Maternal Health News and Research

RSS

Weight-loss surgery improves metabolic health of mothers, but harms offspring later in life

Studies show that weight-loss surgery can boost fertility in women and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that commonly occur in obese women, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. While weight loss surgery improves the metabolic health of mothers, new findings to be presented at Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Physiology and Gender support that such surgery has negative consequences on children born after the procedure.

20 Nov 2015

Square Roots announces acquisition of Fitzgerald Analytics

Square Roots, a life sciences company focused on pregnancy and the healthy formation of life, announced that it has acquired Fitzgerald Analytics, a leading analytics and data science firm. The cash and stock purchase is central to Square Roots' strategy to develop evidence-based solutions that improve maternal health in the United States.

15 Oct 2015

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation to honor nine scientists with Outstanding Achievement Prizes

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation will honor nine scientists with its 2015 Outstanding Achievement Prizes for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience.

9 Oct 2015

High Sierra Leonean maternal and newborn death rates attributed to women’s fears of contracting Ebola while giving birth at health centres

Despite adequate numbers of maternal health workers showing up to work, new research published on October 6th reveals it was the patients who stayed away at their own peril for fear of catching the disease.

6 Oct 2015

Springer releases new book titled Improving Aid Effectiveness in Global Health

Springer has released a new book entitled Improving Aid Effectiveness in Global Health, edited and co-authored by Dr. Elvira Beracochea, President and CEO of Realizing Global Health.

23 Sep 2015

Fetal microchimerism could be a subtle and dizzyingly complex puzzle

Parents go to great lengths to ensure the health and well-being of their developing offspring. The favor, however, may not always be returned.

29 Aug 2015

LSTM's CMNH raises funds for Ebola-hit maternal health facilities in Sierra Leone

Earlier this year LSTM's Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health (CMNH) cycled 4,247 miles to raise funds for urgently needed medical equipment for maternal health facilities in Sierra Leone which have been affected by the Ebola outbreak.

17 Aug 2015

Study shows development assistance for health increased substantially since 1990

Funding for health in developing countries has increased substantially since 1990, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and newborn and child health, and limited funding for noncommunicable diseases, according to a study in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

17 Jun 2015

Study on how maternal proteins help regulate initial cell divisions during early development

Researchers in the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center are visually capturing the first process of chromosome alignment and separation at the beginning of mouse development. The findings could lead to answers to questions concerning the mechanisms leading to birth defects and chromosome instability in cancer cells.

10 Jun 2015

Maternal obesity increases health risks for mothers and their babies

Women with obesity have a range of increased health risks in pregnancy, both for them and their babies, compared with those in the healthy weight category, according to a new systematic review of research by academics at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Gothenberg, and City University London.

4 Jun 2015

Use of antidepressants in late pregnancy may be associated with increased risk of PPHN

An analysis of approximately 3.8 million pregnancies finds that use of antidepressants late in pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA. However, the absolute risk was small and the risk increase appears more modest than suggested in previous studies.

3 Jun 2015

Researchers explore association between SSRI exposure in late pregnancy and risk of PPHN

Use of antidepressants late in pregnancy has been controversial since the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory in 2006 warning that the use of antidepressants in late pregnancy may increase risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a condition that typically occurs in term or near-term infants and presents within hours of birth with severe respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation.

2 Jun 2015

Assessing risk, expanding reach: Innovative ultrasound designed for front-line healthcare workers to help improve maternal health

GE Healthcare introduced today in certain countries in Africa and Southeast Asia its new Vscan AccessTM portable ultrasound system, designed to help healthcare providers improve care...

21 May 2015

Pre-pregnancy maternal weight has significant impact on baby's immune system

Almost 60 percent of women of childbearing age in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity is a major public health issue, and has been linked to health problems like heart disease, cancer and hypertension. It can complicate pregnancy by increasing the mother's risk of having gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth or a baby with birth defects. Maternal obesity is also linked to several adverse health outcomes for the infant that can persist into adulthood, such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and mortality.

19 May 2015

Actor Stephen McGann explains how issues of medical accuracy were addressed in Call the Midwife drama

Actor Stephen McGann, who plays GP Dr Patrick Turner in the hit BBC period drama Call the Midwife, has described the steps taken by the writers, production team and actors to ensure the series has sufficient medical accuracy and authenticity. In an essay published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, McGann writes of the unique insight that the role of Dr Turner has given him into questions regarding the way popular culture portrays medics and medicine.

24 Apr 2015

SLU study explores feasibility of using text messages for minority mothers with postpartum depression

A Saint Louis University research paper published online March 16 in JMIR Mental Health explores the feasibility of helping low-income mothers through postpartum depression using text messages.

17 Apr 2015

More access to postnatal care services can reduce death toll of infants, mothers

TB Alliance, U.S. Fund for UNICEF partner to bring new TB treatments for children

TB Alliance has announced a new partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF that will dramatically increase the scope and impact of child and maternal health programs around the world to include the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric tuberculosis (TB), a significant cause of child mortality.

26 Mar 2015

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics highlights positive effects of human milk on infants, maternal health

Human milk provides the best nutrition for most babies and breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for infants and very young children, according to an updated position paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

6 Mar 2015

TOMS Bag Collection launched to address issue of maternal health worldwide

TOMS – the company known for starting a global movement through its One for One business model – has launched its fourth and newest product, the TOMS Bag Collection, addressing the issue of maternal health worldwide.

27 Feb 2015