec 2023

Fetal macrosomia may be linked to overweight and obesity in early childhood

A new study published in the Journal Reproductive and Developmental Medicine (RDM) has found a strong association between fetal macrosomia (high birth weight) and overweight and obesity in early childhood among the U.S.-born children aged 2-6 years.

15 Dec 2023

New study unpacks the hidden power of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, even partially alongside formula feeding, changes the chemical makeup-;or metabolome-;of an infant's gut in ways that positively influence brain development and may boost test scores years later, suggests new CU Boulder research.

13 Dec 2023

The influence of vitamin supplementation on longitudinal patterns of maternal vitamin status from preconception to post-delivery

Researchers secondary analyzed the NiPPeR randomized clinical trial (RCT) data to assess maternal vitamin levels pre-conception, during pregnancy, and post-delivery and also explored the impact of vitamin supplementation before and during gestation.

11 Dec 2023

Maternal experiences of discrimination may alter the strength of infants' brain circuits

Racial discrimination and bias are painful realities and increasingly recognized as detrimental to the health of adults and children.

7 Dec 2023

Maternal inflammation risk factors linked to dysregulation in children

Maternal inflammation risk factors may be associated with dysregulation in children, according to a study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.

7 Dec 2023

Placental microparticles and their potential to predict and prevent neurodevelopmental disorders

For 30 years, Cheryl Rosenfeld has studied how biological information gets transferred from mothers to babies during pregnancy.

5 Dec 2023

UC San Diego Health recognized as top maternity hospital

UC San Diego Health is recognized as a 2023-2024 High Performing Hospital for Maternity Care, which is the highest award a hospital can earn by U.S. News & World Report for obstetric and infant care.

5 Dec 2023

Researchers explore the optimal timing, dosage of B-12 supplements during pregnancy and lactation

Babies and children need vitamins, including vitamin B-12, to help their brains and bodies develop and grow.

1 Dec 2023

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Trump puts Obamacare repeal back on agenda

Former president and current 2024 Republican front-runner Donald Trump is aiming to put a repeal of the Affordable Care Act back on the political agenda, much to the delight of Democrats, who point to the health law's growing popularity.

30 Nov 2023

Discrimination during pregnancy can harm the eveloping offspring brain

Experiences of discrimination and acculturation are known to have a detrimental effect on a person's health.

27 Nov 2023

Genome haplarithmisis sheds light on complex genetic landscape of miscarriages

A new study published in Nature Medicine reports on a chromosomal analysis of over 1,700 spontaneous early miscarriages.

27 Nov 2023

Backlash to affirmative action hits pioneering maternal health program for Black women

For Briana Jones, a young Black mother in San Francisco, a city program called the Abundant Birth Project has been a godsend.

24 Nov 2023

Non-invasive genetic test for fetal DNA sequencing developed

A team of investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a non-invasive genetic test that can screen the blood of pregnant individuals to survey all genes for fetal DNA sequence variants.

22 Nov 2023

Black pregnant individuals at high risk for multiple mental health concerns

Black pregnant individuals frequently experience more than one mental health concern, according to findings published by Susan Gennaro, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor in the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, and colleagues in The Nurse Practitioner.