Childbirth News and Research

Latest Childbirth News and Research

SOGC urges strategy for preventing deaths during delivery, childbirth

As the G8 approaches, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is urging the Canadian government to recognize that a strategy on maternal and child health must focus on preventing deaths during delivery and childbirth as 80% of maternal deaths in low-resource countries take place at that time.

4 Jun 2010

Overall increase of cesarean births not due to maternal request

Fewer than two per cent of cesarean births in British Columbia were a result of maternal request, but the number of cesarean and assisted vaginal deliveries varied widely across health regions in B.C., according to a new study by University of British Columbia researchers.

31 May 2010

Advances in women's health, practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to be discussed at SOGC

The 66th Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Leading international and Canadian experts will meet to discuss the latest knowledge and advances in women's health and in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology.

29 May 2010

Globe and Mail examines links between maternal health, HIV/AIDS ahead of G8 summit

"While the G8 is putting maternal health at the top of its agenda for next month's summit, fears are growing that the club of wealthy nations is neglecting one of the biggest killers of women: AIDS," the Globe and Mail reports in a piece that examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and what the newspaper describes as the G8's "backtracking" on previous pledges to provide universal access HIV/AIDS drugs.

29 May 2010

G8 summit recommendations: Funding and resources for maternal, child health must be increased

Governments and other organizations must intensify efforts to improve the health of women and children, particularly in the developing world where the lion's share of deaths occur, says Dr. Philip Baker, an internationally renowned medical researcher in obstetrics & gynecology. Baker is the lead author on a G8 positioning paper that included consultations with 20 of the world's leading medical experts on women and children's health.

27 May 2010

New clinical procedures, better diagnostics improve prognosis for children born with severe acute asphyxia

The prognosis for children born with severe acute asphyxia has improved in recent years owing to new clinical procedures and better diagnostics, according to a new doctoral thesis from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet. By measuring levels of lactic acid in the blood during childbirth and the brain activity of the newborn afterwards, doctors can make a much more reliable assessment of the risk of serious brain damage.

21 May 2010

Sex may become ‘old news’ when it comes to having babies says Australian scientist

According to researchers most couples over 30 will rely more on artificial methods to conceive. This prediction comes from John Yovich, Medical Director of Pivet Medical Centre, and a scientist acknowledged for his pioneering work in IVF, who calls human natural reproduction “a fairly inefficient process.”

18 May 2010

World Bank announces five-year plan to reduce maternal deaths, fertility rates in 58 low-income countries

During the release of its five-year plan to help drive down high maternal death and fertility rates in low-income countries, the World Bank on Tuesday said "that family planning and other reproductive health services have fallen off the radar of many governments, donors and aid agencies," Reuters reports.

13 May 2010

U.S. expands HIV/AIDS programs in Caribbean

Representatives from the U.S. and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Tuesday signed an agreement to expand PEPFAR programs to 12 other Caribbean nations during a gathering in Georgetown, Guyana, Agence France-Presse reports (5/11).

13 May 2010

Opinions: Abortion in Canada's G8 initiative; Security of Afghan women; U.S. global development strategy; Mother's Day; U.S. food security initiative; Polio eradication

National Post columnist Jonathan Kay examines the ongoing debate over whether Canada's G8 child and maternal health initiative should include abortions, which according to a 2006 Oxford University Press-World Bank report, are "one small chunk of a bigger puzzle. A much larger problem, in terms of the number of female lives affected, is the decidedly less headline-grabbing subject of hemorrhages - which include antepartun hemorrhages … and primary postpartum hemorrhages.

12 May 2010

Postpartum hemorrhage increases 28% between 1995 and 2004

A new study of U.S. maternal outcomes after vaginal and cesarean deliveries published in the May 2010 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, a peer-reviewed academic journal, shows that between 1995 and 2004, postpartum hemorrhage (excessive blood loss after delivery) increased 28% in prevalence. Postpartum hemorrhage is one of today's most common complications for delivering mothers that according to the study, "markedly increases the odds of in-hospital mortality" and causes 19% of in-hospital maternal deaths.

7 May 2010

African lawmakers appeal for U.N. resolution banning female genital mutilation

"The cutting or removal of young girls' and women's clitoris and/or labia affects some 120 to 140 million women ... mostly in Africa and the Middle East, according to the World Health Organisation," Agence France-Presse writes.

6 May 2010

Vitamin A does not improve maternal, infant health, study finds

Giving women vitamin A supplements does not reduce maternal death rates or improve the health of infants, according to a study published Tuesday in the Lancet, the New York Times reports.

5 May 2010

Understanding the biology of postpartum blues

Greater levels of a brain protein called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) - may explain why postpartum blues and clinical depression are so common after childbirth according to an important study published today in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

5 May 2010

Opinions: Malaria bed net concerns; Catholic Church's humanitarian work; Abortion, global health; Foreign aid reform; Canada's G8 initiative

"To date, millions of dollars from international agencies, NGOs and USAID have been spent to get treated nets into the hands of impoverished, sub-Saharan Africans [to prevent malaria]. ... But, as even the staunchest advocate will admit, the treated nets were not designed with the cultural preferences of the rural African villager in mind," Sonia Shah, author of upcoming book about malaria, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece.

4 May 2010

Pelvic Floor Institute launched to enhance physician knowledge on reconstruction procedures, techniques

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the launch of the Pelvic Floor Institute -- a unique training forum and online resource designed to enhance physician knowledge and awareness of pelvic floor reconstruction procedures and techniques.

30 Apr 2010

Canadian leaders focus on hunger, disease prevention at G8 meeting

G8 countries should make use of low-cost, effective tools to prevent hunger, disease and premature deaths among women and children in developing countries, Bev Oda, Canada's international cooperation minister, said on Tuesday at the opening of a meeting of G8 development ministers in Halifax, the Toronto Sun reports (Payton, 4/27).

29 Apr 2010

Isis Maternity is now Isis Parenting

Today, Isis Maternity, The Place for Expecting and New Moms, becomes Isis, Parenting Starts Here. This change reflects the breadth of education, products and community that Isis delivers to its clients. Since opening its doors in 2003, Isis has helped more than 35,000 families navigate early parenting from pregnancy to preschool.

29 Apr 2010

Noninvasive method to predict premature birth

Existing techniques for predicting premature birth are inadequate or invasive - with risks and discomfort. Researcher Chiara Rabotti (Eindhoven University of Technology) developed a new measuring method, based on a rather simple electrode plaster that is attached to the abdomen. In the future every pregnant woman can thereby calmly await the moment, Rabotti expects.

27 Apr 2010

Ethnic differences in genetic factors may affect susceptibility to development of breast cancer

A new study finds that factors known to increase the risk of breast cancer among white women have less influence in Hispanic women. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that research is needed to evaluate how breast cancer risk factors differ among ethnic and racial populations.

26 Apr 2010

Childbirth News and Research

Latest Childbirth News and Research

SOGC urges strategy for preventing deaths during delivery, childbirth

Overall increase of cesarean births not due to maternal request

Advances in women's health, practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to be discussed at SOGC

Globe and Mail examines links between maternal health, HIV/AIDS ahead of G8 summit

G8 summit recommendations: Funding and resources for maternal, child health must be increased

New clinical procedures, better diagnostics improve prognosis for children born with severe acute asphyxia

Sex may become ‘old news’ when it comes to having babies says Australian scientist

World Bank announces five-year plan to reduce maternal deaths, fertility rates in 58 low-income countries

U.S. expands HIV/AIDS programs in Caribbean

Opinions: Abortion in Canada's G8 initiative; Security of Afghan women; U.S. global development strategy; Mother's Day; U.S. food security initiative; Polio eradication

Postpartum hemorrhage increases 28% between 1995 and 2004

African lawmakers appeal for U.N. resolution banning female genital mutilation

Vitamin A does not improve maternal, infant health, study finds

Understanding the biology of postpartum blues

Opinions: Malaria bed net concerns; Catholic Church's humanitarian work; Abortion, global health; Foreign aid reform; Canada's G8 initiative

Pelvic Floor Institute launched to enhance physician knowledge on reconstruction procedures, techniques

Canadian leaders focus on hunger, disease prevention at G8 meeting

Isis Maternity is now Isis Parenting

Noninvasive method to predict premature birth

Ethnic differences in genetic factors may affect susceptibility to development of breast cancer

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Childbirth News and Research

Latest Childbirth News and Research

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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