Maternal Health News and Research

RSS

New approach accelerates the detection of cancer biomarkers for point-of-care diagnostics

The detection and quantification of cancer-associated molecular biomarkers in body fluids, or liquid biopsies, prove minimally invasive in early cancer diagnostics.

29 Jan 2022

Predicting pregnancy health and preeclampsia risk with blood RNA sequencing

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Dr. Thomas McElrath about his latest research into a maternal-fetal medicine technique for predicting pregnancy health.

27 Jan 2022

Pilot survey provides data on the unique needs of new fathers

While federal legislation requires tracking and reporting data on maternal health behaviors around childbirth, fathers have been overlooked in these public health efforts to improve maternal and infant outcomes.

24 Jan 2022

Feeling low in social status linked to worse health outcomes for new mothers

When it comes to the link between socioeconomic status and health, perception can be as important as reality. A study published by the American Psychological Association finds that new mothers who see themselves as lower on the socioeconomic ladder have worse health outcomes one year after their child's birth than new mothers who see themselves as higher status.

13 Jan 2022

Breastfeeding linked to reduced cardiovascular disease risk in mothers

Women who breastfed were less likely to develop heart disease or a stroke, or die from cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed, according to a meta-analysis published today in a pregnancy spotlight issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Jan 2022

Exploring neurodevelopmental effects on infants from in-utero exposure to COVID-19

A new study aimed to determine the associations between fetal exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, in-utero, and child neurodevelopmental status.

7 Jan 2022

Study reports a higher rate of burnout among midwives in the United States

A new study indicates 40% of midwives in the United States are burned out or stressed and exhausted, putting them at risk for making medical errors and missing necessary patient care. Burnout also leads to less professional engagement, reduced productivity, absenteeism and resignations, according to new research published in the leading journal, Health Services Research.

22 Dec 2021

Treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy appears safe and reduces maternal risk

Treatment for high blood pressure during pregnancy appears safe for many women and may reduce maternal risk for severe hypertension without increasing fetal and neonatal risks, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association's journal Hypertension.

16 Dec 2021

Winners of NIH's Decoding Maternal Morbidity Data Challenge announced

The winners of the National Institutes of Health's Decoding Maternal Morbidity Data Challenge were announced today in conjunction with the White House "day of action" on maternal health.

7 Dec 2021

NIH offers $1 million in cash prizes for innovative diagnostics to help improve maternal health

The National Institutes of Health is offering up to $1 million in cash prizes for innovative diagnostic technologies to help improve maternal health around the world in conjunction with the White House "day of action" on maternal health.

7 Dec 2021

Disparities in maternal mental health during COVID-19

In new research, scientists studied individuals who gave birth during COVID-19. Using propensity score matching (PSM), they matched those identified as either Black or Latinx with those identified as non-Hispanic white on sociodemographic. This recent study published as a preprint on the medRxiv* server attempts to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childbirth-related health outcomes in individuals belonging to Black or Latinx minority groups.

6 Dec 2021

Study: Midwife-led births equally safe as doctor-led maternity care in low-risk pregnancies

If you or your partner were scheduled to give birth soon, would you have a preference for who delivered your baby: a midwife or a doctor? A new study of maternity care facilities in Lithuania suggests that for births with a low risk of complications, there is no difference in terms of safety.

20 Nov 2021

Maternal depression affects women's economic welfare and financial stability years later

Maternal depression after childbirth affects a mothers' economic welfare and financial stability up to 15 years later, according to a Rutgers study.

17 Nov 2021

How low can they go? Rural hospitals weigh keeping obstetric units when births decline

As rural hospitals struggle to stay financially stable, their leaders watch other small facilities close obstetrics units to cut costs.

12 Nov 2021

Low amount of caffeine intake during pregnancy may help reduce gestational diabetes risk

Good news for pregnant coffee lovers: Consuming a low amount of caffeine during pregnancy could help to reduce gestational diabetes risk, according to researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Institutes of Health. The findings were published Monday in JAMA Network Open.

11 Nov 2021

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women’s experience of pregnancy in UK

The current study deals with the results of a study carried out on pregnant women.

9 Nov 2021

UTSA research could be key to decreasing maternal mortality rates in the U.S.

Researchers from The University of Texas at San Antonio College for Health, Community and Policy (HCaP) have conducted a study that could be key to decreasing maternal mortality rates in the U.S.

26 Oct 2021

Research shows a link between infants' sleep and weight

Infants who sleep longer through the night and with fewer interruptions may be less likely to become overweight during their first six months of life, according to a study published in the journal SLEEP.

22 Oct 2021

Allergens in breastmilk could be the key for child's immune system education and allergy prevention

Mothers who breastfeed produce signals that influence the immune system development of their babies and help to prevent future food allergies, according to new global research.

7 Oct 2021

Untreated depression in pregnant women associated with low birth weight and preterm birth

Untreated depression in pregnant people is strongly linked to low birth weight and preterm birth, with Black pregnant people suffering worse outcomes than their white peers, according to a new meta-analysis led by Shannon Simonovich, assistant professor at DePaul University's School of Nursing.

5 Oct 2021