Birth Weight News and Research

RSS

Could tea during pregnancy give your baby a brain boost? Research says yes

Maternal tea consumption during pregnancy – particularly in the second and third trimesters – is associated with improved cognitive, fine motor, and gross motor skills in 3-year-olds, while coffee intake shows no significant impact, according to a Chinese cohort study of 1,423 mother-child pairs.

18 Mar 2025

How eating more calories helps lower asthma risk in children - but only up to a point

Children and adolescents in the U.S. who consume higher amounts of dietary energy have a lower risk of asthma, but this protective effect stops beyond 56.442 kcal per kilogram of body weight per day. The study found an L-shaped relationship, suggesting that insufficient energy intake may heighten asthma risk.

12 Mar 2025

Maternal cannabis use disorder linked to increased risk of child behavioral disorders

Researchers determine how maternal cannabis use disorder during and after pregnancy impacts the child’s behavior.

11 Mar 2025

Teen births linked to lower infant birth weight

At a time when the number of teens having babies in the Mountain State remains higher than the national average, maternal and child health researchers at West Virginia University found these infants have a lower birth weight and are smaller for their gestational age compared to those born to adults.

10 Mar 2025

Study identifies key factors to improve school readiness for low birth weight children

School readiness is central to child wellbeing and is predictive of not only academic, but also long-term economic and health outcomes according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

7 Mar 2025

Feeding strategies in preterm infants do not alter brain growth or cognition

Early nutrition in very preterm infants does not significantly impact brain growth or neurodevelopment when following standardized clinical guidelines, despite initial unadjusted associations.

5 Mar 2025

New study shows why breastfeeding and fortified foods must go hand in hand

Food fortification and breastfeeding play a crucial role in combating malnutrition during a child's first 1,000 days, but their success depends on improved monitoring, policy support, and public-private partnerships.

4 Mar 2025

Surprising study reveals dads’ weight and diet don’t impact baby’s size

A study shows paternal health factors like BMI and diet do not influence birth weight or length, emphasizing maternal diet's critical role in pregnancy.

4 Mar 2025

Air pollution in late pregnancy linked to higher NICU admissions for newborns

Exposure to traffic pollutants before birth is linked to increased NICU admissions, stressing the importance of addressing air quality for neonatal health.

18 Feb 2025

Low vitamin D in first trimester linked to higher preterm birth risk and reduced fetal length

Maternal vitamin D status in early pregnancy is crucial for fetal growth and may reduce the risk of preterm birth, according to recent research findings.

7 Feb 2025

Classical music influences fetal heart rhythms, enhancing predictability and stability

Research shows that classical music in the third trimester enhances fetal heart rate stability, potentially influencing neurodevelopment and movement patterns.

7 Feb 2025

Dispensary warning signs about cannabis use during pregnancy found ineffective

Warning signs at dispensaries about the potential health effects of cannabis use in pregnancy may not be effective, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, based at Rutgers University.

6 Feb 2025

Can parents' diet predict childhood obesity? New research weighs in

Children’s eating habits are strongly influenced by their parents' weight status, with those having overweight or obese parents consuming more carbohydrates and exhibiting higher obesity risks.

6 Feb 2025

Cervical cancer during pregnancy linked to higher maternal health risks

A new research paper was published in Oncoscience's Volume 12 on January 20, 2025, titled "Maternal, delivery and neonatal outcomes in women with cervical cancer. A study of a population database."

6 Feb 2025

Fresh embryo transfer may improve IVF success for women with low prognosis

Fresh embryo transfer may be a better option than use of frozen embryos for women with a low chance of having a healthy baby by vitro fertilization (IVF), suggests a trial from China published by The BMJ today.

30 Jan 2025

Maternal vitamin D deficiency may accelerate fetal aging and impact newborn health

Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is linked to accelerated epigenetic gestational age in infants at birth, suggesting improper fetal development influenced by low vitamin D levels. The study also found associations between maternal age, birth height, and epigenetic aging, though cord blood vitamin D showed no significant impact.

22 Jan 2025

Collaborative effort targets better nutrition for pregnant women and children

Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both maternal and child health.

8 Jan 2025

Study sheds light on early brain differences between genders

Sex differences in brain structure are present from birth, research from the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge has shown.

7 Jan 2025

Can the DASH diet prevent high birth weight?

Adhering to the DASH diet during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of having large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborns, a key factor in preventing future metabolic disorders. This study highlights the role of healthy dietary patterns in improving maternal and fetal health outcomes.

5 Jan 2025

Using impulse oscillometry for lung function testing in preterm children

Infants born preterm remain vulnerable to numerous health complications, such as respiratory distress syndrome, chronic lung disease, and pulmonary dysfunction.

19 Dec 2024