Birth Weight News and Research

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Mothers' early pregnancy weight influences kids’ BMI into adolescence

Children born to mothers with higher BMI in early pregnancy have greater weight and BMI from birth through age 10, regardless of prenatal lifestyle interventions. Paternal BMI also plays a significant role in childhood obesity risk.

10 May 2025

Cannabis use during pregnancy linked to higher risk of infant complications

An updated systematic review finds that consuming cannabis while pregnant appears to increase the odds of preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death.

5 May 2025

COVID-19 restrictions linked to better birth timing but worse mental health

A global review reveals that while lockdowns helped reduce early births in some regions, they also worsened maternal mental health, highlighting the need for more tailored support during future health crises.

1 May 2025

Study connects low birth weight to reduced adult physical activity

Poorer gross motor skills, such as the ability to walk quickly, run, or jump, may explain some of the correlation between being born prematurely and the tendency to engage less in physical activity.

29 Apr 2025

More trees near homes connected to healthier newborns

The link between proximity to greenspace - including trees and parks- and healthy birth outcomes is well established.

23 Apr 2025

Zinc found in glassware may impair embryo development in IVF

The research team discovered that glassware used to manipulate and culture fertilized eggs in the fields of assisted reproductive technology (ART), livestock farming, and basic research contains toxic substances that interfere with the development of fertilized eggs (embryos).

18 Apr 2025

Ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation linked to adverse birth outcomes

In Birmingham, 43% of the population live in the most deprived 10% of neighborhoods in England. It is well known that deprivation can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight, premature birth, stillbirths, and neonatal mortality.

16 Apr 2025

Exploring the complex association between anemia and retinopathy of prematurity

Anemia is a common condition in premature infants, particularly those at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

10 Apr 2025

Six early life factors found to influence obesity risk in South Asian children

Researchers at McMaster University have identified six key factors in the first three years of life that influence the trajectory of obesity in South Asian children.

10 Apr 2025

Swedish study highlights prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Out of 206 fourth-grade students, 19 met criteria for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This was found in a pilot study conducted at the University of Gothenburg.

4 Apr 2025

Drinking diet drinks in pregnancy raises overweight risk in children, study finds

Daily consumption of artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) during pregnancy was linked to a modest but consistent increase in overweight risk in offspring from age 7 to 18. Surprisingly, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) were associated with a lower risk, though lifestyle differences may explain this.

25 Mar 2025

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