Childbirth News and Research

Latest Childbirth News and Research

Special issue explores trends related to unmet need for contraception

Studies in Family Planning, a leading journal published by the Population Council, released "Unmet Need for Family Planning"-a special issue featuring ten articles, including a comprehensive introduction to the topic of unmet need.

18 Jun 2014

Maternal health key to healthier nation

Investing in the health of expectant mothers is crucial in helping to create a healthier nation, according to a health expert at Sheffield Hallam University.

17 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Could Congress sue Obama?; abortion coverage for Peace Corps volunteers

President Obama is setting a dangerous precedent by suspending his enforcement of laws on health care, immigration, drugs, banking and so much else, but the courts may soon be asked to throw a brushback pitch. .

17 Jun 2014

Study presents oxytocin as latest treatment target for age-related muscle wasting

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that oxytocin -- a hormone associated with maternal nurturing, social attachments, childbirth and sex -- is indispensable for healthy muscle maintenance and repair, and that in mice, it declines with age.

11 Jun 2014

Marmoset monkey may offer clues to reducing stillbirths in human mothers

The marmoset monkey may offer clues to reducing stillbirths in human mothers, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing.

30 May 2014

Women’s perception towards physical activity can predict their fitness levels after childbirth

The way a woman feels about tackling everyday physical activities, including exercise, may be a predictor of how much weight she'll retain years after childbirth says a Michigan State University professor.

23 May 2014

New project aims at saving lives of mothers, newborns in developing countries

Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the Government of Canada, today announces investments of $12 million in projects worldwide, aimed squarely at improving the health and saving the lives of mothers, newborns and children in developing countries.

22 May 2014

New study suggests greater focus on maternal mental health

Maternal depression is more common at four years following childbirth than at any other time in the first 12 months after childbirth, and there needs to be a greater focus on maternal mental health, suggests a new study published today (21 May) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

21 May 2014

Serious complications due to anesthesia during childbirth are very rare

Expectant mothers concerned about receiving an epidural, spinal or general anesthesia during childbirth can breathe a little easier. According to a study published in the June issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, serious complications due to anesthesia during childbirth are very rare, occurring in one out of every 3,000 deliveries.

21 May 2014

Depression is the leading cause of illness in adolescents, shows WHO's report

WHO's "Health for the world's adolescents" report reveals that depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years.

15 May 2014

Health law adds to financial squeeze for rural hospitals

The Wall Street Journal reports on how a number of policies and market forces are combining to put added pressure on rural hospitals. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on the challenge of making the health system affordable and the health law's new options for pregnant women.

13 May 2014

Consumer Reports finds that only some hospitals help mothers avoid unnecessary C-sections

A Consumer Reports analysis of over 1,500 hospitals in 22 U.S. states suggests that some hospitals do a much better job than others at helping mothers avoid unnecessary C-sections.

8 May 2014

New United Nations data show sharp decline in maternal deaths

New United Nations data show a 45% reduction in maternal deaths since 1990. An estimated 289 000 women died in 2013 due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth, down from 523 000 in 1990.

6 May 2014

Mothers who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth

Mothers in the United States who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth than mothers whose pregnancy was intended, according to a study led by Dr. Rada K. Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration in the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

6 May 2014

Important steps that women should take before, during and after pregnancy

Being a mother involves major responsibilities and love. That's why it's important to take steps before, during and after pregnancy.

2 May 2014

Intimate partner abuse before or during pregnancy linked to higher postpartum mental health problems

Ashley Pritchard, a Simon Fraser University doctoral student, is among four authors of a new research paper calling for closer monitoring of new mothers for mental health problems in light of their findings.

29 Apr 2014

Hip width and risk of birth-related trauma may play role in woman's decision to have sex

In a new study, women who were more inclined to have one-night stands had wider hips, reveals Colin A. Hendrie of the University of Leeds in the UK. He is the lead author of a study into how a woman's build influences her sexual behavior, published in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

25 Apr 2014