Maternal Health News and Research

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COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated childbirth fear among pregnant people

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated fear of childbirth among pregnant people in the U.S., according to a new Dartmouth study.

13 May 2023

Elevated stress during COVID-19 pandemic changes the placenta in pregnant mothers

Elevated maternal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the structure, texture and other qualities of the placenta in pregnant mothers – a critical connection between mothers and their unborn babies – according to new research from the Developing Brain Institute at Children's National Hospital.

10 May 2023

New solution could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from postpartum bleeding

A new solution, known as E-MOTIVE, could provide a major breakthrough in reducing deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, according to a landmark study published today by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Birmingham.

9 May 2023

New campaign raises awareness among Latina mothers about the importance of blood pressure management

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms The American Heart Association, through the new campaign, "My health is our health"/ "Mi salud es nuestra salud" is raising awareness among Hispanic/ Latina moms, especially during pregnancy, about the importance of managing their blood pressure.

8 May 2023

What are the top 10 public health challenges in 2023?

Researchers discuss the global public health challenges for the year 2023, which include health systems, mental health, substance abuse, infectious diseases, malnutrition and food insecurity, sexual and reproductive health, environmental pollution, climate, cancer, and diabetes.

3 May 2023

The nation’s health secretary has this doctor on call

Carolina Reyes, a Harvard-trained physician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, got into medicine to help women obtain health care, especially underserved or marginalized people who face systemic racism.

2 May 2023

New report provides a groundbreaking plan to prevent preeclampsia

A new special report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides a groundbreaking approach to preeclampsia, one of the most pressing issues in maternal health today, and will translate the prediction of risk into prevention of disease.

28 Apr 2023

New tool calculates economic value of breastfeeding for mothers and society

This paper describes the development of the Mothers' Milk Tool, which calculates the economic value contributed by women's unpaid care work through breastfeeding infants and young children. The tool can be used to track progress on breastfeeding targets and assist consideration of breastfeeding in food balance sheets and economic production statistics.

26 Apr 2023

The maternal mortality sustainable development goals are unlikely to be met by 2050, study suggests

Study developed a Global Maternal Health microsimulation model to measure global maternal death incidence.

21 Apr 2023

The effect of moderate intensity exercise in pregnant women with cardiovascular disease

Researchers assess the effect of moderate-intensity exercise in pregnant women with cardiovascular disease.

19 Apr 2023

Is there an association between exposure to ultrafine particles during pregnancy and influenza infection severity?

Researchers explored the impact of exposure to ultrafine particles during pregnancy on the risk of influenza.

19 Apr 2023

Study finds sugary beverages increase dementia risk, while natural juices may help prevent it

Sugary beverages were associated with a higher risk of dementia, whereas moderate intake of natural juices was associated with a lower dementia risk.

17 Apr 2023

Factors shaping maternal gut microbiome during pregnancy and the impact on infant health

In an article published in the journal Current Opinion in Microbiology, scientists have provided a detailed overview of the factors affecting maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy and its impact on maternal and infant health.

17 Apr 2023

Male alcohol consumption before conception causes facial growth defects in offspring

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects in their unborn child.

12 Apr 2023

In Texas, Medicaid coverage ends soon after childbirth. Will lawmakers allow more time?

Victoria Ferrell Ortiz learned she was pregnant during summer 2017. The Dallas resident was finishing up an AmeriCorps job with a local nonprofit, which offered her a small stipend to live on but no health coverage. She applied for Medicaid so she could be insured during the pregnancy.

31 Mar 2023

UT Southwestern awarded $18 million PCORI funding to investigate ways to improve postpartum health

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have been approved for an $18 million funding award from the nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to investigate ways to improve postpartum health among primarily low-income Black and Hispanic women.

28 Mar 2023

U.S. maternal mortality rates rose during COVID-19 pandemic

A new study examines mortality related to pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared pre-pandemic rates.

23 Mar 2023

What is the effect of maternal obesity on the brain development of offspring?

Recently, scientists reviewed the mechanisms associated with the maternal microbiome, breast milk composition, maternal and placental metabolites, altered maternal care, and inflammation, which influences the brain development of the offspring.

22 Mar 2023

People conceived by IVF are not at increased risk of obstetric or perinatal complications, study finds

There's little evidence to suggest that children conceived as a result of fertility treatment are at any greater risk of pregnancy complications or worse birth outcomes than their naturally conceived peers, finds a long-term study, published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.

21 Mar 2023

Scientists study how maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy affects child’s brain development

Scientists led by the Lieber Institute for Brain Development are studying how a mother's SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy affects the biology of the placenta and the corresponding trajectory of the child's brain development, including the risk for neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

13 Mar 2023